America SCORES Receives Largest Donation In Its History From Bestfoods Educational Foundation

America SCORES has been awarded the largest ever gift in our history, a $1.3 million grant from the Bestfoods Educational Foundation. The Bestfoods Educational Foundation, overseen by former Bestfoods executives, has provided gifts to non-profit educational causes for 10 years. America SCORES has had a long partnership with the Bestfoods Educational Foundation and we are so grateful that they have decided to award this grant to our organization.


America SCORES will use the gift to dramatically improve the delivery of our innovative after-school programs that combine soccer, poetry, and service learning to fight obesity, improve literacy, and increase motivation among youth in 200 public schools in 14 cities. Enhanced communication and operations among the national and affiliate offices will allow us to provide more and better opportunities to empower children across the country to succeed in school and live healthy lives.

From Norma Barquet, our CEO: “This gift will enable America SCORES to reach new heights in its mission to inspire urban youth through creativity and teamwork.We are extremely grateful to the Board at the Bestfoods Educational Foundation for its generosity and belief in our organization to provide educational opportunities to deserving children. America SCORES is honored and privileged to be the recipient of such an extraordinary gift.”

For the full press release, please follow this link:

http://pitch.pe/47906

On behalf of our poet-athletes here in Denver, the America SCORES team says Thank You to the Bestfoods Educational Foundation.

Save the Date for Denver's First Inspired Art Project

CLICK HERE for ticket purchasing information.

SCORES 5th Graders to compete in Colorado Youth Soccer League!

We are very excited to announce that this spring, SCORES has partnered with Colorado Fusion to start its first two Select soccer teams! All 5th graders in the program were eligible to participate, and on January 16th tryouts were held at Cowell Elementary and two teams were formed. The boys and girls Select Teams will represent SCORES in the Option 1 League, and will play against teams from around the state. It's time to show the rest of Colorado what our community is made of!

The following boys and girls 5th graders have showed great Commitment and Leadership by joining the Select teams:

Boys:

Dante Gonzalez, Cowell
Diego Herrera, Cowell
Romeo Martinez, Cowell
Maurision Marquez, Cowell
Anthony Mares, Cowell
AJ Flores, Eagleton
Cruz Jimenez, Eagleton
Fidel Lucio, Eagleton
Alex Montenegro, Eagleton
Isaac Dominguez, Eagleton
Jesus Jurado, Cheltenham
Alejandro Landa, Cheltenham
Hugo Estrada, Cheltenham
Saul Sandoval, Cheltenham
Ray Lopez, Newlon
Oscar Andrade, Newlon
Christian Calderon, Newlon
Carlos Garcia, Newlon

Girls:

Miriam Lucero, Knapp
Hidai Olivas, Knapp
Jacqueline Moncada, Munroe
Destiny Rodriguez, Newlon
Gema Munoz, Newlon
Cassandra Zamora, Newlon
Ruby Cortez, Cheltenham
Perla Verala, Cheltenham
Stephanie Pacheco, Cheltenham
Jenny Arriaga, Eagleton
Jennifer Sandoval, Eagleton
Mirka Nahut, Eagleton
Adelena Nunez, Eagleton
Genesis Valdez, Cowell
Stephanie Campos, Cowell
Ashley Espinoza, Eagleton

Are you Ready to Run?

Lace up your running shoes, get out your cold weather gear and join us in training for the 5th Annual Colfax Marathon on May 16th, 2010! For the first time ever, America SCORES Denver is putting together a team to race in the Colfax Marathon Charity Partners program. This event is a great opportunity to not only get in shape, have some fun and win cool prizes, but also a chance to support the work of the SCORES program as we look to expand to 10 schools in 2010. If you are interested in participating, please email Kristine at krees@americascores.org and we will send you a registration form. (NOTE: America SCORES Denver will cover your registration fee, so if you wish to run with us do not register yourself on the marathon website.)

