Lights On Afterschool

On October 21, 2011 America SCORES Chicago was one of five afterschool programs nationwide awarded the MetLife Foundation Afterschool Innovator Award. This award recognizes SCORES’ success at providing multiple benefits for middle school students, particularly in the area of supporting literacy.

In conjunction with receiving the grant, America SCORES Chicago coordinated the annualLights On Afterschool event, celebrating the afterschool programs that keep our kids safe, inspire them to learn and help working families. Poet-athletes, their coaches and families participated in fun activities facilitated by some of America SCORES Chicago's longtime partners: Common Threads, Changing Worlds, The Chicago Fire, and Girls in the Game.

“Our students are already proving themselves to be leaders,” said Amy Vondra Stark, the executive director of America SCORES Chicago, “and it’s fantastic to see that reflected in this recognition by the MetLife Foundation and the Afterschool Alliance. The Afterschool Innovator Award will help us continue to help at-risk students make choices that contribute to their success.”