Candace Gaona is Poway's MVP

Name, Age: Candace Gaona, 13

School: Meadowbrook Middle School

Accomplishment: Gaona helps children who have disabilities play sports.

Key to Awesomeness:

Although Candace Gaona doesn’t play baseball, basketball or soccer, she is very active during the season.

Since she was 7 years old, Candace has volunteered with various local leagues and helped children with disabilities play sports.

“She’s just got an awesome gift,” said Michelle Gaona, Candace’s mother. “She’s just able to treat everybody equally. These kids are just drawn to her because she’s fantastic with them.”

Candace began assisting the Challenged Division of the Poway Youth Basketball League when she was 9. The division, which has more than 75 athletes and has existed more than 15 years, is open to all players with intellectual disabilities. 

Michelle explained that the division is incorporated within the league, so players wear the same uniforms, take the same pictures and win the same trophies.

“The cool thing about the sports teams is they allow all ability levels for kids that are challenged with special needs ranging from ADHD to disabilities that may require more assistance,” Michelle said. “One of the really cool things about these leagues is as some of the kids mature and gain abilities, they often times become the coaches and assistants to the younger kids.”

Candace has helped so long that she began training other volunteers a couple years ago.

“It’s incredible to watch these kids play, but it’s also incredible to watch her interactions,” Michelle said. “Everybody loves her because she’s just amazing with them!”

A couple weeks ago, for example, one basketball player approached Candace and said he wasn’t feeling good and couldn’t play.

“She said, ‘There are no losers here,’” explained Michelle. “‘You come back next week and we’re going to get you out there. Give me a high-five!’ She’s just awesome. It comes naturally to her.”

Last year, Candace used her experience with special needs kids at school. She worked with special needs students as a teacher’s assistant at her former middle school.

“It gives kids with disabilities a chance to feel like nothing can stop them,” Candace said. “They’re surrounded by friends and people with the same kind of struggles. Nobody is judging there. They can be free and just have a good time.”

Candace encourages other youth to volunteer and help children with disabilities.

"There are some people who like to act like they're cool by making fun of other people," she said. "Really, they might enjoy it even more than I do, going and helping the kids."

The 13-year-old plans to continue helping others for years to come.

“Just seeing their faces when they’re having such a good time, how they’re smiling and laughing—it just warms my heart,” Candace said. “Seeing the parents’ faces, knowing that they’re seeing their child probably do a lot more than they ever thought they could accomplish. It’s pretty amazing to see what they can do out there.”