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August 20, 2003
Team
Community Service Award - San Jose CyberRays
The CyberRays'
original plan for the 2003 season involved a series of themed
home games to generate support for various worthy causes in the
community. Then Lark and Roger Chastain, parents of CyberRays
captain Brandi Chastain died unexpectedly, and the organization
was faced with challenges of its own. The CyberRays resolved
to turn their family tragedy into a positive experience, making
the May 10 game against the Carolina Courage the focal point
of the season's community service efforts as the Lark and Roger
Chastain Celebration Game. As a result, the CyberRays raised
more than $43,000 in the Chastain's names to benefit Soccer for
Hope, for which the CyberRays led the WUSA in participation with
more than 300 youth, the Silicon Valley Children's Hospital Foundation
and the Children's Cancer Research Fund. The additional themed
games and community activities benefited nearly a dozen community
groups such as Girls for a Change. The Silicon Valley Chapter
of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and the Bay Area Scleroderma
Foundation honored the CyberRays with commendations in 2003.
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