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 | 2012 Annual Report 2012 At a Glance |
 | 2011 Annual Report 2011 At a Glance |
 | 2010 Annual Report |
 | 2009 Annual Report |
 | 2007 Annual Report |
 | 2006 Annual Report |
 | 2005 Annual Report |
 | 2004 Annual Report |
From the 2012 Annual Report Summary
SOCCER AT THE WHITE HOUSE
“I was like, ‘Wow, this is the President,” Deontrel said. He couldn’t believe his eyes as he sat just a few feet away from President Barack Obama.
Deontrel was one of 34 America SCORES students from DC, Denver and St. Louis invited to the White House to recognize the LA Galaxy’s MLS Cup championship. Students were selected based upon their sportsmanship, leadership and commitment to America SCORES and to school.
Serena Muhammad, Executive Director of America SCORES St. Louis, said the students gave Presient Obama a rousing applause when he entered the room. Following his warm welcome, The First Lady talked to our students about the importance of living healthy lifestyles and about the Let’s Move initiative, dedicated to solving the problem of childhood obesity.
America SCORES uses soccer as a tool to encourage fitness and inspires a life-long appreciation for athletics and healthy behaviors. America SCORES participants get ten times more exercise than the national average, and seven out of ten students who start out overweight achieve a normal weight within one year.
The First Lady left the students with a final message of “Eat your vegetables!” and opened up the floor for our students to ask greats like Landon Donovan, David Beckham, and other Galaxy players about their soccer careers. Donovan spoke about the importance of knowing the foods you’re putting in your body and their effect on your athletic performance.
From the First Lady’s message about “learning to lose,” to Donovan’s words about learning to take care of themselves, the students won’t soon forget their memorable day and the words their heroes bestowed upon them.
From North to South, from West to East, IMAGINATION IS RELEASED!
Jose R., an 11 year old from Dallas, stood beneath the spotlight of Harlem’s World Famous Apollo Theater, “where stars are born and legends are made.” He filled the house with laughter by standing legs-crossed while performing his poem, “I Gotta Go,” with a straight face.
Jose is one of thousands across the country who spend almost 50 hours learning how to read, interpret, write, and perform poetry as part of the fall season of America SCORES. In each city, the season concludes with a Community Poetry SLAM! that showcases each student’s work and determines who will represent the city on the national stage.
In December 2011, Jose won the hearts of the entire Dallas community Poetry SLAM! audience, both children and adults, when he performed his funny poem. He was one of 50 local contestants, among thousands competing nationwide, for an all-expenses paid trip to New York City.
In April 2012, Jose met 29 of his ‘teammates’ from across the country and enjoyed soccer in Central Park, a stroll in Times Square, a feast on Wall Street (provided by Harry’s Italian), and finally, the National Poetry SLAM! at the Apollo Theater.
The culmination of weeks of writing and rehearsing, the evening celebrated the achievements of poet-athletes nationwide and the collective impact of our program across 14 cities. The evening featured celebrity host John Harkes (National Soccer Hall of Famer), guest of honor Chris Heck (New York Red Bulls), and a special musical performance by Psalm One.
