• Brand New Jr. SCORES Curriculum
• The Unveiling of the Book Zone • Our Vision for San Francisco
10 YEARS
Our Mission:America SCORES inspires urban youth to lead healthy
lives, be engaged students, and have the confidence and character to make a difference in the world.
Look what’s inside:
November 2011
3
To All of Our Friends and Supporters:
In the 10 years since the founding of America SCORES Bay Area in 2001, we have increased our impact in the
Bay Area from 150 third through fifth grade students to a predicted 1,300 first through fifth grade students in 2012.
Thank you for all of the support that has carried us through our first decade of service to Bay Area youth. This sup-
port has come in countless ways from hundreds of individuals like you.
The past year in particular has been full of daunting challeng-
es and new and exciting endeavors. Alongside a tumultuous
economy that has impacted children, families, and schools,
we have continued to push forward, imagining new ways to
engage students in sports, literacy, and service-learning.
In this newsletter, we highlight the ways that your support has
helped us to deepen our impact and to innovate our pro-
gram. On page 11, you’ll read about our evolving Jr. SCORES
curriculum and meet Zoomba, the star of the “Legend of the
Golden Boot.” On page 15, you’ll learn about how the Book
Zone delivers excitement and the unexpected (a library on
the soccer field?!). We start on page 5 by sharing our “Vision
for San Francisco” and the change we want for children and
for our city.
While our programs strive to be fun and engaging, there is nothing trivial or silly about the complex issues we
tackle -- issues like poverty and disparities in public health and education.
We do what we do because childhood has no second chances. Because the problems are preventable. Because
we can change the status quo for a better reality for all children no matter their economic status. At America
SCORES, we work hard to put the fun in learning. Six days a week, we push open the door for future success de-
spite tremendous headwinds and risk factors faced daily by the children who wear the America SCORES uniform.
Students join an America SCORES team and feel a sense of belonging. They have a coach, a mentor, and a
consistent role-model throughout elementary school. Through soccer we address health, physical fitness, and
nutrition. Through poetry we teach children how to express themselves -- to their friends, family, teachers, and to
the community at-large. At America SCORES, children get an audience and a community that will listen to them,
applaud for them, and push them to achieve their goals.
With your continued support, we can help the next generation of economically disadvantage youth. We can
continue to make our literacy program as fun and as exciting as a soccer game. I hope you will continue to
help us this year -- and the next 10 years -- as we continue to discover new ways to inspire youth and bring about
meaningful change.
Sincerely,
Colin Schmidt
Executive Director
It’s a Wonderful World, But They Made a Few MistakesBy Daniela B., 5th grade, J. Serra Elementary
It’s a wonderful world, but they made a few mistakes. Like leaving out freedom, and putting in slavery.
Like no school lunch, and mean teachers. Like needing to leave, especially when you’re having fun.
Like needing to pay the bills when you’re barely getting enough to eat. Like everyone caring way too much about prettiness.
Like letting there be no help when a person is hurt. Like having one teacher when there are thousands of children.
Like leaving out peace and happiness, and putting in wars and no jobs. Like leaving out a warm shelter for everyone
and putting in homeless people all over the world. It’s a wonderful world, but they made a few mistakes.
Colin Schmidt at the Book Zone unveiling
4 5
OUR VISION FORSAN FRANCISCOAt America SCORES, we have a
vision for a better San Francisco
where all children, despite their
economic situation, can read and
write, play on a sports teams, and
contribute to a better quality of life
for all. We work toward this vision
six days a week in San Francisco’s
most challenged public schools. We
help the poet-athletes of America
SCORES stay on the pathway to
wellness, academic success, and
meaningful work.
This is important In San Francisco
because we have an unrelenting
achievement gap, a mounting
health crisis, and thousands of
children who become detached
from school and the hope of
making a positive contribution to
their community. These preventable
problems persist disproportionately
for children from low-income families.
As early as third grade, nearly 2 out
of 3 students from economically
disadvantaged families are below
proficient in reading and writing
and an astonishing 2 out of 5 are
overweight or obese.
This reality is unacceptable because
we can change it.
We invite you to be part of the
solution and help make San Francisco
better for all children -- regardless of
income. The pathway to success
is paved with support from caring
adults and opportunities for personal
growth like the ones provided by
America SCORES.
