January 2026 S4EA Newsletter
Published monthly for athletes, families, friends, volunteers, coaches & other supporters of SPORTS for Exceptional Athletes.
Editor: Walter Jackson.
Message from S4EA Executive Director Walter Jackson
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Join S4EA at Bingo Bash on Sat Jan 24 at S4EA Office, at Winter Sports Snowshoeing Festival Sat Feb 7 at Crown Point Shores, and march with our S4EA athletes in the Holiday Bowl Parade on Fri Jan 2 on Harbor Dr. S4EA opens our winter sports (basketball, bowling, track & winter sports conditioning) in January. The Guacamole Bowl is set for Sat March 21, 2026 from 10am-2pm at the Balboa Park Club. "A Taste 4 SPORTS" gala fundraiser takes place Sat June 27 from 6-9pm at the Balboa Park Club. Check out the rest of the Newsletter or call S4EA at 858-565-7432 for more information.​
S4EA Athletes March in Holiday Bowl Parade Jan 2 on Harbor Dr.
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S4EA athletes are marching in the Holiday Bowl Parade on Friday, January 2nd on Harbor Drive. Athletes & volunteers meet in front of the County Administration Building at 9am. Please wear a SPORTS for Exceptional Athletes shirt or uniform with equipment to represent one of our S4EA sports. The parade starts at 10am and athletes should be done by 11:30am. If you would like to march in the parade, call S4EA at 858-565-7432 to register so that we know that you are coming.
S4EA Bingo Bash Saturday January 24 at S4EA Office
​SPORTS for Exceptional Athletes presents Bingo Bash on Saturday, January 24 at our S4EA Office (8380 Vickers St. #E, San Diego 92111) in Kearny Mesa from 2:30-4pm. We will play bingo outside. If you can, bring your own chair. For $10.00 per set of 5 Bingo Cards, you can play Bingo with families & friends. Bingo winners will receive prizes. Snacks will be provided. Call S4EA at 858-565-7432 to reserve your spot.
S4EA Rock the Night Away Dinner Dance Sat Feb 21 at CV Elks Lodge
The SPORTS for Exceptional Athletes (S4EA) Rock the Night Away Dinner Dance is taking place on Saturday, February 21st from 5-9pm at the Chula Vista Elks Lodge (901 Elks Lane, Chula Vista 91910). S4EA athletes are invited to a great evening of fun and entertainment provided by the Chula Vista Elks Lodge. To register, please call S4EA at 858-565-7432 by February 12th.
S4EA Guacamole Bowl Saturday March 21 at Balboa Park Club
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Taste delicious guacamole from 15-20 teams at the 23rd annual Law Enforcement Challenge "Guacamole Bowl" fundraiser on Saturday, March 21, 2026 from 10:00am until 2:00pm at the Balboa Park Club (2144 Pan American Road West, San Diego 92101). Teams compete in Law Enforcement, Champions, and Open Divisions. To enter a team, fill out & return the Guacamole Registration Form & Entry Fee of $25. Sponsorship opportunities are available from $50 for Entertainment Sponsor up to $5,000 for Championship Round Sponsor. Proceeds benefit S4EA.
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Bring family and friends as the $8 admission pays membership fee and gets you a bag of Mission Tortilla chips & all the guacamole you can eat. You also have the opportunity to vote for your favorite recipe and select the finalists in each division. For more information, call S4EA at 858-565-7432.
S4EA Board of Directors Elections
S4EA will be having elections for our new Board of Directors in a few months. If you are interested in helping run our non-profit sports organization by becoming a board member, then call S4EA at 858-565-7432 by March 5.
