Documentary Film - Playing with Heart
North County Special Needs Community Foundation
2025 Heroes Game
2024 Heroes Game
Sue and Tony started the Heroes game , originally called Jack O Smash 5000 as it was on a Halloween weekend and included a 5 k run in 2014.
The event took over the entire Poway Sportsplex for an MLB celebrity softball game, with SD Padres announcer Mark Grant commenting for first 2 years. Heath Bell SD padre's reliever and David Wells, ex NY Yankees pitcher, who pitched a perfect game, managed the dugouts.
The rest of the complex included special needs service providers in an effort to bring awareness in the Poway community of it special needs community.
This was the beginning of their efforts to improve the housing situation for these adults that wanted to live on their own. With the help of city official, civic leaders, private developers and Mercy Hospital a 54 Unit complex called Villa de Vida opened in 2022.
2023 Heroes Game
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Summer 2023
General Atomics and Poway Padres Get together
A friendly game of softball played in the spring between the Poway Padres and a company team from General Atomics Aeronautical (GA-ASI) was so successful that a repeat game was held Aug. 18.
The game was organized by Coach Tony Rubino of the Poway Padres Special Olympics softball team and GA-ASI executives Diana Hagerty and Jeff Hettick.
“No matter what your ability or disability is, you can participate in a sport you’re passionate about and create enjoyment for the day,” said Rubino, president of the North County Special Needs Community Foundation.
Poway Padres formed as a team 26 years ago, and every time they play a game, Rubino said friends notice and comment on how well they play. Somebody texted him after this recent game and said the players are getting even better, he said.
Poway Chamber of Commerce Annual Business Star Awards Dinner
October 4, 2022 Poway City Mayor Proclamation Presented at City Council Meeting
2022 Poway Padres Heroes Game
The eighth annual Heroes Softball Game was held Friday, Oct. 28 at SportPlex USA in Poway.
The game featured players from the Poway Padres, a SoCal Special Olympics championship softball team, Poway firefighters and the Factory 16-U Poway girls softball team.
Poway City Council members served as umpires in the game.
“It’s a great community event,” said Poway Padres coach Tony Rubino. “The involvement of the community has been more this year than the last couple of years.”
Rubino said a highlight of the game is the relationships that develop between the players.
“It’s gotten better and better,” he said.
The game is organized by the North County Special Needs Community Foundation and supported by the Poway Kiwanis Club
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1https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/pomerado-news/news/story/2022-10-12/poway-padres-coach-celebrated-by-city-for-his-work-with-special-needs-individuals
Poway Padres 2021 Heroes Game
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Emily, who was original Poway Padres dugout manager from Middle Schcol through college and her 5 -year old daughter, Ivie, came to watch Heroes Game.
Poway Padres sell Raffle Tickets for Heroes Game
The week before the 2021 Heroes Game in Poway, Barry, Jason and Michael teamed up with Lisa Lingham, owner of The Original Pancake House in Poway and the games Title Sponsor, to sell raffle tickets to raise funds for the Poway Padres and the girls' softball Team Vargas 16 and under at the Weekly Poway Farmers Market, who graciously provided booth space.
A Gift Basket worth over $450 gift cards was put together by Lisa and a 3-night Spring Break Getaway in a 2-bedroom condo at Grand Pacific Resorts, was donated by a special friend of the Foundation.
The community support was great and the Poway Padres made some new friends in the Poway community.
Lisa presents 3 Night Getaway winner's certificate to Win Nowlin, father of Poway Padre third baseman Frankie, who bought one ticket for the Getaway raffle.
Documentary Film - Playing with Heart
The premiere, attended by 300 people, was held on July 23, 2021, at Maranatha Church in 4S Ranch in San Diego, California. This documentary was produced by the Foundation and Brian Jenkins of Riot House Films. Through a generous donation to the Foundation, the filming of the Poway Padres took place throughout the 2019 season.
At the end of the 2017 and 2018 season, the Poway Padres participated in the Southern California Special Olympic 2 day Chapter tournaments and were crowned champions, after some great comeback wins! Practices, tournaments, team events, interviews, and insight into several players' personal lives and jobs were filmed.
The film shows how the success of a softball team and their display of "Playing with Heart" impacted the lives of the players and their families, coaches, civic and community leaders, and the special needs community in Poway.
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Trailer for Documentary Film Playing with Heart
Response to the Documentary
“The video is awesome. Great job. Such a great story”.
-Heath Bell
Former relief pitcher San Diego Padres
“What a cool project. Well done. You can feel the good vibes from the trailer. It’s nice to see some uplifting stories these days!.”
-Bill Berghoff
President, Sportsplex USA
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“Thank you so much for forwarding, and I will share with our staff, students, and board. You have done a great job for your team and community.”
-Debra Emerson
CEO, St. Madeleine Sophie's Center
El Cajon, California
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“Yes, I saw the video, and it is inspiring!”
-Carlos Flores
Executive Director, the San Diego Regional Center
Meet a Team Playing with Heart
Article in Poway Living Magazine
Click to view
Movie Night with Poway Padres
The Poway Padres were invited to a BBQ dinner before the showing of their Documentary Film- Playing with Heart with the residents of Villa de Vida.
Villa De Vida dream becomes a reality in 2021
Tenants have started moving in as of June of 2021.
Architect's drawing of the exterior of the proposed Villa de Vida housing development for adults with disability needs,
Ground breaking ceremony May 26, 2019 with Mayor and other County and developer officials.
The Foundation was instrumental in bringing nonprofit, city and community leaders together for this development.
Poway seeking developers for affordable housing project
The Monte Vista Road site, which the City of Poway wants to turn into affordable housing.
BY EMILY SORENSEN JAN. 14, 2021
"The City of Poway’s potential affordable housing project on Monte Vista Road has moved forward.
According to Bob Manis, director of development services, a Request for Qualifications was issued on Jan. 7 by the Poway Housing Authority. An RFQ is used to seek out qualified developers who might be interested in the project, according to Poway officials. The submission deadline is 5 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 27.
In the RFQ, the Poway City Council requested the project’s two-acre site include a combined 41 low-income residential units for developmentally disabled adults and military veterans, Manis said. The city is seeking qualified developers with a demonstrated ability to finance, design, build and manage affordable rental housing, he said.
The next step in the process is a Request for Proposals, he said. The RFP will include a small number of the highest qualified respondents from the RFQ, Manis added. It will also require detailed plans for how the developers would handle the project, as well as a conceptual project design. This information will determine which respondent best satisfies the project objectives, he said.
Poway staff previously used this two-step approach to select a developer for the Town Center/Poway Commons development on Poway Road, Manis said.
The RFP submission deadline will be in April or May. Staff will present the evaluation results to the council and Poway Housing Authority Board to make the final decision, Manis said."
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Poway City Housing Authority Awards Monte Vista Affordable Housing Site to Wakeland Development
August 22, 2022
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Poway Staff made a presentation and recommendation that Wakeland Development be awarded an ENAfor the Affordable Housing site on Monte Vista Rd.
City staff will begin the DDA negotiating process with Wakeland. Expected occupancy is first quarter of 2026.
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