ASCAP Songwriter Residency @ America SCORES – PSALM ONE’S 9-CITY TOUR
In September 2011, female hip-hop artist Psalm One embarked on a nine-city tour for the ASCAP Songwriter Residency @ America SCORES, a mentorship program that helps songwriters connect and give back to the community. The tour kicked off in Milwaukee, stopped in Seattle, San Francisco, Denver, Washington, DC, Atlanta, New York, Boston, and concluded in Psalm’s hometown of Chicago.In each city, Psalm One spent three afternoons collaborating with America SCORES students to write and record an original song. Here’s what it was like at Knapp Elementary in Denver. “We were talking about rappers, talking about music in general and their life in Denver. They all had so many ideas for me that I was really overwhelmed so I kept having this idea of gang, gang, gang. And I was like, what kind of gang can we be? Because we’re clearly not going to be the traditional type, right? I ended up focusing on a different kind of gang, cause that’s kind of what they were. They ganged up on me.”In June 2012, Psalm announced the release of Child Support, the collection of songs written and performed with America SCORES students, and released its first single, “Kids Right Now,” featuring rapper Mikkey Halsted. Released in September 25, 2012, all proceeds from the album benefit the ASCAP Songwriter Residency @ America SCORES.The ASCAP Foundation, a public charity dedicated to supporting music education and talent development, funds the program. | DAY 1For the first day of their ASCAP Songwriter Residency @ America SCORES, both Knapp Elementary’s SCORES boys and girls teams spent time getting to know Psalm One by asking her a lot of questions. After they got to know each other, Psalm let the poets pick their favorite beat and got to know the poets through their writing. She asked them to write about what they liked, about Denver, and about their school. After this first session, she took their writing home and used it to create her portion of the song.DAY 2The next day, Knapp Elementary’s teams created their sections of the collaboration. Participants got out their pencils and put thoughts to paper about what someone might say about them on their hundredth birthdays, positive behaviors that make them a “smart gang” and what they might tell an alien who came to their next soccer game. Psalm pulled examples from their writing to help create verses. Then they memorized it for their studio recording. DAY 3 The poets-turned-rappers met Psalm for their last session, but this time they met at Side 3 Studios and were joined by sound engineers. Students took turns in front of the microphone and watched their headphone-wearing teammates. In a few hours, they finished recording their song, Smarter Gang. To hear this song visit regularblackgirl.com/track/smarter-gang |
320 SERVICE PROJECTS & 200,000 HOURS MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES
 | The Roxhill Elementary Boys Team from America SCORES Seattle investigated litter in their own community. They logged the amount of litter in their local park and identified the causes and effects of littering. The Team then participated in the White Center Community Development Association’s (WCCDA) “Spring Clean” Day. One of 22 WCCDA projects, The Roxhill Park Litter Clean Up had help from several community members who made the park a better, cleaner place for all! |
 | Hayes Bilingual Elementary students from America SCORES Milwaukee visited an Urban Aquaponic Farm in Milwaukee’s South Side. After learning more about the urban farming system, volunteers from Starbucks helped them build garden beds with construction materials, compost and harvest worms, and wash and decorate buckets for use on the farm. The students were able to see the work that goes into creating healthy foods and communities. |
Visit www.americascores.org/service to see how our poet-athletes are making the world a better place!
SPECIAL GUESTS
 | International soccer superstar Edwin van der Sar made a special appearance at an America SCORES NY Game Day. Following the Jamboree ceremony that recognized students for their outstanding teamwork, leadership and commitment, Van der Sar participated in scrimmages with the teams, and invited those awarded to take penalty shots against him. As an ambassador for the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation, he was there to launch a partnership with Up2Us’s Coach Across America program; the program provides 17 America SCORES coaches. |
 | In September, U.S. Congressman (D-Ga) and civil rights leader, John Lewis, spent the afternoon with students at Coretta Scott King Young Women’s Leadership Academy. He shared personal accounts of the civil rights marches with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and explained how he continues to fight for equality in Washington, DC. Representative Lewis is among several political role models that visited and inspired America SCORES Atlanta during the year. Through a partnership with the Georgia Council of International Visitors, political figures from around the world came to talk to students about local, national and global issues and how they can facilitate change as children and as adults. |
August 22, 2010: America SCORES Hosts the First Annual “Goals for Life” Event
November 5, 2010: America SCORES LA Alumna wins Youth Hero Award
January 20, 2010: America SCORES Bay Area Introduces Hip Hop for Health Curriculum
January 24, 2011: DC SCORES Students Get the Chance to Meet President Barack Obama
March 2011: America SCORES Denver Students Learn About the Importance of Keeping Their Parks Clean
April 11, 2011: America SCORES Students from All Over the Country Perform at the Apollo Theater for the 5th Annual National Poetry SLAM!
