"Laff Hole" to Benefit SCORES on Wednesday 12-15-2010

The People's Republic of Komedy presents its"Laff Hole" Comedy Show on Wednesday December 15th, with the proceeds to benefit SCORES. The very talented and hilarious Kermet Apio will be headlining the event. Kermet has been performing comedy for over 20 years and was the winner of the 2009 Great American Comedy Festival. He has had numerous appearances on television and radio and is a past winner of the Seattle Comedy Competition.

This show also features Timmy Williams (The Whitest Kids U'Know), Portland comedian Ian Karmel, Seattle's own Fay Canale, and is co-hosted by Derek Sheen and Seattle Sounder Taylor Graham. Additional Sounders players, live DJ, and a prize drawing will be happening as well.

Sounders players Mike Fucito, Pat Noonan and others will be there from 9:00-9:45 to sign autographs and meet SCORES Supporters!

Doors open at 8pm and comedy starts at 10pm. There will be plenty of time to head over from the Sounders' Columbian Relief Fund Benefit at Fuel and still see all of the comedy!



Tickets can be found Here.



More info on "Laff Hole" & People's Republic of Komedy can be found Here

America SCORES Seattle Season in Review

The SCORES Season is finished for the Fall and we are all gearing up for a fantastic holiday season. This Fall Season was particularly special, with all SCORES teams really showing both their powerful poetry and soccer skills. Our two major events, Fall Frenzy! and The Poetry Slam were both major successes and we are sure that Spring will be even more fun! Check out some of the best pictures from this Fall Season!

Having a blast at SCORES practice

Maple Elementary getting a soccer lesson from Coach Trevor Stevenson

The SPU Men's Soccer Team challenged our SCORES teams to a game during Fall Frenzy!

SCORES RULES!

Sounders players Miguel Montano and Taylor Graham made a surprise appearance at Fall Frenzy!

Many of the SCORES students are proud to wear their SCORES scarves to school!

Working hard writing a poem for the Poetry Slam!


There is a lot to be excited about in SCORES !

ECS End-Of-Season Party To Benefit America SCORES Seattle

The Emerald City Supporters, Seattle Sounders FC and MLS' premiere soccer supporter's group, are throwing their end-of-the-season party on December 4th. The party is to celebrate the Seattle Sounders 2010 season and a portion of the proceeds will benefit America SCORES Seattle and The Boys and Girls Club of Renton. The party will be held at the Cirque Events Center at 9.00pm and will have live music, fantastic auction items, and an awesome DJ, as well as appearances by Sounders players, coaches, and administration!

LIVE MUSIC/ DJ:
HIJALTI VS. MINIATURE AIRLINES (ECS Member Band)
UNINVITED (ECS Member Band)
DJ eBAM - Eagle Bear Morgan (ECS Member)
VICTOR MENEGAUX - The West Coast Mash-Up King
GRAMMATRAIN - The geniuses behind the unofficial rock anthem of the Seattle Sounders, "The Last Sound

All are encouraged to join in what will surely be an awesome night!

Poetry Slam Recap!

Our Eighth Annual Poetry Slam was a huge success! Held on November 18th, the event was a showcase where all of the SCORES teams performed their poetry. Hundreds of friends, family members and members of the local community came out to support our poets. The poetry was amazing and everyone was blown away by the performances of all of the SCORES teams!

A special thanks to all of the volunteers and celebrity judges, especially Taylor Graham and James Riley of the Seattle Sounders.

Poetry Slam!

America SCORES Seattle 8th Annual Poetry Slam will be this Thursday, November 18th. The event will be held at Cleveland High School and will take place from 5-7pm. It is the perfect opportunity to see the SCORES teams perform their original works of poetry, which they have been working on all Fall Season! There will be teachers, families, and other community members in attendance, as well as special judges present to offer their support to all of the night's performers! Come join us!



8th Annual Poetry Slam
Cleveland High School

5511 15th Ave.
Seattle, WA 98108
5-7pm

A Big Check- Quite Literally

Seattle Sounders FC recently presented America SCORES Seattle with a big check for $20,000 during halftime of their playoff game against the LA Galaxy. Here are some pictures of the SCORES teams from Maple Elementary with the huge check!!

Suite Tickets for the Sounders Playoffs!!

America SCORES Seattle is offering exclusive suite tickets to the Sounders playoff game on Sunday October 31st. With a $50 DONATION PER TICKET, you will be sitting in a luxury suite with other SCORES Supporters watching the Sounders beat up on David Beckham and the LA Galaxy. Email MQuackenbush@AmericaSCORES.org if interested. Hurry up because these tickets are going faster than Landon Donovan's hair!!!

DONATE HERE:
https://seattlescores.ejoinme.org/MyPages/DonationPage/tabid/79504/Default.aspx

Fall Frenzy Recap!

