America SCORES Seattle Programs
In poor, urban neighborhoods where parents are focused on meeting basic needs, a lack of opportunity and resources, as well as cultural and language barriers prevent many children from accessing the benefits and opportunities gained from participating in an after-school youth development program.
No other organization in Seattle is providing curriculum guided instruction that combines team sports with creative writing and service learning on school grounds, in addition to providing students with free transportation home after the program day. America SCORES Seattle is free to students and provides uniforms, healthy snacks, soccer gear and writing supplies to help eliminate barriers to participation.
SCORES’ mission is to empower students using soccer, writing, creative expression and service-learning. With teamwork as the unifying value, America SCORES Seattle inspires youth to lead healthy lifestyles, be engaged students and become change agents in their communities.
Recent Successes and Current Challenges
RECENT SUCCESS
This season we organized two Community Shout events, bringing SCORES peers and their school community together to be educated on the various community service-learning projects each team implemented in our Spring Season, from turning a community garden into a sustainable garden at Bailey Gatzert Elementary School, to hosting after school bake sales and car washes to raise funds for organizations like the Seattle Humane Society, the Red Cross, and the SW Salvation Army Food Bank. Our 160 third, fourth and fifth graders explored their community, identified a need, and learned how they could help make a difference in their community, becoming Agents of Change.
CURRENT NEED
Childhood obesity is an area of need addressed by the SCORES program. Incidence of obesity among children aged 6-11 has tripled over the last three decades. The risk is even higher among certain ethnic minorities and children living in low socioeconomic status families – precisely those students participating in SCORES. Research shows that growing inactivity is a primary factor in the struggle against obesity. The lack of physical activity can be more severe in urban environments where parks are limited, after-school organized sports are unavailable or too expensive for many families, and children stay indoors due to safety concerns.