2025 S4EA In-Kind Sponsor
Wall of Fame
Major In-Kind Supporters
AleSmith Brewing Company
Alvarez Family
Aquarius/Edgewater Casinos
AYSO North Park
Barona Resort
Beatle Trax Band
Belmont Park
Benihana
Blue Dolphin Glass
Bonita Kiwanis
Boomers Vista
Bread & Cie
Brilmyer, Ken
Brumbach, Nick
CA Conservation Corps
CaliFino Tequila
Camp Bow Wow of El Cajon
Captain, Joan
Charcuterie Grazing Box
Chula Vista Elks Lodge
Chula Vista Golf Course
City Cruises
Clavell, Teri
Cohn Restaurant Grp
Creative Ideas/David Family
Cunningham, Mary
Cygnet Theatre
Daley, Trish
Del Mar Thoroughbred Club
Don Laughlin's Riverside Resort
Downes, Clara
Downes, James
Down Syndrome Association
Dukes La Jolla
Emerald Isle Golf Course
Flagship Cruises & Events
Fleet Science Center
GUHSD-Helix Charter HS
Guillermo-Pepe's Street Tacos
Hager, Barbara
Hager-Martin, Julie
Hall, Ray
Henry Avocados
Hilton Homewood Suites
Howard, Erik
Japanese Friendship Garden
Jyoti-Bihanga
La Jolla Country Day School
Lamb's Players Theatre
Living Coast Discovery Center
Lolita's Mexican Food
Lovato, Carmen
Lucky Strike Chula Vista
Luna Grill
Martin, Mad Mike
MC Sweet Treats-C. Cummings
Mexican Bar
Mimi's Kitchen/M. WinterNolte
Mingei Intl Museum
Miracle Springs Resort & Spa
Mission Foods
Moonlight Amphitheatre
Nelson, Kathy
Norman, Quentin
No. Island CU Amphitheatre
Northside Tavern
Orfila Vineyards & Winery
Panda Express
Panera Bread
Pick Up Stix
PRP Wine Intl.
Don Laughlin’s Riverside Resort
Richard's Bees
San Diego Automotive Museum
San Diego Ballet
San Diego Clippers
San Diego Museum of Art
San Diego Seals
San Diego Sockers
Santana, Azucena
Screaming Pete's BBQ
SD Park & Rec-TRS
Sheraton San Diego Resort
Snowdall, Myra
Super Nova Café
Sutherland Mgmt./McDonald's
Sweetwater UHSD
The Old Globe
Trader Joe's Liberty Station
Troy's Authentic Greek Cuisine
USAopoly
Walter Andersen Nursery
Whaley House Museum
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Volunteer Groups
Boys Team Charity
FAV-Female Athlete Volunteers
Idealist
Marsha Fuerst Nursing School
National Charity League
Stronger Together Club
Teen Volunteers in Action
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Special thanks to our coaches who run practices, our key volunteers who help at tournaments and special events, and the office crew, especially Teresa Gillaspy & her friends, who fold and stuff the monthly newsletters, other mailings and anything else that needs to be done.
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Thank you to all of our sponsors and inkind donors..
Apologies to anyone we missed and thank you all for your generosity.
S4EA Winter Season Sports
- Need Volunteer Coaches
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S4EA needs volunteer coaches this winter for the following:
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South Bay Bowling on Sat 11am-1pm at Lucky Strike Chula Vista from Sep 6-Apr 25
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South Bay Basketball on Fri 5:30-7pm at Parkway Com. Center Gym from Jan 16-Apr 10
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East County Basketball on Thu 6-7:30pm at Bostonia Recreation Center from Jan 22-Apr 9
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North County Basketball on Thu 6-7pm at Boys & Girls Club-Vista from Jan 15-Apr 9
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San Diego City/East County Track on Sun from 9-11am at Helix High School from Jan 11-Apr 19
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S4EA needs volunteer coaches this winter in basketball, bowling, track & winter sports conditioning at various practice site locations
If interested in volunteer coaching, to get a Volunteer Application, or for more information, please call S4EA at 858-565-7432.
S4EA Winter Sports Snowshoeing Festival Sat Feb 7 at Crown Point Shores
The S4EA Winter Sports Snowshoeing Festival is scheduled for Saturday, February 7th at Crown Point Shores from 10am-1pm. Athletes compete and win medals in various snowshoeing & other fun races. We will barbeque hamburgers & hot dogs, play sports & games. Let’s have fun with our S4EA athletes, families & friends. Party time!!! Athletes practice snowshoeing every Monday from 5:30-6:30pm at Park de la Cruz starting January 5th. Call S4EA at 858-565-7432 to reserve your spot.