Here is a video of Fall Frenzy with a lot of great shots of the teams, coaches and volunteers!!!

Fall Frenzy!

Our Fall Frenzy Event is today at Starfire! Games are from 4.00-6.30! All of our poet-athletes will be there for a huge soccer tournament to kick off the Fall Season. Come out to support the SCORES' teams!!!



Maps and other info for the event:

STARFIRE SPORTS:
14800 Starfire Way
Tukwila, WA 98188
www.starfiresports.com




We will be on fields 5-7 and you could pick up a game schedule at the event!

Childhood Obesity

The end of September marks the end of National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month. Even though October is here, we still must keep up the fight against Childhood Obesity. With this being so, here is a list of articles relevant to Childhood Obesity in the United States:

http://www.letsmove.gov First Lady Michelle Obama's organization!

http://www.freshhealthyvending.com/healthy-vending/join-the-fight-against-childhood-obesity-in-america/

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/richard-h-carmona-md/childhood-obesity-fightin_b_738304.html

http://www.celebrity-mania.com/news/view/00015950.html
My personal favorite, Nick Jonas and Disney team up with Michelle Obama to combat Childhood Obesity in the US!

http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/david_sarasohn/index.ssf/2010/09/spilling_our_chances_at_the_sc.html

http://www.examiner.com/health-news-in-columbia-mo/obesity-study-links-cold-virus-to-childhood-obesity

With the Fall season now in full swing, SCORES is doing its best to keep our student-athletes both happy and healthy.

Hear From Our Coaches!!

Our program is starting up for this year and we had the chance to ask some of our soccer and writing coaches questions about their motivation to be a part of SCORES, as well as the role the program plays in the lives of the poet-athletes.



WHY DID YOU GET INVOLVED WITH SCORES?

"Its an excellent program that keeps children motivated at school and at home! It builds leaders in our school."
-Terese Metz, Soccer Coach at Dunlap Elementary

"I got involved with SCORES because it is a solid program that promotes academic, physical, and social team skills that help mold students into more rounded citizens."
-Jonathan Ruiz, Soccer Coach at Bailey Gatzert Elementary



WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART OF THE SCORES SEASON?

"My favorite parts are the team building, friendship and support of the students, and the sportsmanship showed. This is hard to develop at our school because most of our students don't have opportunities to play, interact in groups, or be a part of team events and activities"
-Katherine Berg, Writing Coach at Bailey Gatzert Elementary

"I like the Poetry Slam. The kids get really involved in the preparation and are very excited about the event."
-Jean Wylie, Writing Coach at Highland Park Elementary



WHAT LONG-TERM IMPACTS DO YOU BELIEVE SCORES WILL HAVE ON THE STUDENTS, BOTH IN AND OUT OF SCHOOLS?

"They feel good about themselves. They gain self-respect and make friends, all while practicing their writing with poetry."
-Marjorie Habbestad, Writing Coach at Highland Park Elementary

"The beauty of SCORES is that it is a powerful program that solidifies team-building, sportsmanship, social, physical, and mental skills that become the foundation of a student's hollistic health, as well as the foundation to develop the students as active and well-rounded citizens."
-Jonathan Ruiz, Soccer Coach at Bailey Gatzert


It is always great hearing from our coaches and we are thankful for their amazing dedication.

KICKS 4 KIDS Review

KICKS 4 KIDS was a huge success at Kells on Saturday! We raised $8,000 for SCORES and got to watch the Sounders beat up on the Columbus Crew! Thank you to all who came out and made Saturday such a success. A special thanks to Craig Walker and his committee for organizing the event, as well as Seattle Sounders' players Brad Evans, Pete Vagenas and former Sounder/Coach Dick McCormick for coming out to Kells. We already have big ideas for next year's KICKS 4 KIDS! Also, be sure to check out our other events coming up very soon!

KICKS 4 KIDS on the Sounders Website

Today the Seattle Sounders' official website posted a news article about our upcoming event KICKS 4 KIDS. The event is this Saturday the 18th from 3pm to 7pm and will be at Kells Irish Pub and Restaurant. We will be showing the Seattle Sounders take on the Columbus Crew and also having a live auction with lots of great prizes. The hype for KICKS 4 KIDS is building, and the event will surely be a blast!

Check out the Sounders' article and get your tickets:


Sounders Official Website
http://www.soundersfc.com/News/Articles/2010/09-September/Kicks4Kids.aspx

Tickets

https://seattlescores.ejoinme.org/MyPages/Kicks4Kids/tabid/228650/Default.aspx

Great New America SCORES PSA!

Check out the new America SCORES PSA just released by the national office:

America SCORES PSA from America SCORES on Vimeo.

The great new PSA offers even more insight to the philosophy and goal of the America SCORES program. It shows former U.S. Men's National Team Star and present ESPN Soccer Analyst John Harkes talking about his support of the program. Also, MLS veteran Mike Petke discusses the role of the SCORES program in the lives' of the children in his local community. Check it out!