“I was a student at an inner-city school when I was a young kid and I know how important those early influences and opportunities are...The thing about America SCORES that is so wonderful is that it fosters both a team spirit and an individual voice plus a voice that speaks about the community.”
- Amy Tan, author of the Joy Luck Club and many others
6 7
2001 150
50% of students qualify for FRPL
SCALE
2011 School Sites3,000 students qualify for Free or Reduced Price Lunch (FRPL)
Potential New School Sites6,000 students qualify for Free or Reduced Price Lunch (FRPL)
Schools where less than 50% of students qualify for FRPL6,000 total students qualify for Free or Reduced Price Lunch (FRPL) in San Francisco
20122007
# of America SCORES Participants
720 1,370
Our goal in San Francisco is to integrate ourselves into school communities and establish programs in 100%
of schools where 50% or more of students qualify for Free or Reduced Price Lunch (FRPL). FRPL is the primary
indicator to determine if a child or family is “economically disadvantaged” and is a function of income
relative to the poverty level.
America SCORES in San Francisco
79% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch (FRPL)
of students are English Language Learners.
4% White5% Multi-Racial
21% Asian/Pacific Islander23% African-American
42% Latino
5% Other
45%
America SCORES Students*
of students scored proficient or higher in English Language Arts35%of students scored in the Healthy Fitness Zone for BMI52%of students scored in the Healthy Fitness Zone for aerobic capacity53%
*in school sites where America SCORES is offered
8 9
COMMITMENT TO IMPACTAmerica SCORES partners with urban public schools to provide a high-quality, team-based program that integrates soccer, creative expression, and service-learning. Each team has a writing coach and a soccer coach. We use
the services of Quality Transformation Team -- an evaluation firm led by Rex Green PhD -- to manage program quality and impact at all school-sites. The reports provide analysis on best practices, cost-effectiveness, and impact of
services at all program sites. Findings from Quality Transformation Team Spring 2011 evaluation are below. The evaluation report concluded that for $225 per season, 68.5 hours of service per program participant can be provided that will
result in participants improving on 8 out of 10 targeted changes in their behavior and attitudes.
Academic and Literacy Skill Development
of parents say that
because of America
SCORES, their child’s
confidence in himself/
herself is better.
of children say that
America SCORES make
them enjoy reading
and writing more.
of parents say that
because of America
SCORES, their
child does his/her
homework better.
of parents say that
because of America.
SCORES, their child
enjoys reading and
writing more.
Connection to School
of parents say that
because of America
SCORES, their child
enjoys going to
school more.
of children say that
America SCORES
makes them enjoy
going to school more.
Health and Physical Activity
of parents say that
because of America
SCORES, their child
enjoys playing
sports more.
of the students
improved their
physical fitness during
the spring season.
of children say
America SCORES
helps them enjoy
playing sports more.
of parents say that
because of America
SCORES, their child’s
health is better.
Pro-Social Behavior
of parents say that
because of America
SCORES, their child
gets along better with
other children.
of children say that
America SCORES
helps them get along
better with their family.
of children say
America SCORES
makes them want to
help others more.
of children say that
America SCORES
helps them get along
better with other kids.
Emotional and Physical Safety
of children say that
America SCORES
makes them feel
good about
themselves.
of parents say
that their child’s
relationship with his/
her coach has been
positive.
90% 77% 77% 64%
76% 85% 84% 93%
96% 92% 79% 92%
85% 81% 84% 74%
10 11
The Legendof the
Golden BootThe Legend of the Golden Boot is a Jr. SCORES curricu-
lum that takes first and second grade America SCORES
teams on a mysterious adventure to find the magic
Golden Boot. Teams must work together, solve prob-
lems, use their imaginations, and reflect on experiences
in order to publish a team book and earn the Boot back.
The Legend of the Golden Boot is a unique, story-based
curriculum that motivates and inspires young students
to discover America SCORES values, work as a team,
and share their own stories with fun, fictional characters
and the America SCORES community.
12 13
Zoomba, an America SCORES Bay Area original char-
acter, is an eight-year-old monkey who was born at
the zoo. Unlike the other animals, he is not content
with life in the cage. He peers enviously through the
bars, watching the humans laugh and play. The other
animals mock him.
One day a little girl walked up to his cage, laughed at
him, and threw her golden soccer shoe into the cage.
