What do ultra-fast broadband and 230+ miles-per-hour race cars have in common? Speed. Precision. Performance. And Spectrum.

Spectrum makes its high-octane debut in the motorsports world at the Indianapolis 500 partnering with Meyer Shank Racing (MSR) as the primary sponsor of the No. 66 Honda Indy car driven by Marcus Armstrong on Sunday, May 25. Additionally, Spectrum-sponsored branding will be on the No. 60 Honda Indy car driven by Felix Rosenqvist and the No. 06 Honda Indy car driven by four-time Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves.

But the story goes deeper than decals and speed stats.

To honor their strong performance, Spectrum field technicians William Haman and Edwin Saravia, who live and work in Indianapolis, were invited trackside this week for a VIP look at the No. 66 car and to meet Armstrong. These are the same technicians who keep Indiana customers connected, now cheering the Meyer Shank Racing team on as Spectrum brings a promise of speed.

The action gets underway Sunday at 12:45 p.m. ET with FOX’s live coverage of the Indy 500.

At the Barreto Boys & Girls Club in Humboldt Park, Chicago, a fridge full of fresh produce is doing more than keeping food cold, it’s opening doors to healthier lifestyles, stronger communities and brighter futures for kids.

This is the Feel Good Fridge program, a national partnership between Maytag and Boys & Girls Clubs of America. At the Barreto Clubhouse, part of Union League Boy & Girls Clubs, it’s become a hub for healthy habits and family wellness. The impact? Far-reaching — changing kids’ minds, mealtimes and aspirations.

A Recipe for Success: Nourishing the Humboldt Park Community

Hector Perez, senior vice president at Union League Boys & Girls Clubs, once wasn’t a fan of broccoli, until Club youth and staff served him a homemade soup.

“I finished my bowl and someone said, ‘So, you don’t like broccoli? Guess what? You just ate broccoli soup,’” he laughs. “It was delicious.”

Many kids and teens at the Club had also only ever seen broccoli on grocery store shelves. But once it became more readily available through the Feel Good Fridge, that changed. Launched in 2021, the Feel Good Fridge program directly addresses food insecurity by providing Boys & Girls Clubs with refrigerators and funds to keep them stocked with fresh, nutritious produce for Club kids and their families.

“When we talk about healthy eating with kids, they embrace that message and take it home. Now we see families trying these new foods. They come back and share how they’ve prepared it — not just with butter, but in soups,” says Hector.

The Barreto Club has served the Humboldt Park neighborhood for more than 60 years. Recently, it’s welcomed many newly arrived families, including those in shelters — some facing daily challenges accessing nutritious meals.

“For some of these children, receiving adequate nutrition in the morning can be a challenge. They may arrive at school after breakfast service ends,” says Hector. “Or they may not care for what’s for lunch, which means that they may only eat once a day. This is a significant issue at some of our sites, especially at the Barreto Club.”

That’s why access to fresh food matters. According to Senior Club Director Jeremy Murphy, fresh produce in the area is both costly and increasingly out of reach.

“In our community, and Greater Chicago, fresh produce is very expensive, and costs are on the rise. The Feel Good Fridge helps us meet families where they are. It supports wellness, saves families money, and reinforces the healthy habits we teach in our programs,” Jeremy explains.

Across the country, over 60 Feel Good Fridges have been placed in Boys & Girls Clubs. Each one is stocked regularly in partnership with grocery stores, restaurants and community organizations, serving anywhere from 30 to over 100 families per day.

Putting Healthy Habits into Action

At Boys & Girls Clubs, programs are guided by three key pillars: academic success, healthy lifestyles, and character and citizenship. The Feel Good Fridge namely supports healthy lifestyles though its impact is noticed across all pillars as nutrition can impact a child’s health, concentration, development and overall well-being.

The Barreto Club has witnessed that impact in real time over the past year. Candy has been swapped for apples as an afternoon snack. Hot dog contests replaced by grape-eating challenges. Smoothie-making sessions led by members of the Club’s SMART Girls healthy lifestyles program have become a hit, boosting nutrition, creativity and confidence.

“Kids learn about making healthy choices, but it really clicks when they see and taste it,” says Jeremy. “Understanding the ‘why’ behind those choices helps them form lifelong habits.”

The results? Youth are more focused, engaged and confident — especially in their mental well-being and participation in Club afterschool and summer programs.

“Proper nutrition impacts everything,” Jeremy notes. “I’ve seen the difference in focus, mood and motivation. Some kids have even planned healthy meals at our Club and successfully prepared them for their parents at home.”