June 23, 2011: DC SCORES Student Speaks Before Policymakers at Campaign to End Obesity Event
July 19, 2011: The Great Unknown Releases Album Featuring McFarland Students
August 2011:Site Director Rob Uvanovic Wins Community MVP Award
August 22, 2010: America SCORES Hosts the First Annual “Goals for Life” Event
America SCORES is hosting our First Annual ‘Goals for Life’ event at Madison Square Garden on August 22nd. We are teaming up with the NY Liberty WNBA basketball team to offer a corporate women’s soccer challenge (5 female players to a team) on center court, a panel discussion with female executives from the tri-state area, a networking luncheon, and tickets to the Liberty Game that afternoon.
Our goal is to bring together employees to spend quality time out of the office together, engage in a high-level networking opportunity, and generate awareness for gender equity in the workplace and childhood education in the city.
The panel will discuss ”Defining the Successful Woman: A Practical Discussion About Life’s Juggling Act.”
Panel Members:
- Secretary of State Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez
- Diahann Billings-Burford, Chief Service OfficerNYC
- Leslie Bennetts, Author of NYT Bestseller THE FEMININE MISTAKE: Are We Giving Up Too Much?
- Rachel Jacobson, SVP of Business Development forthe NBA
- Lindsay Bucha Bernsohn, Columnist WashingtonPost & CNBC Commentator
We are looking for more teams to participate in this exciting event– please contact Katie Drame at kdrame@americascores.org for more information about how to get involved.
Where & When:
Date: August 22, 2010
Location:Madison Square Garden
Time:
- 11:00am Corporate Soccer Skills Challenge (Center Court)
- 1:00 pm VIP Panel Discussion / Snacks (Center Court)
- 2:00 pm Luncheon and Networking (Garden Room: Upstairs
- 4:00 pm Tickets to the NY Liberty vs. Connecticut Sun
November 5, 2010: America SCORES LA Alumna wins Youth Hero Award
Last night, City Scholars hosted its annual Youth Hero Awards dinner at the Music Center in downtown Los Angeles. Youth Hero Awards nominees are selected based on academic achievement, community service, and youth leadership by various after-school youth development organizations in LA. City Scholars then selects one winner in each of three age groups: 10-12, 13-15, and 16-18. America SCORES LA nominated senior Mireya for the 16-18 age group. Being chosen as a finalist over the summer, Mireya attended the awards ceremony with family members and Dre, David, Alex and Dana from America SCORES LA. And out of the 6,323 students participating in after-school programs in Los Angeles, she was chosen as the winner from her age group.
Mireya has been an active participant in America SCORES LA since she was in fourth grade. She continues to participate in alumni events, and has given back over 100 hours as a volunteer to the new generation of poet-athletes. In addition to her dedication to the SCORES program, she has run in four marathons through the organization Students Run LA, plays for her high school varsity soccer team, is a youth leader in the Neighborhood Youth Association, and was a Yahoo! Junior Journalist.
Congratulations to Mireya for all of her achievements!
About City Scholars: ‘Established in 1993, City Scholars Foundation trains, coaches and inspires non-profit neighborhood after-school program leaders to transform the lives of thousands of inner-city youth, helping them become inner-”City Scholars,” prepared for college, career and community leadership.’
from www.cityscholars.org
January 20, 2011: America SCORES Bay Area Introduces Hip Hop for Health Curriculum
Violence is a serious problem in our urban communities and schools. Our innovative Hip Hop for Health program seeks to reduce aggressive behavior in youth by teaching them a variety of conflict resolution strategies.
Through hip hop themed listening and writing activities, scenario analysis, and role playing games, students learn to recognize negative behavior and identify positive alternatives. The program also helps students improve their literacy skills, public speaking ability and overall self-esteem.
I’m most excited to see the team skit final project the students will create and perform for their after-school communities that will contain an example of conflict resolution, hip hop music and a few fun props.
-Robert Joseph
Former Education Director with America SCORES Bay Area.