New Scarves!

The official America SCORES Seattle scarves have arrived! These fancy soccer scarves were provided by the great guys at Ruffneck Scarves and will be given to all of our poet-athletes. These scarves will also fit perfectly around the shoulders of any America SCORES Seattle supporter and will be available for purchase at SCORES events, including our KICKS 4 KIDS Event on September 18th. Keep an eye out for these awesome scarves because they will be going fast!


Check out other awesome scarves by Ruffneck Scarves at www.RuffneckScarves.com

Seattle University Men's Soccer Tournament!

The Seattle University Men's Soccer Team are hosting a fantastic soccer tournament this weekend. The Redhawks are welcoming the University of Michigan, Gonzaga University, and University of Illinois Chicago to their fields for a round-robin style tournament. All the games sound great and this tournament will offer a great opportunity for kids to discover the exciting world of college soccer.

Tournament Game Schedule

Friday, Sept. 10th

1 pm University of Michigan v. University of Illinois Chicago
3:30 pm Seattle University v. Gonzaga University

Sunday Sept. 12th

11 am Gonzaga University v. University of Illinois Chicago
1:30 pm Seattle University v. University of Michigan

$1 tickets at the 13th Avenue entrance if you wear red!

Kicks 4 Kids!

Make sure and click on on the link on the right to get your tickets for this wonderful event organized by one of our board members, Craig Walker. It will be a great night full of prizes, Sounders and Huskies on the big screen, food, drinks, and all this while supporting our great program at America SCORES Seattle! Kells will also be showing The Huskies take on the Nebraska Cornhuskers as well. There will be lots of futball and football on the 18th. Get down to Kells!

Here's what Craig had to say about the upcoming event:

“I’m excited for the 2nd Annual Kicks 4 Kids to be held at Kells, our organizing committee has come up with some great auction items again this year. Last year we raised over $5,000 and we look forward to raising even more money this year.”

Sounders Pub Crawl Tonight at Spectator!!

UPDATE

We're getting one more jersey for fans to get their hands on. It's a Fernandez jersey, to be signed today. The Sounders also said they were bringing some surprise items for SCORES to add to the prize drawing. Get over to the Spectator to get your hands on these great items Tonight at 5!!

We're also going to have a Blaise Nkufo autographed jersey, Fredy Montero jersey, and autographed Gonzalez, Nyassi and Zakuani soccer balls. Also the coolest gift, which will be auctioned off live, is a blank jersey to be signed by all the players there on Thursday while the auction winner is wearing the jersey.

Sounders Pub Event on Thursday!

UPDATE

Just heard David Estrada has confirmed! Our emcee for the Q & A will be, none other than, Matt Gaschk. Also, the World Cup brackets, we have three, are filled out by James Riley, Taylor Graham and Roger Levesque did one, and one by Chris Henderson. Great items!

UPDATE

We just got word that Fredy Montero will be at Spectator!! Also that every player in attendance on Thursday will be signing a jersey together and it will be part of the silent auction.



There is a Sounders FC Pub Crawl event next week, August 26th! We're hanging out at The Spectator Bar and Grill in Queen Anne.

The Pub Crawl begins at 5 pm and will last until 8 pm. The players will hang out from 6 to 7:30, answer questions with emcee Matt Gaschk, as well as mingle with fans.

The night will feature watching a Europa league game with a halftime Q & A session with Taylor Graham, Roger Levesque, Mike Fucito and Nate Jaqua. More players to be announced, so stay tuned.

There will also be two signed jerseys, a few soccer balls, and World Cup brackets that were filled out by Sounders players in a prize drawing.

All prize drawing tickets will benefit America SCORES Seattle!

Keep checking the blog for more details as they are posted!

SCORES New York Makes CBS

Our Affiliate in New York was recently featured on the CBS Morning News. Here's the clip of some of the New York staff and students, along with our National CEO Norma Barquet. She is quoted as calling, "Soccer is like poetry in motion." This is a concise summary of why soccer and poetry go together so well.

Along with the news segment, one of the National board members, John Harkes, an ESPN soccer analyst, wrote a piece for the Wall Street Journal. The piece is an interesting analysis of soccer in the U.S.

SCORES Cup Going Great

The competition was fierce this weekend. The teams from Amazon.com, Boeing, Expedia, Microsoft, Puget Sound Energy, Starbucks, Soccer West, Sounders FC, Warner Bros., and UPS, were out of the pitch showing why soccer is a fun game for everyone, no matter the skill level or age. They also showed the beauty of soccer when a team of individuals fluidly move the ball from one end of the field to the other.

It was a great weekend in the sun for everyone at Starfire Sports Complex. Everyone at SCORES appreciates being the beneficiary of the tournament and the great sports all the players have been. They're great examples for all of the 192 SCORES poet-athletes!

