Why the Rich May Field?

East Palo Alto Police Officer Rich May was shot and killed in the line of duty in January of 2006. Rich’s killer was apprehended and prosecuted for the murder. Rich’s family attended the court proceedings every day and heard the gruesome details about how their loved one was killed. During the trial, the defendant’s attorney argued that the defendant gravitated to a life of gangs and crime because there were no sports or extra-curricular activities available to him where he grew up in East Palo Alto. Eventually, the defendant was found guilty of murdering Rich and sentenced to death.

The May family was determined to make a difference in the City of East Palo Alto so that the youth would have an opportunity to engage in healthy activities and could avoid becoming involved in gangs and crime. The May family and some friends established the Rich May Foundation (RMF) with the goal of working with the Ravenswood School District and

St. Francis of Assisi Church to build a full-sized, all-weather, lighted turf field for the community.

The Rich May Field opened in 2016 and the lights were installed in 2018. Over $2 million has been raised to build the field, including an initial $100,000 grant from the U.S. Soccer Foundation. (see https://richmayfoundation.org/rich-may-memorial-field

The Rich May Field is open seven days a week, from morning to evening. The Foundation has currently capped the cost of field rental at $50.00 per hour, which is significantly lower than what neighboring communities charge. The lower rental fee ensures that youth sports groups in East Palo Alto have opportunities to play, practice, and excel. Hundreds of young people, including those at Cesar Chavez Ravenswood Middle School, use the field daily for soccer, rugby, and other physical activities.

The Rich May Field is a partnership between the St. Francis of Assisi Church, the Ravenswood School District, and the Rich May Foundation. www.richmayfoundation.org for more information, to volunteer, contribute or to schedule a visit to the field.