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By Miriam Raftery
January 5, 2008 (San Carlos) — More than 1,500 students,
parents, coaches, referees and soccer players from throughout San Diego County
teamed up to host a fundraiser December 29th for Howie Hawver, the popular
Patrick Henry High School soccer coach recently diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's
Disease. Friends
of Howie Hawver raised over $15,000 to help pay his medical costs. More
events are planned, including an online auction starting January 15th.
"It was a very moving yet overwhelming feeling, in a good way," Hawver told East
County Magazine. "It's just amazing."
The "Howie Hawver Day" event included a full day of soccer including local
youth soccer teams, alumni games, allstars from the '˜70s, '˜80s, and '˜90s, old
timers, and San Diego men's outdoor teams. A silent auction/raffle conducted
by soccer coach Charlie Cleaves helped make the event a success.
"The San Diego soccer community wishes Howie Hawver a bright new year. We
look forward to future games and more memories," said Matt Robertson, soccer
club coach at El Capitan High School.
A fund to benefit Hawver has been set up at San Diego County Credit
Union. Checks for donations should be made payable to Friends of Howie
Hawver and sent to the attention of Michelle Swope, 312 East Main St., El Cajon,
CA 92020.
Artist and Grossmont High School history teacher John Neill will hold a silent
auction on E-Bay beginning January 15th to sell a historical sculpture he is
creating to benefit Hawver. "I have known Howie for 18 years," said Neill,
whose daughters have played on Hawver's team when Hawver coached at Grossmont
College. "He is not only a man who has had great impact on soccer in
general in San Diego, but also in the lives of my daughters and thousands of
other young ladies who have played soccer."
Neill's historical art pieces have sold for $1,000 or more through galleries
and by private commission. An artist's rendering of the piece to be auctioned
can be viewed at www.johnneill.com,
where a link to bid on e-bay will be posted on the 15th.
Hawver has coached for nearly two decades and holds a national "B" license,
according to the San Diego Crusaders website. He has served as director
of San Diego Spirit, spent 11 years as Grossmont College women's soccer coach
and eight years as varsity coach at Patrick Henry, where he was an All-Pacific
Coast Conference player and team captain. In 2004, he was named Pacific
Coach Conference Coach of the year. His achievements include four Pacific
Coast Conference Titles, six Eastern League Titles, USYSA West Region finalist,
three National State Cup finalists, and one National State Cup Championship. Most
importantly for the girls he has coached, Hawver has moved over 60 players
on to four-year university teams.
Hawver continues coaching at Patrick Henry High School in the San Carlos neighborhood
of San Diego. "They've been incredibly supportive," he says of his team.
The soccer coach has medical insurance, but the insurer isn't covering many
of his high medical costs. As long as he continues to work as a coach
in the field he loves, Hawver faces a catch-22. "Until I'm completely
disabled, Medicare and disability insurance do not kick in," he said.
In addition to the art auction, additional fundraising events are planned
including a youth tournament at North County Soccer Park on May 30th. For
more information, check Hawver's blog site at howiehawver.blogspot.com.
For more information on Lou Gehrig's disease, also known as Amyotrophic Lateral
Sclerosis (ALS), a neurological disorder, please visit www.alsa.org and www.alsasd.org.
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