Kids don’t just eat well at Boys & Girls Clubs; they learn why healthy decision-making matters and how to prepare nutritious meals. Club teens are three times more likely than their peers nationally to eat the recommended amount of vegetables daily (3 or more).

Cooking Up New Possibilities for Teen Empowerment

For some youth, the fridge has done more than fuel healthy habits; it’s sparked career curiosity.

“We’re seeing more interest in culinary careers,” says Hector. “Some teens want to cook for Club events. We’re exploring ways to turn this into a workforce development opportunity.”

Nelly’s, a local Hispanic restaurant the Club community often patronizes, offered two chefs to run the Club’s summer day camp culinary activities following a Feel Good Fridge event.

One teen in the Club’s Keystone leadership program was even inspired to raise awareness around nutrition after learning about how diet affects her diabetic relative. Her passion has since galvanized a group of teens to create nutrition educational content, lead outreach and advocate for community-wide change.

“They are incredibly ambitious about creating a buzz around healthy eating and healthy lifestyles to help prevent similar situations in the community,” says Jeremy.

When it comes to future programming at the Barreto Club and the broader Humboldt Park community, the fridge is providing a lot of food for thought — and positive growth.

“Teens at other Boys & Girls Clubs want to duplicate what Barreto is doing,” says Hector. “They want to know how to get a fridge, help their families and understand how the program works.”

Rising inflation in the U.S. is causing more families to experience difficulties affording enough food. Boys & Girls Clubs ensure kids eat daily nourishing meals after school and throughout the summer, serving more than 80 million meals nationwide every year.

A Healthy Movement That’s Growing

The Feel Good Fridge has inspired the Humboldt Park community to grow closer. Organizations like the Puerto Rican Cultural Center reached out immediately to see how they could support and leverage this resource. Flyers and social media posts are also helping spread the world and bring in more families.

“The fridge draws youth in and opens the door to so many opportunities,” says Jeremy. “Beyond that, the whole concept of combatting food insecurity in our area has resonated with our community; people are asking how they can help our Club staff feel more supported in this effort.”

“Support from, Maytag helps us provide more than meals,” Jeremy continues. “It helps us empower the next generation. If you care about kids and teens in your community, getting involved with your local Boys & Girls Club is one of the best ways to make a difference.”

Chad Dlugoszewski was an aspiring gearhead when he enrolled in North Carolina’s NASCAR Technical Institute two-decades ago, working in the summer to mow grass for Williams while pursuing race car mechanics.

But that time at Williams was just a warm-up lap.

He joined the company as an operation technician after graduation, changing career tracks from car engines to compressors, the horsepower that fuels the natural gas industry.

“My original goal was to work for a NASCAR team, and I worked for a contract pit crew for lower-level races during my first year or so with Williams.”

He said that, pretty quickly, he decided that natural gas operations was the lane he loved.

“Starting as an operations technician, it was exciting to be introduced to a facility where the engines were so large that we would have to literally get inside to complete maintenance. But the similarities stop at the physical assets,” he said.

The biggest difference? Culture.

“Racing can be a cutthroat business where you are part of a team, but people are more willing to step on someone to get themselves ahead. My experience at Williams has been more collaborative, where the team really works together towards a goal as we strive for collective success.”

That teamwork is critical in his current role as coordinator of maintenance, where he helps plan day-to-day operations, manages internal projects and serves as a liaison between construction and operations teams. From overseeing turbine maintenance to coordinating gas handling projects, his work ensures Williams infrastructure runs efficiently and reliably.

Dlugoszewski also is an active volunteer for local nonprofits in the Charlotte area, organizing opportunities for fellow employees to give back. For several years, he has led Williams Volunteer Week projects at nonprofits close to his heart.

As a regular volunteer at Davidson Lands Conservancy, he’s led projects to clear debris, build bridges and beautify the property where his family enjoys the outdoors. This year, he also coordinated a volunteer day at FeedNC, a nonprofit addressing food insecurity, and participated in North Carolina’s Adopt-a-Highway cleanup efforts.

“I just really enjoy it,” Dlugoszewski said. “We’ve got a lot of great organizations in our community that make a difference””

While busy, his competitive nature hasn’t stalled out. The dad of four coaches youth sports – often listening to NASCAR races while driving to games and practices. Additionally, his family shares a love of traveling with plans to hit all 50 states before his children graduate from high school, plus international adventures along the way.

“Setting an example for my kids is what drives me to be better and challenge myself,” he said.

Want to be part of a team that moves forward together? Visit our careers page to learn more about working at Williams.