At the end of Sunday the teams headed for the XBOX Pitch at Qwest field are:

Men's Division
Starbucks v. Microsoft
Coed Division
Sounders Rave Green v. Microsoft

Players were honored on Sunday with the Golden Boot and Outstanding Keeper awards

The Golden Boot and Outstanding Keeper

Men's Division:
Jeff Hallenbeck of Starbucks won the Golden Boot, he scored 9 goals over the weekend!
Chris Rouland of Microsoft took home the Outstanding Keeper Award, he only allowed 1 goal!

Coed Division:
Edwin Heslinga of Microsoft brought the Golden Boot home, he scored 6 goals in 3 games!
Rick Prologo of Microsoft left with the Outstanding Keeper, allowing only 2 goals!

Good luck to everyone in the finals and we'll see you at QWEST.

Corporate Cup Begins Tonight

SCORES is buzzing today as the Sounders FC Corporate Cup is about to begin!

All the players from the teams are going to begin tournament with a party tonight at Amber in Belltown. There are going to some great prizes to bid on, all donated from teams in the tournament. There will be a few Sounders mingling and giving tactical advice.

So be there, get to know your Seattle Sounders, your corporate soccer players and help SCORES!

Then tomorrow the games begin. In a marquis match-up, United Parcel Service will clash with Expedia on Saturday, July 24th at 4:30PM. Team UPS, outfitted in brown soccer uniforms, will arrive at the field in a customized delivery van at 3:30PM where they’ll be greeted by Team Expedia toting their trademark, yellow-branded suitcases. The group will pose for photos and video from 3:30-4:00PM at the entrance to the Sounders Training Grounds.

Hope to see you there!

Paragon was a HIT!!

Thanks to everyone who made it over to Paragon last night! Everyone had a great time watching Taylor Graham carefully pour the beers, with his teammates Roger Levesque, Nate Jaqua, Pat Noonan, Mike Fucito, and James Riley. Thanks all of you, every time you sub-in behind the bar, a SCORES elementary student gets to keep playing soccer!

The Sounders attracted the guests who collectively donated almost $900 to Seattle's youth getting soccer and writing coaching for more seasons to come!!

In addition to the Sounders behind the bar, we had great prize drawing items ranging from autographed memorabilia to bottles of wine to restaurant gift certificates. It great to see some SCORES supporters walk home with these.

We also have to give a big shout out to Paragon for hosting the shindig, getting Budweiser to make some posters and provide Sounders FC pint glasses. Thanks!

Also, thanks to Flavor of Seattle who keep coming to our events and donating a portion of their gift card sales to SCORES. Keep it guys, we appreciate it.

Corporate Cup Right Around the Corner

The Sounders FC Corporate Cup is a soccer event bringing together many Northwest corporations for soccer and networking, all the while raising money for America SCORES Seattle.

So far, the 2010 Cup has attracted the likes of Expedia, Amazon.com, Microsoft, Starbucks, Puget Sound Energy, Sounders Corporate, UPS, and Boeing just announced they are joining up too. All these corporations are going to have at least one team in the cup.

"The first annual Sounders Corporate Cup is going to be an amazing event," said Chad Mack, the event organizer. "When players don their corporate jerseys they experience a great sense of pride in their companies, and to play the beautiful game to support a great charity like America SCORES Seattle makes it just all that much sweeter."

Chad's day-job is as a communications manager for Microsoft and he also runs a small public relations agency, Mack Marketing.

Chad has organized events like in the past, most recently he put together the 2009 Puget Sound Corporate Soccer Challenge, an event that helped raise over $14,000 for the Ronald McDonald House.

The tournament will consist of a men's division and a coed division competing to show which company will be number one on the pitch. The 2010 champions will be able to watch the Sounders game from a luxury suite the same night!

Everyone at the SCORES office is excited to attend the pre-tournament bash on July 23rd at Amber in Belltown and the chance to step onto XBOX pitch. There is going to be live music, Sounders players, a silent auction, and

CUP INFO.
The preliminary Cup matches begin July 24th and 25th, at the Sounders FC's training facility, Starfire Sports Complex. The championship matches will be on Aug. 8th on the XBOX Pitch.

To learn more, please visit www.sounderscorporatecup.com.

2010 Auction: An Inspirational Event

The SCORES 2010 Auction was a resounding success! We had a strong turnout with some longtime SCORES friends and new guests joining us for the first time. This mix of people meant a room full of passionate supporters who helped on Friday, and will in the future.

The night featured some famous guests like Boston Celtics basketball legend, Bill Russell; and Sounders FC heroes like Brad Evans, Roger Levesque and, SCORES Seattle's board member, Taylor Graham. These wonderful SCORES supporters all donated items and their time in an effort to help our students. Your efforts are appreciated and will be remembered.

