FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Anne Cribbs, acribbs@basoc.org or 415.264.2067
Friday, October 10, 2025, Rich May Field Celebration, Recognition and Major Announcement
The Rich May Foundation is holding its Second Annual Recognition and Celebration event
on October 10, 2025, at the Rich May Field, 1425 Bay Road, East Palo Alto, from
5:00 pm to 8:00 pm.
Activities will include a special soccer game – the Force vs. the Future. The public is invited. It is free to the public, but you must RSVP to Rich May Operations hmendel@basoc.org or 510.506.1874.
The event will include:
The Force vs. The Future – Community soccer game
Ø Special guests from the San Jose Earthquakes and San Jose Earthquakes Street Team
Ø City of East Palo Alto and County of San Mateo Dignitaries
Ø A major announcement – One Million Dollar Campaign “to save a field”
Ø Refreshments
East Palo Alto Police Chief Jeff Liu: “The East Palo Alto community has worked hard to create a significant reduction in homicides and overall crime, a testament to the resilience of our community. We believe The Rich May Field has played a meaningful role in this transformation. Join us on October 10th as we honor the field, the players, and the Community that brings us together and cheer on the Force (EPA staff) and the Future (Ravenswood Soccer Club)”.
Tami McMillan, Rich May’s sister, explains, “Rich was always working with kids, from D.A.R.E. to coaching to tutoring at a home for troubled teens. Rich’s spirit embodies this field. You can see it every day in the smiles of the kids as they run and play.” For more information, please contact acribbs@basoc.org or www.richmayfoundation.org
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.