THE SOUTH PENINSULA WATER POLO FOUNDATION(SOPEN) WAS FOUNDED TO TEACH AND PROMOTE THE SPORT OF WATER POLO IN THE CALIFORNIA HIGH SCHOOL/MIDDLE SCHOOL COMMUNITIES OF SAN MATEO AND SANTA CLARA COUNTIES. ANY YOUTH IN THE APPROPRIATE AGE GROUP MAY APPLY TO JOIN ONE OF THE TRAINING PROGRAMS. SOPEN IS COMMITTED TO OFFERING A HIGH QUALITY TRAINING PROGRAM THAT IS FUN AND CHALLENGING IN A POSITIVE COACHING ENVIRONMENT WHERE PLAYERS CAN ATTAIN THEIR MAXIMUM POTENTIAL.IN THE PAST YEAR, SOPEN HAS BENEFITED OVER 50 ATHLETES WHO PAY PROGRAM FEES TO PARTICIPATE IN ITS SUMMER AND WINTER PROGRAMS. PARTIAL SCHOLARSHIPS THROUGH REDUCED FEES ARE AVAILABLE TO YOUTHS WHO CANNOT AFFORD TO PAY THE FULL COST OF THE TRAINING PROGRAMS.IN ADDITION, SOPEN CONTINUES ITS OUTREACH PROGRAM FOR DISADVANTED MIDDLE SCHOOLERS IN NEIGHBORING COMMUNITIES, FOR WHOM ALL PROGRAM FEES ARE WAIVED. IN JULY 2012, 30 MEMBERS OF THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF EAST PALO ALTO PARTICIPATED IN AN INTRODUCTORY CLINIC STAFFED BY SOPEN'S SENI