In addition to the wonderful guests, the night featured a moving speech about the affects our program has on each and every student from one of our principals, and board member, Carmella Dellino from Roxhill Elementary. She spoke about the challenges each student faces in their daily lives, and how SCORES is an escape for many; she spoke about the confidence each student earned from participating in the soccer, writing poetry and helping others. The crowd stood up in applause as she finished.

After the speech is when people gave most generously. They weren't bidding on items, they weren't thinking about the food, or dessert to come. They were just donating any amount they could. As a first time SCORES auction attendee, it was inspirational to watch. It showed the supporters in the room were there because they believed in SCORES and our mission.

We want to send a huge thank you to everyone who generously bid on all of our great items that were donated from individuals and businesses who cared enough to help SCORES continue our program, and ensure future successes for our poet-athletes.

Also, thank you to the auction sponsors: Ruffneck Scarves, who donated the beautiful official 2010 auction scarves; Small Lot Co-op, for the evenings delicious wine; K & H printing, for all of the printed materials we needed to make the night possible; the Sounders FC, for all of the wonderful items and support! Thanks everyone.

SCORES Auction is TONIGHT!!!

Here is a reminder about the details for the Auction:

7th Annual SCORES Auction & Gala
A World Cup Night to Unite for Children

Where: Qwest Field's FSN Lounge
When: (Tomorrow) Friday June 11th
6 p.m. Hors d'oeuvres & Silent Auction
7:30 p.m. Dinner & Live Auction

What to Wear: Cocktail Attire
Where to Park: Complimentary Parking in the Qwest Event Center Parking Garage

The Parking Garage is on the south side of Qwest Field on the north side of Royal Bourgham Way, directly across from Safeco Field. Royal Bourgham Way can be accessed from with 4th Ave. S., or 1st Ave. S.

There will be parking attendants on duty to help direct guests to the correct floor to park on, as well as into the FSN Lounge. Please make sure when your guests arrive that they inform the attendant they are there for the SCORES Auction & Gala.

Walking Directions:
If a guest is planning on walking, or is going to be entering Qwest Field on foot, they should proceed to the parking garage entrance on the north side of Royal Bourgham Way. There is an elevator next to the car entrance. Take the elevator to the 5th Floor. Then walk straight across the parking garage to the Club Entrance. This will lead directly into the FSN Lounge.

Below is a map of the area with directions coming from I-90 headed west: (click on "view larger map" for specific directions)


View Larger Map

Below is a map of the area with directions coming from I-5 headed south: (click on "view larger map" for specific directions)


View Larger Map

Below is a map of the area with directions coming from I-5 headed north: (click on "view larger map" for specific directions)


View Larger Map

Sounders FC Guest Bartender Night

Tonight is the night Sounders & SCORES Fans!!

Scores will be the beneficiary of the Sounders FC Guest Bartender Night at Post tonight. This fun event will feature Sounders FC players off the pitch and behind the bar, all to support SCORES.

Sounders favorites like Nate Jaqua, Roger Levesque and Taylor Graham will be mixing drinks for anyone who visits Post in Pike Place Alley. There will also be a prize drawing with great gifts donated from Kell’s Irish Restaurant & Pub, Post and the Seattle Sounders FC. All proceeds will benefit SCORES.

“America SCORES is very happy to be teaming up with Post and the Seattle Sounders FC for our first ever Sounders FC Guest Bartender Night,” said America SCORES Seattle board member and event organizer Craig Walker. “We anticipate a very fun and exciting evening with lots of great prize drawing items to be won. Also, remember to tip big because all proceeds will be donated to help SCORES programs. You can look forward to having your favorite cocktail made by a Sounder.”

So after work tonight, make sure and get to

The Sounders FC Guest Bartender Night

from 6 to 9 p.m. at Post in Pike Place Market, Seattle.

The SCORES 2010 Auction & Gala Catalog has Arrived

The 2010 SCORES Auction & Gala, a World Cup themed evening at Qwest Field's FSN Lounge, is almost here. So, to get our supporters excited about the upcoming festivities, and being prepared for the evening, here is the Auction catalog (click on the image above).

The catalog features all of the items procured, so far, that are going to be auctioned off during the World Cup Night to Unite for Children. There will additions to the auction catalog that we'll announce the night of the Auction, or on our Facebook page, Twitter, or here on the blog.

Also, there are tickets still remaining! So, if you want a chance to bid on any of items listed, or a festive evening at Qwest Field supporting SCORES, please just click on the link in the upper right corner of the blog homepage.

Dunalp Students Attend Make a Difference Summit

A few of our SCORES students from Dunlap Elementary will be attending the Make a Difference Summit at the KCTS Seattle Center Studio. The students will be giving a 10 minute presentation about their community service projects that they completed during the SCORES season.

