A Field for the Future

On an early summer Saturday afternoon, dozens of kids are running and kicking their way around a vibrant green soccer pitch. Pajaro Valley United is squaring off against North Coast Football Club, with a brand-new scoreboard keeping track of the game. Just a few years ago, these grounds behind Freedom Elementary School were potholed and teeming with weeds.

Now, thanks to the generosity of community members, businesses, and organizations, the revamped Freedom Field is open for all to enjoy. On this day, local elected officials, donors, students, and teachers came together for the official ribbon cutting and dedication to Ken Morena, former president of Driscoll’s and supporter of youth programs in the community.

Planting the Seeds

Freedom Field is more than just a place to play; it’s a haven where area youth can find safety and support. This is the vision of Gina Castañeda come to life.

Gina—who’s résumé reflects her deep roots in the community—is a Santa Cruz County probation officer, a coach for the Pajaro Valley Youth Soccer Club (PV United), an executive committee member of the Pajaro Valley Sports Foundation, the founder of the Aztecas Youth Soccer Academy, and a member of the Community Foundation’s Board of Trustees.

The seeds of this community effort were planted in 2017, when Gina spoke to the Watsonville Rotary Club and was asked by members what she felt the city’s youth needed. The answer was simple: more safe spaces to play. Knowing that the field behind Freedom Elementary School was languishing from lack of funding for proper upkeep, Gina turned to the Community Foundation to get ideas about how to approach fundraising for this community project.

The Freedom School Soccer Field Fund was subsequently established at the Community Foundation in 2021. Generous donors stepped up and raised over $469,000, including a $122,000 matching donation by the Driscoll’s Charitable Fund which is also held at the Foundation.

Susan True, CEO of the Community Foundation says, “We exist for just this reason—to support solutions for local challenges. As our county’s hub for philanthropy, the Foundation is proud to be a home for collective giving campaigns that bring important ideas to life.”

A Field for the Future

Janet Heien, a past Foundation board member and retired Driscoll’s employee, was at the event. Janet recalls the enthusiasm she felt for the project when she learned about it.

“It’s an opportunity to profile the soccer teams that are in Watsonville and give them a place where they can play, in a safe and nice field.”

Ken Morena looks up at the scoreboard emblazoned with his name and can hardly believe it. “I’m humbled and proud to have my name up there. I strongly feel that the more time young people spend in a field like this, the more opportunities they will have.”

Eric Vasquez and Adrian Madueño, two members of the Aztecas Youth Soccer Academy, which offers at-risk youth a positive outlet through soccer, were also at the event and expressed the importance of places like Freedom Field for kids to find community.

“I think it’s important because it creates a community for kids, and they can come out and play soccer; it gives them a path to go to college,” Eric said.

Eric and Adrian see playing and excelling at school and club sports as a potential way to secure scholarships for college. Adrian grew up playing on bumpy, subpar fields and thinks that Freedom Field will inspire more local youth to keep playing soccer, and pursue dreams of higher education, or of playing professionally.

A Cherished Legacy

A few yards away from the soccer fields, next to one of the school’s classrooms, sits a memorial bench dedicated to former Freedom Elementary School Assistant Principal and 30-year Pajaro Valley Unified School District educator Al Nethercutt. Al’s love for his community and advocacy for youth programs left a lasting impression. He passed away in 2007, and his son, Tony, recognized the importance of honoring his father’s legacy by supporting the Freedom Field project. Through his Donor-Advised Fund (DAF) with the Foundation, Tony made gifts to the Freedom School Soccer Field Fund and checked in constantly with Gina and others to see what was needed.

“It feels great to honor my father's legacy as a longtime PVUSD educator and vice principal at Freedom Elementary School and, at the same time, provide a place to rest and reflect at the new facility. Supporting this project, as well as all my collaborations with the Community Foundation, have been a joy,” Tony said.

Adrian Madueño wants the community to keep supporting projects like these.

“Just keep kids playing. Some kids might turn pro, or some kids might go to colleges with scholarships. Or they can just learn basic skills that will help you throughout your life.”

Header photo: Pajaro Valley United players on the field. Credit: Pajaro Valley United Facebook.

Read our original blog post about the Freedom Field project.