“A gift from a human!” thought Zoomba, and he put it
on. His toes tingled, and all of a sudden he could say
some words! The boot gave the young monkey the
gift of language and soccer. Reluctantly, he decided
to share it with the other animals so he could have
someone to play with, but that did not work out. The
animals began fighting over the ball, the score of the
game and the boot.
Zoomba and the animals need the help of Jr. SCORES
players to become a soccer team. They need team
rules, information about being a kid on a team, and help
using their new found ability to speak and play together.
They also need extra help when, in week four, the boot
is stolen. It is up to the Jr. SCORES team to solve the mys-
tery of the Golden Boot, and convince Zoomba that
their team is worthy of keeping it.
What is story-based learning?
Story-based learning is an exciting new pedagogy
that uses a narrative to engage students in educa-
tional activities. To develop the program, America
SCORES Bay Area worked closely with Suzanne Pop-
kin, Ph.D, a literature professor at Stanford University
and U.C. Berkeley, and founder of Bookboing, a com-
pany that develops educational, interactive story-
based software.
Who is
Zoomba?Why story-based learning?
Sitting through another hour-long class after a sev-
en- hour school day can be a challenge for a new
first grader. The narrative of the Golden Boot helps
students approach their after-school time as any-
thing but “more school,” while providing motivation
to complete academic assignments. Props, cartoon
characters, illustrations, stories and clues invite stu-
dents’ imaginations to “leave” the classroom and all
of its stresses behind and embark on an exciting ad-
venture when the bell rings.
Four advantages to story-based learning
Contextualized Learning: Students are more
likely to remember what they learn when they
can connect it to a larger context in which it is rela-
tive to their lives. The narrative provides frame of ref-
erence in which students learn to communicate and
work together to solve meaningful problems in a fun,
safe and playful environment. Students’ emotional
and intellectual engagement with the story and the
characters enriches their learning experiences.
Intrinsic Motivation: Students learn to read and
write better when they choose to engage in
these activities, as opposed to when they are simply
trying to earn a grade or follow a teacher’s instruc-
tions. In the Legend of the Golden Boot, the narrative
inspires students to choose to write in order to help the
characters they relate to in the story. The narrative
provides a new, fun and interactive audience, which
leads to opportunities for authentic and engaging
writing workshops.
Emotional Intelligence: Students must learn how
to perceive and respond to emotions of char-
acters in the narrative in order to successfully help these
characters to make decisions. The narrative provides
room for a type of imaginative play, in which students
can explore emotions in a safe environment, as they
would when they play “house” or “school.” Students
who have meaningful interactions with “ball hogs” or
“bullies” in the story are more prepared to deal with
similar situations when they arise during the season.
Creativity and Imagination: The process of bring-
ing students into the story as characters provides
participants the tools to use imagination to transform
their vision of the world and its possibilities. The change
in perspective will help students to generate and com-
municate new ideas in their writing, art, and discussion.
Einstein once said, “Imagination is more important than
knowledge” and story-based learning is the ultimate
exercise in sustained imagination.
1
2
3
4
Jr. SCORES members from Bryant Elementary holding on to the Golden Boot.
14 15
BOOk ZONEThis fall, America SCORES Bay Area announced the
kick-off of an on-field library dubbed The Book Zone
to help improve childhood literacy in the Bay Area.
Researchers have found that the number of books
a child owns strongly predicts reading achievement
— even after controlling for the parents’ educa-
tion levels and income.1 America SCORES is in the
unique position to leverage the excitement around
the soccer field to help students access books and
become life-long readers.
“One study found that in middle income neigh-
borhoods the ratio is 13 books per child; in low-
income neighborhoods, the ratio is one book for
every 300 children.”2
As The Book Zone continues to grow, we hope to
provide each poet-athlete in our program with 10
books to take home and read at their leisure. When
the students finish reading any book, they return it
1 David Bornstein, “A Book in Every Home, And Then Some,” The New York Times 16 May 2011, <http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/05/16/a-book-in-every-home-and-then-some/?ref=opinion&nl=opinion&emc=tya1>.2 David K. Dickinson and Susan B. Neuman, Handbook of Early Literacy Research (Volume 2. New York, NY 2006).
at an America SCORES Community Saturday Game
Day and exchange it for free for another book of
their choice.