January 24, 2011: DC SCORES Students Get the Chance to Meet President Barack Obama
March, 2011: America SCORES Denver Students Learn About the Importance of Keeping Their Parks Clean
Thursday morning as the rain clouds parted, a DPS school bus carrying 30 Munroe Elementary school students (ages 8-11) and two teachers arrived in City Park in Downtown Denver to volunteer with the Passion for Parks restoration project.The students lent their assistance in planting a variety of plants throughout the East end of the Park and learned about the importance of keeping local Parks free of liter and vandalism.
As Denver Parks and Rec employees worked with Munroe students in City Park, over 500 volunteer Starbucks employees and customers spread throughout Denver working on similar restoration projects.
Starbucks and Denver Parks and Rec have been working together since 2007 to continue the Passions for Parks project. This year Starbucks also took the opportunity to present America SCORES Denver with a $30,000 grant.
April 11, 2011: America SCORES Students From All Over the Country Perform at the Apollo Theater for the 5th Annual Poetry Slam
America SCORES 5th Annual National Poetry SLAM!
June 23, 2011: DC SCORES Student Speaks Before Policymakers at Campaign to End Obesity Event
July 19, 2011: The Great Unknown releases album featuring MacFarland poet-athletes
The album features “hEaRt rHYthm LuV sOUnd,” a track created and produced last fall by the MacFarland poet-athletes during the ASCAP Songwriter Residency @ America SCORES. The band is donating 100 percent of proceeds to the program.MacFarland’s students enjoyed creating the song so much, they practiced it for weeks and turned it into their own “Pass you the Ball,” which they performed at the Poetry Slam! – winning first place for middle schools — and the Inspired Art Gala.
You can visit the iTunes store to purchase the DC SCORES-produced music. (If you’re not sold, listen to the video above and/or listen for free to any of the five tracks all week.)
Other Voices, Other Rooms – also available on The Great Unknown’s website at whatever price you name – is the first commercial selection of songs produced by the ASCAP program, which launched in 2006 and has previously released promotional compilation albums.
August, 2011: Site Director Rob Uvanovic wins the Community MVP Award
Rob Uvanovic & America SCORES New York Win MLS Prize
America SCORES New York’s program manager Rob Uvanovic (wearing the Red Bulls jersey) won the grand prize – based on fan votes – of the MLS Works Home Depot Community MVP contest and was presented with a check for $10,000 at halftime of the 2011 MLS All-Star Game. (image source: major league soccer)
One thing I neglected to mention about my first sojourn to the Red Bull Arena for theMLS All-Star Game against Manchester United was the halftime show. Perhaps that’s because I spent the break devouring a slice of surprisingly delicious pizza and then waiting in a long line to discharge some bodily fluids into a designer urinal.*
What I missed was the awarding of the grand prize of the MLS Works Home Depot Community MVP contest. MLS fans were given the opportunity to nominate people who make a difference in their community. The nominees – one for each of the 18 MLS clubs – were then put to a national vote, with the winner being announced at halftime of the MLS All-Star Game.
We are delighted to report that Robert Uvanovic, program manager of America SCORES New York, was the grand prize winner. While I was off enjoying the innards of Red Bull Arena, Uvanovic picked up a $10,000 check for America SCORES New York. It is certainly well-deserved, given the tireless work he and his colleagues have put in to improve the lives of New York City kids through the power and joy of soccer.
For those of you not familiar with America SCORES, it is a national non-profit that provides after-school soccer programs for underprivileged youth that integrate soccer, poetry, and community service. Their team-based approach is designed to improve the children’s health and academics as well as encourage civic engagement. Representing the Red Bulls’ charity of choice, America SCORES’ local chapter runs programs in three public elementary schools in Harlem, serving approximately 90 boys and girls in grades 3-5. They also have a Junior SCORES program at one of the schools, which works with even younger kids.
The need still outweighs the resources at America SCORES New York. So to learn how you can help make a difference, either through a donation or as a volunteer, they offer aneasy menu of options online.
While the game itself was something I’d rather not remember, the MLS Works Home Depot nominees are the real all-stars. And it’s not too late for you to join their team!