The Dunlap boys held a recyclable electronics drive in their school. They collected all kinds of electronics ranging from cell phones to VHS players to other electronics item people may normally just throw away. After they collected all the items they dropped them off at 3R Technology in Seattle. From the 3R Technology they will be headed to the KCTS Seattle Center Studio to give their presentation.

Below is a video of the SCORES students answering questions from fellow community volunteers about their project.

The event is being hosted by IslandWood, an outdoor learning center on Bainbridge Island.

SCORES hits the airwaves in Seattle

Recently our Executive Director Carole Kelley and board member Taylor Graham-who played his full 90 during the winning game against BOCA Juniors on Wednesday- were interviewed on local Seattle radio show, The Soul of Seattle. Along with Taylor and Carole, a couple of our longest serving coaches were on as well, Maple Elementary's Coach Z., and Coach Stevenson. Both highlighted the importance of SCORES in their schools and their communities.

Here is a link to the segment.

New Auction Scarves just Arrived

Check out these new Scarves that were made for
us by our newest partners Ruffneck Scarves.

These are awesome!! All SCORES fans, Scarves up!

Thanks again to our Great Partner, Ruffneck Scarves!

Jamboree Today at Starfire

Please come and visit the SCORES students, staff and a few special guests today at Starfire Sports Complex in Tukwila. Please click on the image above to link to a map and directions.

Who: All SCORES poet-athletes
Where: Starfire Sports Complex
When: 4 to 6:00 p.m.

Be sure and dress warm and be ready for the rain. We'll see you at Starfire!

Roxhill Girls have a Bake Sale

The Roxhill girls had a bake sale last Friday. As the SCORES staff members arrived at the elementary school, we were surprised to see so many signs the girls had made around the school promoting the event.
Then as the staff entered the outside play area where the sale was taking place and we were shocked to see so many kids in line to purchase the baked goods! It was great. There were at least two dozen fellow students in line to get the donuts, cookies, cake and other sweets the kids had made and received as donations.
This may not be the healthy eating habits SCORES usually tries to advance, but it's in the name of charity. So, we can't help but support it.
The girls all voted to take the proceeds from the bake sale and purchase as many non-perishable food items as they can afford. Then they will donate the items to the Northwest Harvest, a Seattle non-profit.

The Maple Boys Visit the V.A.

Yesterday SCORES staff went with the Maple Monarchs boys team to Veterans Administration facility on Beacon Hill. The boys walked from their school over to the facility and visited some of the residents there. They began the afternoon with simple conversation and refreshments, but it quickly turned into competitive games of checkers, UNO and other board games.

Many of the poet-athletes thought they were pretty talented checkers players, even bragging about beating friends and relatives. But when the older residents sat down with them, it turned out 50 or more years of experience mattered a little more. The students took their losses in stride, and the checkers champion, I think, let the one student winner win. He knew he shouldn't beat them all. It was a great inter-generational service project.

Highland Park Car Wash

Yesterday our staff's and dozens of community cars got the baths they needed at Highland Park Elementary's car wash. When the SCORES staff showed up, we were all shocked to have to wait in line for the wash, even though this was great for the students fundraising efforts.

So, while we were waiting to get our cars washed, we got in the spirit and helped the student volunteers wash the cars in line ahead of us. It was a blast. Well, at least when I "missed" the car and hosed off some of the kids!

The local Schuck's Auto Supply donated sponges, towels and soap so the kids could wash all the cars they could to raise money for new playground equipment at their school. The kids will conduct a student survey to determine what the other kids at school want, then they will discuss their survey findings and any budget restrictions with the school principal, and then get the equipment. We'll find out what they will have got at the year-end Jamboree in a couple of weeks.

Here is a video of the kids explaining their project to our program director, Jake Witt.

Maple Girls Help Grow a Forest

The Maple girls team was also out serving their community. They teamed up with the Nature Consortium to help protect newly planted trees. The girls all took a van ride from school over to the West Duwamish Greenbelt, Seattle’s largest remaining forest.

While there, the girls were taught about local ecosystems, invasive species, and the importance of citizens in maintaining public lands. The restoration project director at Nature Consortium, nicknamed buphalo, taught the girls about how weeds were choking out the newly planted trees.

So it was going to be the girls duty to use a pickmatic tool to clear away the weeds within a foot of the tree. This way the tree could get the nutrients it needs to survive, then they carried heavy buckets of mulch to lay down around the trees to prevent the weeds from growing back. The girls cleared around 10 trees together and put mulch down too. They did all of this in the hour they were there. It was a lot work done that afternoon, but it was great for Heather and Jake to get out there and have some fun in the dirt with the team.

Here is a video of how the afternoon went, and it shows what exactly they were up to. Enjoy!

Highland Park Brighten People's Day

Yesterday the Highland Park girls team went to the Fleming Home, a nearby assisted living facility, and brightened some resident's day with songs, cards and conversation.

