America SCORES Chicago Seeks Funding from the Illinois State Board of Education

In line with its goal to enable healthy minds, grow healthy bodies, and build healthy communities America SCORES Chicago will submit a proposal for the Illinois State Board of Education 21st Century Community Learning Center RFP.

America SCORES has determined three partner schools to serve as host sites for the grant: Pilsen Elementary Community Academy, Nathaniel Pope Elementary, and Matthew A. Henson Elementary.  If selected, funds from this grant will provide additional out-of-school time programming for elementary students attending these schools, as well as additional parent/community programming for families in the area.

4 Attend July Foudy Camp

Four stellar middle school poet-athletes from America SCORES Chicago were awarded scholarships to attend The Julie Foudy Sports Leadership Academy that began on July 15th. The Julie Foudy Sports Leadership Academy is six-day soccer and leadership residential academy for girls ages 12-18. The camp’s aim is to give students the best of both worlds: they learn soccer from some of the best women's players in the world, and they are exposed to a multitude of leadership concepts they can cultivate for life.

The camp was founded with one idea in mind: How do we help give girls the tools to unlock their potential for greatness, both on the field and in life? They use soccer as the conduit, but also a lot of laughter, energy, and leadership skills training.

Coach Stacey held a private training session last week for Jamirria and Lynnitanne (Chalmers School) and Carla and Lissette (Castellanos School) to help prepare them for the amazing week ahead. Coach Stacey could sense their enthusiasm:

"They were extremely excited, looking forward to the opportunity to both improve their soccer skills (with thoughts of playing in high school on their minds), make new friends, and learn from world-class players." 

Tiara H., a SCORES participant from Chalmers School, was the sole recipient of the scholarship last summer. Here is a brief excerpt from her Soccer Camp memoir:

“…One week later, I had to get dressed for the big tournament. It was raining, but I was ready to play. I’d put too much effort into practicing. Our team won against this other team, called Japan, and continued on to win the whole tournament. I was so glad, smiling harder than a three-year-old with a cookie. We went to a ceremony and I got a medal. I had the best time ever.

There were some embarrassing times, and some great times, but what made me smile were the times that I shared with my new friends. Thomas Edison once said that you haven’t failed a thousand times, but have found a thousand ways that embarrassed you. Trust me, I have found those times.”

SCORES CUP 2012

The illustrious SCORES Cup (Chicago’s largest corporate soccer tournament for charity) is right around the corner. Held once more at the Chicago Fire’s Toyota Park complex on July 14th, this tournament brings together Chicago’s preeminent corporations as they do battle on the field rather than the boardrooms; instead of boasting about EBITDAs and stock prices, companies pass, kick, tackle and shoot to see who is crowned SCORES Cup champion and has bragging rights for the year to come.

After two penalty shootouts Deloitte came away with the Cup in 2011

For all participants, SCORES Cup includes a day of competition and team building along with an afternoon of tailgating and tickets to the Chicago Fire game in the evening. More importantly, each team plays with the satisfaction of knowing that they are directly contributing to the sustainability of the SCORES programming for the deserving youth we serve.

For more information about the tournament click here. If you are interested in volunteering or if you think your company may be interested in participating next year please contact Angela Papaleo at apapaleo@americascores.org

Summer Fun: SCORES Camps

The America SCORES Chicago program fun doesn’t stop just because the last school bell has rung. By the end of the summer, SCORES will have hosted three different summer camps – those at Douglas Park, Henson Elementary School, and Hay Elementary school. In total, SCORES will have had the pleasure of working with over 195 kids from 8 different elementary schools and even a few high school students who are still very much a part of the SCORES family.

 Kids recuperate in the shade during a water break at Douglas Park

Regarding the Douglas Park camp, Coach Dean (SCORES Soccer Director) expressed his delight:
“This year represented the widest range of school representation and this was sprinkled with high school SCORES alum. The fact that these kids are dying to come back day after day with parents setting up lawn chairs each day to watch is a testament to our enthusiastic coaches who make it fun for all the kids despite the wide range in skill level."

At the Henson Camp, Devonte and Joshawn show off their first place tower at the close of the tower building competition. (Better luck next time coach Kari...)

Poet-athlete recruited to join US National Team!

It is with great pleasure that we announce Rigo, an 8^th grader at Castellanos Elementary, has been called up to the under 15 US National Soccer Team. SCORES is proud that Rigo’s hard work and devotion have paid off; no one is more deserving of this accomplishment.

"Ever since he was in 3rd grade he has been the most skilled player on the field; but he is also so humble.  He makes everyone around him better." – Coach Dean

Rigo- 2008 Castellanos Elementary Team

I have also been fortunate enough to play with and coach Rigo at numerous intersession and summer camps as well as with the SCORES All-Star Team this year. Yes, he is undoubtedly (literally and figuratively) head and shoulders the best player the SCORES program has had the pleasure of working with, but more importantly, he personifies the SCORES core values of leadership, teamwork and commitment.

Rigo-2011 Castellanos Middle School Team

He is consistently patient with all of his teammates, regardless of their skill (which varies widely, since America SCORES is an all-inclusive program). Always leading by example and helping his teammates in every possible way, I have never heard him utter a negative comment, win or lose. Balancing his time with a Chicago club team,  Rigo's dedication is unparalleled; he has attending every single camp America SCORES has offered over the last five years and at Castellanos his attendance has been impeccable.

Rigo clearly has a love for the game that has proven to be insatiable. America SCORES is happy to have played a part in his character development and we are confident he will stay grounded amid the bright future that awaits him. We all congratulate Rigo on his first call up and wish him the best of luck as he heads off to the Netherlands to play with the National Team!

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               -Coach Brian 

All-Star Teams at the NATO Athletic Crossroads Festival

On Saturday, May 12 the boys and girls All-Star soccer teams had the unique opportunity to compete against excellent teams from all over the City of Chicago.  Despite the rain at the NATO Athletic Crossroads Soccer Tournament, the America SCORES poet-athletes were resilient and racked up goals and wins along the way. Unfortunately, the rain cut the tournament short, but we can be sure one of the four SCORES teams would have brought home the championship!

Congruent with the NATO philosophy, The All-Star Team is comprised of select students from six different schools that take part in America SCORES Chicago’s middle school program.  20 boys and 20 girls coming from diverse backgrounds were chosen based not only on their athletic skill, but also by their leadership, commitment and teamwork displayed both on and off the field.

Organized by World Sport Chicago, Chicago NATO Host Committee, City of Chicago, and University of Chicago, the Athletic Crossroads Sports and Cultural Festival was held in recognition of the 25th North Atlantic Treaty Organization Summit being hosted by President Barack Obama. Aside from the soccer, the kids were able to learn about the cultures of over 25 different countries that were represented at the tournament.

SHOUT!

On Friday afternoon, 600 America SCORES poet-athletes made their presence known at the Douglas Park.  At the annual SHOUT! Community Service Day, opposing teams from different neighborhoods and schools worked together to clean up the park- throwing away almost 30 big, black garbage bags of trash.

Students meticulously combed the area for plastic bottles, candy bar wrappers, Flamin’ Hot Cheetos bags and napkins, and put them where they belong: in the garbage cans.

When students were not working to clean their park, they were working to get to know one another.  Each student was paired with someone from a different team and filled out a Teammate Interview worksheet.  SHOUT gives students time to learn about the opposing team and put a name to the faces they see each week.  Learning how much you have in common with your “opponents” is a big step in building bridges throughout the community. 

After all the trash was thrown away and new friends were made, poet-athletes got to do what they do best: play soccer!