To get more information on the Colfax Marathon please visit http://www.coloradocolfaxmarathon.org/. America SCORES Denver will provide each team and individual runner with their own personalized fundraising page for the event.

Marathon and Half Marathon Fundraising Packages:

All-Star- $250
Benefits Include:

• A healthy body and the knowledge that you are supporting SCORES poet athletes!
• Registration fee covered by America SCORES Denver
• America SCORES Denver T-shirt
• Email training tips and updates (Every 2 weeks)
• Participation in SCORES group runs
• SCORES team dinner/celebration after the race

MVP- $500
Benefits Include:

• A healthy body and the knowledge that you are supporting SCORES poet athletes!
• Registration fee covered by America SCORES Denver
• America SCORES Denver t-shirt
• Email training tips and updates (every 2 weeks)
• Participation in SCORES team runs
• SCORES team dinner/celebration after the race
• Rapids tickets for 4
• Discounted running gear
• Starbucks gift card

Golden Boot - $1000
Benefits Include:

• A healthy body and the knowledge that you are supporting SCORES poet athletes!
• Registration fee covered by America SCORES Denver
• America SCORES Denver t-shirt
• Email training tips and updates (every 2 weeks)
• Participation in SCORES team runs
• SCORES team dinner/celebration after the race
• Rapids tickets for 4
• Discounted running gear
• Starbucks gift card
• Sports massage gift certificate
• Dinner for 2 at a local Denver restaurant (TBD)

Marathon Relay Team (5 people):
Raise $1000 as a team and complete the race and each member will receive:

• A healthy body and the knowledge that you are supporting SCORES poet athletes!
• Registration fee covered by America SCORES Denver
• America SCORES Denver t-shirt
• 2 Rapids Tickets
• Starbucks Gift Card
• Discounted Running Gear
• SCORES team dinner/celebration after the race

Race Day Volunteer
Volunteer on race day (May 16th, 2010), and become eligible to fundraise and win prizes at each level - All-Star, MVP, or Golden Boot.

Top Fundraiser will receive a weekend vacation in Summit County.
Top Team prize to be announced.

Announcing the 2010 National Poetry Slam Participants

The competition was rough this year as 22 poet-athletes performed for a spot to participate in the National Poetry Slam in New York on April 19th.  After careful consideration, we are proud to announce our two winners: Daeja R. from Cowell Elementary and Javier O. from Barnum Elementary.  These two students will be representing SCORES Denver on an all expense paid trip to New York where they will perform their poems at the New York Stock Exchange.  This will be a big fundraiser for the National SCORES organization, and a unique experience for these two incredible students.

Left: Students at Auditions; Right: Daeja R.

Calling all Artists!

America SCORES Denver and Think 360 Arts are coming together to bring poetry to life…

We would like to take this opportunity and announce that America SCORES Denver and Think 360 Arts are partnering to bring the Inspired Art Project to Denver!  Modeled off of projects done in Bay Area, California and Chicago, Illinois, the Inspired Art Project enlists local artists to create and donate original works, drawing their inspiration from poetry written by 3rd to 5th grade students of America SCORES Denver’s after school program. All submitted artwork will be auctioned at the Inspired Art Show on April 29th, 2010 with proceeds going to benefit America SCORES Denver and Think 360 Arts.

Through this cycle of inspiration and influence, urban students are able to witness their creativity brought to life, artists are able to build connections with diverse communities around the city, and supporters of America SCORES Denver and Think 360 Arts are able to see the profound impact children’s words can have on others. The creative interpretation that local artists display in their work shows our youth the power and limitless impact of their words and voice.


If you are interested in learning more about the Inspired Art Project, please contact Kristine Rees at 303.832.5879 or krees@americascores.org.  Also, please visit our event webpage at http://inspiredartdenver.wordpress.com/ for further information on how to get involved.

2010: What's Your New Year's Resolution?

We usually make new years resolutions all about ourselves...

We're challenging you to help us change that.

Here's how: Go to http://www.newyear4kids.wordpress.com/ and tell us what you will do for kids this year!