As we walked over to the Home the staff got a glimpse of the students' West Seattle neighborhood, and we got to talk with the team about how their season was going so far. They all agreed, "great." One even came up to me and said she remembered me from our College Kicks event. It was very sweet to be remembered, even if it was only for getting her the coat she left behind at the event.

At the Fleming Home the students began the afternoon with a few songs for the residents. They received an enthusiastic applause. Then the girls went on to hand each of the residents a card they had handmade for the residents. Some of the residents eye sight wasn't very strong, so some of the students even read their cards to audience members. It was very heartwarming to watch.

For all of their efforts, the girls received some freshly baked cookies, fresh squeezed lemonade and a feeling that they brightened a few people's day. Way to go Golden Mustangs!!

Student Service Projects Begin Today

This afternoon the SCORES staff is going to two schools to watch them serve others. Jake and Heather will be going to West Seattle to the West Duwamish Greenbelt, Seattle’s largest remaining forest, to work with the Maple girls team as they clear the area of invasive species and even plant some new native species. The Maple ladies have already put together a butterfly garden at their school, fitting because the school's mascot is the Monarch Butterfly. This will be their first time doing restoration, but they'll be back at it on May 12th.

They will be working with the Nature Consortium, a Seattle non-profit.

The office VISTAs will be going to watch Highland Park, also over in West Seattle, to accompany the girls team's visit to the Fleming Home, an assisted living facility. We're going to walk with the students over to the Home and then the students will spend some time with the people living there. The poets already wrote letters to them and now will get to meet them.

We'll have pictures to update tomorrow for both events.

National Slam Poets Return

Photographer: Sirin Samman

The poets are back and working hard in their spring curriculum, but here is an update about their experience in NYC. SCORES is proud of their performance and the rave reviews we've gotten from our national staff about these two talented young people.

The event began when America SCORES CEO, Norma Barquet rang the Closing Bell at the New York Stock Exchange. A reception on the trading floor that celebrated the program’s accomplishments from around the country followed.

After the reception, the attendees and young poet-athletes transitioned to a dining room where the elementary age students presented their poetry. Eddie and Milla both performed their individual poems and rhymed parts of a group poem featuring all 30 of young poets from across the country.

These 30 students were picked from 4,500 nationwide SCORES participants.Seattle’s Eddie Edwards was chosen to be the second to last individual performer because his poem eloquently summarized the relationship between SCORES and family. Milla was one of ten to receive the honor of sitting next to the CEO of SCORES when Ms. Barquet rang the closing bell at the NYSE.

Eddie also received a big surprise when his parents attended the SCORES soccer and lunch in Central Park on Sunday afternoon. His parents had previously told Eddie they would be unable to make the trip to New York City. It was a joyful reunion!

Here's a link to Milla on the balcony while the closing bell rang. (She's on the viewer's left.)

Corporate Soccer Hooligans to Mob Local Pubs for SCORES

The Sounders FC Corporate Cup 2010 is coming this summer and the buildup events are beginning on Wednesday.

When Seattle's business men and women sneak out of the office to watch Barcelona FC face off against Inter Milan FC in the Championship League Semi-finals, they're going to get mobbed by by Corporate Hooligan crews. These hooligan men and women will challenge any of the soccer fans playing hooky to assemble a corporate crew and enter the soccer charity event to benefit America SCORES Seattle this July.

Soccer players from Amazon.com, Expedia, Microsoft, Puget Sound Energy, UPS and America SCORES Seattle will storm Fado Irish Pub, Fox Sports Grill and George & Dragon Pub on Wednesday to recruit businesses for Seattle Sounders FC Corporate Cup 2010.

Please check out the link to register your crew, or learn more at Seattle Sounders FC Corporate Cup 2010.

Here is a link to the Seattle Times Sounders FC blog that has a write up about the events.

Sounders FC's United We Serve Campaign Kicks Off

Our community partner, Sounders FC are kicking off their first United We Serve event event of the 2010 season. The volunteering opportunity will be this Sunday, April 18th at Franklin High School going from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. There will be players and coaches attending from 9 to 10 a.m.!

The United We Serve events are monthly volunteer opportunities where fans can work together with Sounders players and coaches to improve local Seattle communities. The event is being led by the non-profit, Rebuilding Together Seattle along with support from Seattle Bank.

This community service ties in with the SCORES spring program because our kids focus their writing efforts on a community project. The student-athletes develop an idea for a project, implement it, and then share it with the community at our spring Jamboree event on May 20th.

SCORES is teaching the students that they can make a difference in their community and the Sounders are showing that off the pitch, they can too. The kids realize that with their own individual projects are part of a larger effort going on throughout the Puget Sound. This is an awesome example for the students!

Thanks for being role models Sounders, on and off the field.

Link for more information.