BRAWLEY — The City of Brawley, in partnership with the Brawley Police Department, hosted the opening ceremony for the inaugural season of MLS GO, Major League Soccer’s youth program, at Ed Soto Field.

The event marks the start of a new chapter for youth sports in the community.

MLS GO is designed to offer an inclusive, recreational soccer experience for boys and girls ages 4 to 13. The program promotes community engagement, physical activity, and values such as teamwork and sportsmanship.

The ceremony drew enthusiastic participation from local families, community leaders and law enforcement. Officers from the Brawley Police Department served as coaches and mentors, underscoring the department’s commitment to building positive relationships with youth through sports.

“This initiative is more than just about soccer; it’s about community, mentorship, and providing our youth with opportunities to grow and succeed,” said Police Chief Jimmy Duran in the press release. “We’re excited to see the positive impact this program will have on our city’s young residents.”

The City of Brawley and the Brawley Police Department encourage community members to support and participate in the MLS GO program.

For more information about registration and upcoming events, visit the Brawley Police Department’s official Instagram or Facebook page.

SCOTTSDALE, AZ (May 22, 2025) – Fiesta Sports Foundation, in partnership with Salt River Project (SRP), held a ribbon-cutting on Wednesday, May 21, at Family Promise of Greater Phoenix’s Legacy Village to officially unveil its 16th statewide playground build.

“Legacy Village is an innovative approach, transforming shipping containers into homes for families in need. Fiesta Sports Foundation is honored to contribute a vital element to this sanctuary,” said Kristina Chumpol, Fiesta Sports Foundation Chief Impact Officer and Chief of Staff. “Children residing here deserve spaces to simply be kids. The playground and sport court offer essential areas that support their health and well-being. We’re eager to witness the positive impact and grateful to our partners at SRP for making this vision a reality.”

Together, Fiesta Sports Foundation and SRP partnered to provide the new Legacy Village in Glendale with a 1,085 square foot playground featuring two slides. Along with the playground, a 640 square foot sport court with one adjustable basketball hoop was installed.

Flanked by six housing units – three to each side – the vibrant playground holds a prominent place in Legacy Village on a central courtyard seen as soon as stepping into the village. Fiesta Sports Foundation’s latest playground build is the first in a community housing complex such as Legacy Village.

In addition to being the 16th playground build by Fiesta Sports Foundation, it is the sixth in partnership with SRP and the second unveiled in 2025. In February, the two organizations collaborated to build a playground at Hope Women’s Center in Coolidge.

“At SRP, we’re proud to partner with the Fiesta Sports Foundation to help create safe, inclusive playspaces that nurture children’s physical, social and emotional development,” said Michelle Speer, Senior Community Engagement Strategist at SRP. “Supporting nonprofits that strengthen the well-being of our Arizona communities is at the heart of SRP’s mission.”

The ribbon-cutting for Fiesta Sports Foundation’s newest safe playspace followed the grand opening of Legacy Village on May 6.

Legacy Village is Family Promise of Greater Phoenix’s brand-new small-scale housing development. Operating for more than 25 years, Family Promise of Greater Phoenix provides emergency shelter and social services to help families move toward independent housing and self-sufficiency.

“Legacy Village represents hope for families facing homelessness, and this new playground adds joy to that hope,” said Ted Taylor, Executive Director of Family Promise of Greater Phoenix. “Thanks to Fiesta Sports Foundation and SRP, our residents now have a safe, vibrant space where children can play and families can build stronger bonds.”

Family Promise of Greater Phoenix operates five shelters to assist families facing homelessness. What makes Legacy Village unique is the six 640-square foot two-bedroom units themselves. The apartments were transformed from shipping containers that were engineering for housing.

Nestled in the heart of the highest eviction zip code in Arizona (85301 in Glendale), Legacy Village will serve a great impact to the community’s un-housed population. With the playground and sport court on-site, courtesy of Fiesta Sports Foundation and SRP, the youth will also have a brand-new space to play, providing a heightened optimism for their bright futures ahead.

ABOUT FIESTA SPORTS FOUNDATION

Since its inception in 1971, the Fiesta Sports Foundation has been a world-class community organization that executes innovative experiences, drives economic growth and champions charitable causes, inspiring pride in all Arizonans during and outside of college football bowl season. As a nonprofit organization, it is driven by its vision to create unforgettable experiences through world-class sporting events, unparalleled hospitality and life-changing community impact. Through the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl, Rate Bowl and its year-round events, including the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl Parade presented by Lerner & Rowe, corporate partnerships and numerous community events throughout the year, the Foundation provides charitable resources to support Arizona nonprofit organizations that serve communities through a focus on youth, sports and education. Learn more at www.FiestaSportsFoundation.org and @Fiesta_Bowl on X/Instagram.

