For the first 5 years of Delilah Ramirez’s life, her days were filled with hospital visits, treatments, and medical quarantines. That was before Hollenbeck PAL’s Sports 4 Kids program gave her a space to safely explore her athletic capabilities, taught her teamwork, and exposed her to the joy of play.

Delilah joined Sports 4 Kids when she was five years old in the spring of 2023 through a partnership with the local elementary school, Puente Learning Center. Sports 4 Kids offers Soccer Clinics and Corn Hole Leagues as part of the school’s physical education program for Pre-K to 3rd-grade students. Before her enrollment at Puente Learning Center, Delilah suffered from issues with her kidneys and had to undergo three surgeries by the time she was 5 years old. Her compromised immune system prevented her from interacting with other children to avoid infection. By the fall of 2022, Delilah’s health had significantly improved, allowing her to attend Puente Learning Center and interact with children her age for the first time.

Delilah quickly adapted to her new environment and enthusiastically participated in every activity, including HPAL’s soccer clinic. At the end of the 8-week clinic, Zitlaly Hernando, the Sports 4 Kids Coordinator, invited all students to continue training at another Hollenbeck PAL partner, the Lou Costello Recreation Center & Park. Hernando, who holds a US Soccer “D” License, coaches and provides training to volunteer coaches there. Although many students expressed interest in continuing, Hernando noticed that only a few actually registered for the park’s soccer league. She was surprised when Delilah showed up at the park for practice, saying, “Although Delilah was a pleasure to have in class, I didn’t think she was serious about playing soccer, but she continued to surprise me.” Delilah has now participated in 2 seasons at the park and is currently registered for her third season.

Delilah got her first chance to play soccer through Sports 4 Kids, but she had already been exposed to the sport at home, thanks to her mother and 15-year-old brother, who were her role models. Delilah’s mom, Edna Martinez, remembered feeling nervous as she watched her daughter play her first game at Lou Costello Park, fearing that she could get hurt. However, Delilah showed no fear and has only expressed excitement at the beginning of each season, every game, and every opportunity to play.