It's a field trip 9-year-old Natalie Ascencio said she spent the whole morning getting ready for.
"I got up really early just to get ready cause my hair needs to be perfect for today," she said. "I'm mostly excited to see if they have sports and running because I'm really good at running in my friend group."
As 10-year-old Eliannah Allen was gearing up for the day, she reflected on what sports mean to her.
"Sports are important because you get help with your health system and you can have fun while doing it," she said. "I learned that you can try your best and keep going no matter what you do."
Natalie and Eliannah were among 100 fourth and fifth graders from Southwest Side schools participating in Bank of America's Sports with Us Clinic, which pairs students up with professional athletes.
The clinic took place at the ComEd Recreation Center in Pilsen and put students through six stations covering hard and soft skills across soccer, golf, endurance running and financial health with pro athletes.
"They're going to be teaching them skills around those sports, maybe sports those kids have never had exposure to," said Rita Cook, Bank of America Chicago President.
She said as the city gears up for the Bank of America Chicago Marathon Sunday, the company wanted to inspire the next generation of athletes.
"We thought, 'How can we inspire the next generation of youth to have a physically healthy lifestyle but also learn life skills?'" said Cook.
Cook said investing in the next generation is "critical," especially for kids who live in underfunded areas or don't always have access to things like practice space, equipment or elite coaching.
"They're going to help carry what we think is a legacy forward," she said. "We need to expose them to things that are going to help broaden their minds outside of the neighborhoods they live and breathe every day and allow them opportunities they otherwise might not have had."
She said she also wanted to highlight some good that's coming out of the city, especially Pilsen. The neighborhood, along with others on the Southwest Side, are among those most targeted by immigration agents amid ICE activity in Chicago.
"We're a beautiful city, we're a welcoming city, and it's great to have a story that just showcases how when youth, along with community groups and corporate sponsors, come together, we can achieve anything we want."
That sentiment was echoed by Chicago Fire player Omar Gonzalez, who gave up training time with the team to coach the kids in soccer.
"Not only are the kids getting a chance to experience different sports, but the life lessons that go along with sports," Gonzalez said. "In my station, we'll be talking about teamwork and how important that is."
He said he remembers being a young athlete and how much it meant for him to meet some of his favorite soccer players.
"If you get to shake his hand or something, it puts you in their shoes so you can say 'Hey, that's what I want to be when I grow up,'" he said. "It gives them hope and it gives them inspiration."
He said his goal is to teach the kids something they can take with them on and off he field.
"Surrounding yourself with positive teammates, friends, the power of teamwork and lifting others up, those are some of the life lessons I hope they leave here with, and if I can teach them how to pass a ball or shoot a ball a bit better, then that's great as well," he said.