ABOUT SRP

SRP is a community-based, not-for-profit public power utility and the largest provider of electricity in the greater Phoenix metropolitan area, serving more than 1 million customers. SRP is also the metropolitan area’s largest supplier of water, delivering about 750,000 acre-feet annually to municipal, urban and agricultural water users. To learn more, visit srpnet.com.

ABOUT FAMILY PROMISE OF GREATER PHOENIX

Family Promise of Greater Phoenix envisions a community where every family has a home, a livelihood, and the chance to build a better future. The organization provides comprehensive solutions to family homelessness, including prevention, shelter, and stabilization services. Family Promise takes a holistic approach, supporting children with education and care, empowering parents to secure employment and housing, and even accommodating family pets to keep families together during challenging times. Learn more at FamilyPromiseAZ.org.

 

Gallery: (5-21-2025) Family Promise Playground & Sport Court

City Council explores field upgrades, lighting, and new park plans as sports participation outpaces facility capacity

PASO ROBLES — Paso Robles city officials are taking steps to address the growing demand for youth sports fields following a steady rise in participation over the past five years. In response to capacity and maintenance concerns raised by local sports organizations, the City Council is directing staff to explore both short- and long-term solutions to improve access and quality of sports facilities.

Following the March 4 City Council meeting, Recreation Services gathered feedback from local sports field user groups to better understand concerns about access, field conditions, and overall capacity. The outreach included both youth and adult organizations, with 19 groups — seven adult leagues and 12 youth leagues — serving a combined 3,220 members. Input was received from seven youth organizations and four adult groups, representing about 1,290 members who regularly reserve field space for various sports.

Input from organized user groups revealed two main issues: limited field capacity and poor facility conditions. 

Nine of the 11 responding groups operate year-round, emphasizing the need for lighted fields, especially in colder months. All soccer organizations expressed a strong preference for Barney Schwartz Park due to its superior field quality and amenities, while Sherwood Park was unanimously deemed the least favorable because of safety concerns like gopher holes and uneven ground. Respondents indicated they would collectively reserve an additional 49.5 hours per week if more field space were available, and up to 56.25 more hours weekly if Sherwood Park had lighting. Safety issues were also noted at Pioneer and Larry Moore parks, with further concerns raised about damage from adult play, overcrowding, and field misuse.

To address concerns about sports field capacity and maintenance, user groups recommended several improvements.Suggestions included installing lights at Sherwood Park to extend play hours, renovating fields at Sherwood and Larry Moore parks, and enhancing maintenance schedules — particularly at parks other than Barney Schwartz Park. They also proposed providing shared maintenance equipment, replacing natural turf at Barney Schwartz Park with synthetic turf or Bermuda grass to minimize closures, and adjusting reservation times, with youth groups starting earlier and adult groups later, to help ease scheduling conflicts.

Parents, coaches, and young athletes echoed these concerns and the need for field improvements during the Tuesday, May 20, City Council meeting.

Currently, the city manages 16 athletic fields shared among youth leagues, adult recreational leagues, school programs, and public use. However, following the 2026 season, the city will be losing access to the Pioneer Park baseball field since it has been sold to the Mid-State Fairgrounds. The loss of this field now means the city will need to add an additional five athletic fields to meet the 2024 National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) standards for outdoor park and recreation facilities.

In 1982, Councilman Fred Strong started the city’s first youth soccer program. Affiliated with the American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO), Strong purchased all of the soccer equipment himself and organized the teams. 

“I never even dreamed that it would grow this big,” Strong said. “But you can’t know how much this means to me. And there is nothing I wouldn’t do to support this program, as well as the youth baseball.”

City Council unanimously approved direction to staff to explore short-term strategies to address immediate sports field capacity and maintenance needs, including installing lights and renovating turf at Sherwood Park, and encouraging PRJUSD to include public youth sports fields in future plans for the 36th Street campus. They then unanimously approved to direct staff to implement long-term opportunities to meet the growing recreational needs of the community, including advancing the plans to develop Larry Moore Park, Beechwood Park, and a Master Park, Recreational Facility, and Trails Plan and to return to the City Council with all necessary items to facilitate this direction, including appropriate CEQA review for the aforementioned items. 

The next Paso Robles City Council Meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, June 3, at 6 p.m.

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