Kiwanis Family Teamwork Raises Almost $11,000 with Soccer Tournament

by Scott Zimmerman

On March 17-19, 2010, members of the Division 23 Capital District Kiwanis family (with help from Division 13) hosted the 11th edition of the Christine Garvey Memorial Soccer Tournament. The event brings Kiwanians together to provide the local Tidewater, Virginia high school soccer teams a unique Tournament venue to begin their season. 32 teams (nearly 500 young men and women) participate in boys and girls varsity and junior varsity competitions. It's the largest and only public high school soccer tournament in the Tidewater area and the only event providing junior varsity teams a tournament venue. Beyond serving these young people, the funds raised from the event are donated to Susan G Komen for the Cure in the fight against breast cancer. This year, the event raised $10, 890 and over the 11 years of this service oriented competition, more than $118,000 has been raised.

This year the Kiwanis Clubs of the Colonial Capital, Poquoson, Tabb, Williamsburg, York, and Denbigh (with help from Division 13 Club Warwick), provided dozens of volunteers to run the fields and manage the tournament. In addition Division 23 Key Clubs also provided dozens of volunteers.

The tournament began in 1999 as the dream of a soon to be Kiwanian from Poquoson whose wife had succumbed to breast cancer. It started before he became a Kiwanian when he approached members of the Kiwanis Club of Poquoson to see it they would support the event. They did so and from there the event grew from 16 teams to 32 teams and from a two day event to a three day event. The Poquoson Club then recommended that Division 23 take the tournament as a Division Project. The rest is history. Oh and by the way, someone had the presence of mind to ask Pat Garvey to join the Kiwanis Club of Poquoson. Thank you Pat, for all that you do to make the Kiwanis family stronger.