Playing for a Cause: Dodgeball Tournament Benefits After-School Program

On Friday, nearly 350 community members, celebrities and athletes took to the dodgeball courts to raise money and awareness for the After School All-Stars program.

After School All-Stars is a program that was originally started by former Gov. Schwarzenegger in 1992. At ASAS San Diego, they provide academic enrichment and sports-based programming for underprivileged youth in the county.

The Second-Annual Party Like an All-Star: Rock Star Dodgeball took place at the Hard Rock Hotel in downtown San Diego where a dance floor became three dodgeball courts and it was back to the playground just like elementary school.

Former San Diego State and Charger football player Kassim Osgood, currently a member of the Jacksonville Jaguars, still feels like part of the San Diego community.

“I still have my home here, I went to college here, I played for seven years here,” Osgood said. “This whole time I’ve been out here in San Diego I still feel part of the community, so l wanted to continue to contribute.”

According to After School All-Stars, the after-school hours from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. are the peak hours on school days for juveniles to commit or be victims of violent crime and engage in other risky behaviors.

With Chargers linebacker Shaun Phillips serving as celebrity ambassador, it is the hope of ASAS that the dodgeball event will raise awareness and money to help young children stay safe.

“Dodgeball is always fun because everyone likes to play dodgeball,” Phillips said. “I came up with the idea because I wanted to do something that was different and out of the box.”

Phillips and Osgood, as well as all the people who came out for a fun night of dodgeball, understand that children need after-school programs such as ASAS to stay out of harm’s way.

When asked why it is important for kids to be involved in after-school programs, Phillips said, “Studies show 80 percent of children who are involved in after-school programs tend to graduate college and go on with their life and do something special. … If that isn’t reason enough to join an after-school program, then I don’t know what is.”

“I support keeping kids active,” said Osgood. “We are trying to fight childhood obesity and we want to keep kids out of gangs and violence and give them somewhere to have a positive outlet for their energy.”

If you want to volunteer or support After School All-Stars San Diego, you can find more information on their website.