SD Parks & Recreation - Therapeutic Rec. Services
San Diego Parks & Recreation (SDP&R) – Therapeutic Recreation Services (TRS) provides therapeutic recreation programs for children and adults with any type of disability. SDP&R-TRS is co-sponsoring S4EA activities at SD City Facilities so that S4EA athletes and volunteers also need to register with SDP&R-TRS. S4EA athletes need to either register on-line with SDRecConnect.com or register at the first practice with SDP&R-TRS. The facilities that S4EA uses in the winter are Park de la Cruz-Basketball/Winter Sports Conditioning Mon (Code: 127432) and Kearny Mesa Recreation Center-Junior Basketball Thu (Code: 127433).
![5a47432119c47_thumb900[1].jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/3b2634_23f72a84277444e9b8cf936426033237~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_838,h_471,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/3b2634_23f72a84277444e9b8cf936426033237~mv2.jpg)
.S4EA Winter Season
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Sport Practices
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Mon 6:00-8:00pm Park de la Cruz (3901 Landis St., SD 92105) Jan 5-Apr 6 (not Jan 19) [League] (Code: 127432 )
Thu 4:00-5:30pm Kearny Mesa Recreation Ctr. (3170 Armstrong, SD 92111) Jan 15-Apr 9 [Jr](Code: 127433 )
Thu 6:00-7:30pm Bostonia Recreation Center (1049 Bostonia, El Cajon 92021) January 22-April 9
Thu 6:00-7:00pm Boys & Girls Club-Vista (410 W. California Ave, Vista 92083) January 15-April 9
Fri 5:30-7:00pm Parkway Community Center Gymnasium (373 Park Way, CV 91910) Jan 16-Apr 10
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​​​​​Bowling
Sat 11am-1pm Lucky Strike/Bowlero CV (845 Lazo Ct, CV 91910) Sep 6-Apr 25 (no practice Dec 27, Jan 3 & 17)-$9 for 2 games [League Play]
Sun Dec 21, Jan 4 & 18 10:45am-12:20pm Mira Mesa Lanes (8210 Mira Mesa Blvd, SD 92126) -$5 per bowler per hour+ (early bird special-new time), generally every other Sunday, Dates are subject to change. Please contact cathysturdivant@yahoo.com to confirm.
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Fri Jan 2 9:00-11:30am Liberty Station (park lot near USS Recruit) to Co. Admin Building for Holiday Bowl Parade
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​​​Track
Sat 10:00am-12noon Sweetwater High School (2900 Highland Ave, National City 91950) January 3-April 25
Sun 9:00-11:00am Helix High School (7323 University Ave., La Mesa 91941) January 11-April 19
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Mon 5:30-6:30pm Park de la Cruz (3901 Landis St., SD 92105) Jan 5-Feb 2 [Dry Land Cond.] (Code: 127432)
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​​​​​​​​​​​Workout-Hikes/Exercise
Limitless Adventures is a volunteer-led, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides outdoor recreational experiences for people with disabilities. Their current programming consists of hikes and other activities & operates within the Greater San Diego Area. For more info, go to: https://www.limitless-adventures.org/ -Upcoming events: Hike-Dec 13
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Winter Sports - Call S4EA at 858-565-7432 to confirm or for more info.
S4EA Tournament & Event Dates
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Jan 2 9-11:30am S4EA Athletes March in Holiday Bowl Parade – County Admin. Bldg. on Harbor Dr.
Jan 24 2:30-4pm S4EA Bingo Bash – S4EA Office
Feb 7 10am-1pm S4EA Winter Sports (Snowshoeing) Festival - Crown Point Shores
Feb 21 5-9pm S4EA Rock the Night Away Dinner Dance - Chula Vista Elks Lodge
Mar 7 9am-1pm S4EA Prelim Track Meet - Sweetwater High School
Mar 21 10am-2pm S4EA Guacamole Bowl - Balboa Park Club
Apr 11 9am-5pm S4EA Basketball Tournament - Park de la Cruz & Mid-City Gym
Apr 25 9am-1pm S4EA Final Track Meet - Sweetwater High School
Jun 27 6-9pm S4EA "A Taste 4 SPORTS" - Balboa Park Club
