Ada-tudes | Amway

By: Gary Mougalian

I’m always amazed at the effect positive reinforcement has on kids, especially when they could use a little encouragement.

When I “high-five” my daughter for getting right back in her soccer game after a not-so-great play, I can see the difference – in the look on her face, and in the way she goes after that next goal.

I felt the same way last Saturday as the San Jose Earthquakes kicked off their 2011 season with Title Night, sponsored by Amway.

Prior to the game, team member Jason Hernandez visited Lowell Elementary School in San Jose, and handed out Earthquakes jerseys (with the Amway logo prominent, of course) and frees tickets to that week’s Earthquakes home game.

This was our kickoff for the season’s Amway Kicks for Kids program. Earthquakes players will visit 17 schools or community centers in the Bay Area throughout the season, promoting healthy eating and the importance of living an active lifestyle.

Positive reinforcement, right?

We invited the local Boys and Girls Club to attend the game as well, and those kids cheered loudly as their home team fought the good fight against Real Salt Lake.

And on Saturday night before the game, when I handed a $6,000 Youth Academy Soccer scholarship check to Claudio Celis, I knew we were about to make a big difference in the life of this very promising young Academy player.

Here’s a kid who really benefited from hearing positive message about his own capabilities.

Throughout the game, the Amway logo and the Nutrilite® brand were almost everywhere.

On the Jumbotron screens where our Power of Positive ads ran in both English and Spanish.

On the field boards, fence banners, and gate banners.

Comcast Sports Net in the Bay Area even interviewed me about Kicks for Kids, our third year of Earthquakes jersey sponsorship, and how Amway and Nutrilite products promote a healthy lifestyle.

And during this first home game, we awarded one lucky fan section – and I’m talking a full stadium section here – free, full-size bottles of Nutrilite Concentrated Fruits and Vegetables.

Here’s a healthy high-five to another great Earthquakes season!

Positive reinforcement. Works every time.

How do you get 160 elementary school students excited? Bring in Justin Morrow from the San Jose Earthquakes as part of the Amway Global Kicks for Kids program and just listen to the Luther Burbank students cheer!

Justin’s visit really got the kids motivated and energized. What a dynamic way to get the message about the importance of a healthy diet and an active lifestyle across to kids. I love the way Justin got out in the crowd to interact with the kids and become part of their lives for the event. You can be sure these kids will remember what he had to say! Click here to watch a video from the event.

It’s that time of year again – soccer season is in the air! Last weekend, I had the chance to attend the sold out San Jose Earthquakes season opener. This is Amway Global’s second year sponsoring the team, and it was great to get the season started!

We’re also pleased to announce that we are the presenting sponsor of the FC Gold Pride of the Womens Professional Soccer league. Marta, the four-time FIFA World Player of the Year, who joined the team in February, also endorses Amway Global and its NUTRILITE health and ARTISTRY beauty brands.

Amway Global, the Earthquakes, and the FC Gold Pride are also reaching out to kids in the area through the Amway Global Kicks for Kids program. With the FC Gold Pride, kids are invited to sit in a specially branded seating section, called “Marta’s Maniacs.” And before each Quakes home game, a player visits a school or community organization to talk to kids about wellness and personal effort. But it doesn’t stop there. We then invite the kids to the stadium with the Quakes player where they watch the game from the Amway Global Kicks for Kids section. At last weekend’s game, some of the kids were even invited down on the field to cheer for the Earthquakes as they ran onto the field.

This is a great opportunity for us to sponsor both Mens and Womens Professional Soccer. These sponsorships are just one of the ways we’re introducing ourselves to people across America. We’re looking forward to an exciting season!