Athletic program

Football is making a difference in the lives of the children at Pan de Vida.

Pan de Vida director Dionisio Mares said that the children are improving emotionally, mentally and physically through football.

Violeta, a receiver and cornerback says that she has benefited from the demands of physical conditioning and working with others. She also said that it helps her to be motivated in school.
“I like it a lot,” she said.

Abraham, a defensive end and receiver, agrees.

“Football helps you to deal with stress and anger and to focus and excel in athletics,” he said.

Mares said that are three objecitives for the sports program. Pan de Vida wants to use sports to channel anger in a positive way, to involve the children’s home with higher academic institutions to obtain scholarships, and to obtain donations.

The boys, ages 7-15, have the opportunity able to play football in three different age groups through a local university program. The local university pays for part of the fees and coaches and mangers look for sponsers to pay the rest. This year TetraPak, Sika Mexicana, Cal Los Arcos, Caja Popular Libertad, Municipio de Corregidora, Municipio de Queretaro are sponsers.
Those who are 15 and older play football through a football program in San Juan del Rio which provides for transportation and covers all the expenses.

The Teenage girls play flag football through an association in Mexico City. The girls football coach is currently looking for sponsers.

Pan de Vida is also looking to expand its athletic program to include soccer, basketball and baseball.