Mountain View, CA – A local group of students recently completed the newly expanded Get Earthquakes Fit program, which has been reinvigorated through a new partnership between El Camino Health and the San Jose Earthquakes. They will celebrate their graduation on May 1 at Ida Jew Academy in San Jose.
The graduation celebrates the achievements of local 3rd and 4th-grade students who have completed the five-week Get Earthquakes Fit wellness curriculum. This milestone marks an exciting chapter for El Camino Health and its mission to promote fitness and health education among young people, laying the foundation for lifelong wellness.
"When the kids are this excited about their health and fitness, it's fulfilling. At El Camino Health — preventive care, education, and compassion and caring for people and families at every stage of life is what we're all about," said Cheryl Reinking, chief nursing officer at El Camino Health.
Youth health and fitness make up one of the two core pillars of the Quakes Foundation, the Earthquakes’ nonprofit wing, which has promoted unity through sport and has made a positive impact on the community since its inception in 2008.
"We couldn't be more ecstatic to work with El Camino Health on the expansion of Get Earthquakes Fit," said Robert Davis, Earthquakes VP of Community Relations. "Get EQ Fit was born out of the need of an extracurricular school program that would help teachers meet kids where they are with a wellness curriculum to educate them on the benefits of health and fitness."
Adding to the excitement, 18-year-old Earthquakes and U.S. Youth National Team midfielder Edwyn Mendoza, an alumnus of Ida Jew Academy, will speak to students at his alma mater about the importance of healthy living and goal-setting both on and off the field.
"As a professional athlete who once walked these halls and played on these fields, I hope these future stars see me as an example of the power of sports and embracing a lifestyle of health and fitness," said Mendoza. "This program sends a powerful message to the students that we believe in their potential."
The Get EQ Fit program was developed by the San Jose Earthquakes as a fun, accessible way to engage children in the fundamentals of wellness. The curriculum includes games and practical health tips designed to be both engaging for students and easy for teachers to implement. Looking ahead, the goal is to double the number of participating schools and students in the program.
"We're proud to support the kids with the tools they need to live healthier lives from the start," said Reinking. "El Camino Health aspires to lead the community health care district to be the healthiest population in the United States — if not the world — and that begins with innovative solutions like this and starting early."
Since El Camino Health became the official health care sponsor of the Earthquakes, the organizations have been actively expanding the reach of Get EQ Fit — bringing the program to more schools and families across the South Bay. The initiative will serve over 40 schools and impact more than 10,000 students annually. El Camino Health’s clinical experts play a key role in enhancing the curriculum as the program continues to grow, ensuring kids receive fun, engaging, and meaningful lessons in lifelong wellness.
The May 1 event at Ida Jew Academy will include a graduation ceremony, interactive wellness activities, and remarks from both health leaders and Earthquakes representatives.
About El Camino Health
El Camino Health has served the communities of Silicon Valley and the South Bay for more than 60 years, with nationally recognized physicians and nurses at two not-for-profit acute care hospitals in Los Gatos and Mountain View, and 21 care locations across the region, which includes primary care, multi-specialty care, and urgent care. El Camino Health is dedicated to giving patients high-quality care utilizing the most advanced technology and research. As your health care partner of choice, we focus on keeping you healthy and getting you back on your feet when you need it, so you can live your best life.
Aside from achieving outstanding patient outcomes, the hospitals have earned numerous awards for clinical excellence, including being named one of the World's Best Hospitals 2025 by Newsweek, one of the Best Hospitals for Maternity Care by U.S. News & World Report, one of America's 100 Best for Cardiac Care by Healthgrades and becoming the San Francisco Bay Area’s first Magnet hospital, earning four consecutive designations from the American Nurses Credentialing Center for nursing excellence.
Key service lines include cancer care, cardiovascular care, maternity care, mental health and addiction services, orthopedics, pulmonology, urology, and women’s health. Visit elcaminohealth.org to learn more.
About San Jose Earthquakes
The San Jose Earthquakes, one of Major League Soccer’s original teams, are the epicenter for soccer in Northern California, playing at the highest professional level in the United States. The club won MLS Cups in 2001 and 2003 and took home Supporters’ Shields in 2005 and 2012. The club is based out of PayPal Park, an 18,000-seat soccer-specific stadium that opened in 2015 and is the first cloud-enabled venue in MLS. The organization was originally founded in 1974 in the North American Soccer League, and in 2024 celebrated its 50th anniversary of positively impacting communities around Northern California. The club’s nonprofit arm, the Quakes Foundation, focuses on health and fitness initiatives for local underserved youth and fighting food insecurity. For more information about the Earthquakes, visit www.sjearthquakes.com.
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