National Poets Nailed it on New Day

Yesterday was a pretty exciting day for our the America SCORES Seattle national poets, Eddie and Milla, they were on New Day Northwest on KING5 here in Seattle! It was a great experience for them and our staff.

The morning began with them missing morning of school to go to the KING5 studios. Which they didn't seem to mind, but they both said they did their homework the night before. There they met got to tour the show's set, practice their poems before they went on air and then sit in the green room (which is actually peach colored).

You could sense their nervous energy as they were waiting to get to the taping. Eddie was juggling water bottles, and he could actually do about three or four full juggles. Milla was quiet compared to her normal talkative self and always drawing cats and mice on a piece of paper.

Then the producer came in and said it was time for makeup. Eddie was not pleased. But they went into the dressing room got their anti-shine makeup on and waited a few more moments before they, and Carole, our executive director, made it on the stage.

SCORES wants to thank New Day Northwest for the opportunity! Also, great job Eddie and Milla!

Seattle's National Poets to be on TV Tomorrow

America SCORES Seattle's two National Poets are going to be on a weekday mid-morning show tomorrow! Eddie and Milla are going to be on New Day Northwest and slam their poems before a live studio audience and host Margaret Larson. The program airs at 11 a.m. on KING 5.

Eddie and Milla will answer a few questions on air too. They are going to practice answering questions and rehearse their poems tonight. It is one of their last rehearsals before the April 19th National Slam at the stock exchange in New York City.

In addition to Eddie and Milla, our executive director Carole Kelley will be on too to answer questions about SCORES and what we do. It's really exciting for all the staff as well as the kids.

Here is a link to New Day Northwest's web site.

College Kicks Went Great!!

College Kicks was a huge success yesterday!! All of the players had a great time running drills, seeing what a college campus looks like and asking real college students how they got to where they are today.

We want to send a huge thank you to the Seattle University men's soccer team for helping run the drills and be on the panel discussion. Thanks to our board for helping the event run smoothly. Also, thanks to all the law and undergraduate students who took time from their schedules to be tour guides for the kids and show them around campus, and last, but definitely not least, to Seattle University for allowing this inspiring event to happen on their campus.

Here is a slide show of the event.

We got a little press on event too!

Seattle U. Spectator

The Examiner

Autographed Sounders FC Lithographs

-Image from sanfordholien.com

America SCORES Seattle Benefits from the Sale of These Prints

The prints not only display many of Sounders star players from their inaugural MLS season, but they're also autographed by the Sounders FC's world-class goal keeper Kasey Keller. They are a true collectors item, each print is numbered and autographed by the artist, Sanford Holien. Holien has pledged to donate a portion of the royalties from the sales of the prints to America SCORES Seattle. Holien is an artist with a studio in Olympia, WA.

Each print has the fan favorites from their first MLS season: Kasey Keller, Coach Sigi, Freddie and Fredy, Tyrone Marshall, Osvaldo Alonso, James Riley, Patrick Ianni, Steve Zakuani, Jhon Kennedy Hurtado, Brad Evans, and Nate Jaqua.

These brightly colored lithographs would be great for any Sounders fan to have in their home, or at the office.

To learn more about the artist and these one-of-a-kind works of art, here is a link to Holien's web site.

College Kicks is almost Here!!

College Kicks is right around the corner and everyone here at SCORES is getting excited for the festivities.

Here is a summary of what the kids have ahead of them...

College Kicks is an annual SCORES event where all of our third, fourth, and fifth graders don't go to their normal practices after school, rather they are bused to Seattle University for an afternoon filled with college life. The poet-athletes get to run through soccer drills with a Seattle U soccer team, walk around the campus with a Seattle U student tour guide and then participate in a Q & A session with current students. They'll be asking questions about how to pay for college, what it's like to be a student and, this from last year, "do you have a bed time?" It's an eye-opening experience for all the students.

The event is meant to introduce the poet-athletes to college and hopefully inspire them to pursue higher education. It will also be the first big event of the SCORES spring season.

What America SCORES Seattle's Executive Director Carole Kelley had to say...

“College Kicks is my favorite SCORES event of the year. It serves to open our students’ minds to the possibilities of educational opportunities beyond finishing high school – something many of them may not have even thought about,” said Carole Kelley, America SCORES Seattle Executive Director. “College Kicks provides an opportunity for our students to not only visit a beautiful college campus – to experience how a campus looks and feels, but to relate to college students in a very personal way. America SCORES Seattle is very grateful to Seattle University for providing our students with this meaningful opportunity.”

The Details...

Who: Seattle U student volunteers, our poet-athletes and coaches, and SCORES staff and board

Where: Seattle University's Logan Field for soccer drills and the Student Center for the Q & A session

When: April 7th from 4 to 6:30

Here is a link to the event write up on the Seattle Times' Sounders blog.