The Richmond City Council honored youth sports nonprofit Richmond Sports Outreach Leadership (SOL) on Sept. 22 with a proclamation recognizing 23 years of service, mentorship and athletic achievement.
Councilmember Soheila Bana read the proclamation honoring founder Diego Garcia, the organization’s volunteer coaches, student-athletes and families.
Garcia, an athletic director and finance and entrepreneurship teacher at Richmond High School, founded Richmond SOL in 2003. What began with coaching his own sons grew into a nonprofit serving nearly 400 families annually across Richmond, offering recreational and competitive sports for youth ages 4 through 18.
According to the proclamation, Richmond SOL celebrated its 23rd anniversary at the Richmond Memorial Auditorium with more than 2,000 community members. More than 450 young athletes received medals and recognition for their accomplishments.
The proclamation also highlighted the organization’s recent soccer and volleyball achievements. Two soccer teams advanced to the NorCal State Cup Finals and competed in the Premier Division. In its inaugural season, the volleyball program had two teams win Silver Division championships and a third finish fourth in the Gold Bracket.
The city also recognized players who have advanced to higher levels of the sport. The proclamation named Emiliano Arana with Oakland Roots Project 510; Jose Martinez, who was invited to tryouts with Club América of Mexico; Eric Preston with the LA Galaxy organization; and Mitzy Ramirez, a professional player for the Toluca women’s team in Mexico.
The meeting also highlighted community service beyond sports, with a resident praising Garcia for organizing Halloween activities for children and distributing food to unhoused people during the Thanksgiving holiday.
“The students and parents of Richmond SOL demonstrate daily the values of perseverance, teamwork and community pride,” Bana said.
