Wood Ranch BBQ & Grill having fundraiser for USA Men's Water Polo Team

WENDY PIERRO/Acorn Newspapers SEND-OFF- USA Men's Water Polo player Tony Azevedo looks for an open teammate during Tuesday's match against Australia at Cal Lutheran University. Team USA lost the match, 9-5.

As the Beijing Olympics draw closer, all 11 Wood Ranch BBQ & Grill restaurants will be making a big splash with the USA Men's Water Polo Team.

For one night only, on Wed., June 18, Wood Ranch will contribute a portion of its receipts to help raise funds for the USA team, which had been training daily in Thousand Oaks.

"We're very excited to have an opportunity to support the Men's Olympic Water Polo squad," Wood Ranch cofounder Eric Anders said.

"Our guests are the best, and we recognize the importance of giving back to the community. We wish the team all the best in China this summer."

Wood Ranch operates 11 restaurants in Southern California- Agoura Hills, Anaheim Hills, Arcadia, Camarillo, Cerritos, Corona, Los Angeles/ The Grove, Moorpark, Northridge, Rancho Santa Margarita and Valencia.

Guests who visit any Wood Ranch between 5 and 9 p.m. will be participating in the fundraiser.

Recently, ninth-ranked USA stunned the No. 1 team in the world, Croatia, with a convincing 8-5 victory at Oaks Christian before a sellout crowd of nearly 1,500 fans.

"It was a big boost for our guys," head coach Terry Schroeder said. "We train against the best teams in the world, which certainly helps our confidence going into the Olympics."