The Book Zone promotes reading by providing chil-
dren with access to books and with support and in-
centives linked to reading.
America SCORES is resolved to help children find their
voice. Our goal is to provide children with the oppor-
tunity to love reading as much as they love playing
soccer. Yet when students do not have the opportu-
nity to read independently and own great books, it is
unlikely they will become authors themselves.3
In San Francisco, nearly two out of three economi-
cally disadvantaged students in third grade are be-
low proficient in their reading and writing skills. Of
children who do not read at grade level by third
grade, 74% never catch up.4 This is unacceptable
3 Literacy Crisis, 2004, Reading Tree, 3 Nov. 2011 <http://www.readingtree.org/about-us/54>.4 ”Opening the Reading Door,” Children’s Reading Foun-dation, 2010, Children’s Reading Foundation, 2 Nov. 2011 <http://www.readingfoundation.org/Opening-the-Reading-Door.jsp>.
Parents, students, coaches and community members explore the Book Zone on opening day. The new field-side library brings new excitement to reading.
Continued on next page...
THE AMERICA SCORES
16 17
when we know something as simple as book-owner-
ship can make a difference.5
If these students fall behind, their motivation to suc-
ceed in school will evaporate. When it comes to
reading, childhood has no second chances.
The implications of illiteracy on individuals can
be tragic and the costs to society are enormous.
Among adults at the lowest level of literacy profi-
ciency, 43 percent live in poverty, and 85 percent
of juvenile offenders have reading problems. Near-
ly 50 percent of all adults in U.S. Federal and State
correctional institutions cannot read or write at all.3
Suffice to say that illiteracy and low literacy can be
linked to almost every socio-economic problem in
the United States and abroad.
5 “Statistics on Literacy,” First Book, First Book, 2 Nov. 2011 <http://www.firstbook.org/images/pdf/Statistics-on-Literacy.pdf>.
America SCORES brings play to language and to
sport and now we bring books to children’s homes
and a library to their soccer fields. With the help of
our partners and supporters, together we can give
each child a team, a soccer coach, a writing coach,
a jersey, a soccer ball, and writing supplies. And now
we plan to give them books to call their own.
We believe children succeed when given support,
opportunity, and inspiration. The Book Zone has be-
come one of the important ways America SCORES
helps children turn the page toward a better future.
As students learn to read and to express themselves
and to articulate their goals, they will become the
authors of their future.
What are Cleveland Girls…by Cleveland Elementary School Girls’ Select Team
I’m not ascared of boys
girla cry baby
girla mean or angry or rude
girla dramatic cheater
want to beat hergirlI’m
a pretty hotgirl
a lightning fast down the fieldgirl
a reading bookskiller looks
a smarty pantsloves to dance
girlpony tails
and painted nailssoccer cleats
and San Francisco streetsthat’s what
a Cleveland girl’s…Made of.
In October, through a partnership with ASCAP, the Cleveland Girls collaborated with Chicago-based hip-hop artist Psalm One, a former
America SCORES Bay Area coach, to write and record an original song. The girls recorded at Different Fur Studios in San Francisco.
18 19
THANkYOU!
David AggerEric AshbridgeBain & CompanyThe Bank of America FoundationKim and Jonathan BarryBay Area Community ResourcesBay Area Women’s Soccer LLCBay Area Youth Sports FoundationEllen and Patrick BechererBingham McCutchen LLPDale and Stephen BlockBeth BodenheimerLydia and John BoeschRon BurksDenise BurleyCarla CamarenaFred CavenCity and County of San FranciscoCommunity Youth Center of San FranciscoJustin ConwayRon ConwayThomas CosgroveThe Crescent Porter Hale FoundationLauren and Alan DachsMelinda and Peter DarbeeDeloitteSorel and Jonathan DenholtzMichael DixonErnst and YoungFidelity Charitable Gift FundLaura and John FisherGeneral Mills FoundationGGS FoundationGiants Community FundStephen GillettePeter GlikshternGoldman SachsGale and Dusty GriffinHahn Family WinesAnne and Lawrence Hambly
Hanson Bridgett LLPAndrew HartmanPeter HillenbrandJoan and John HillenbrandJohn HillmanThe Horace W. Goldsmith FoundationHurvis Charitable FoundationSuzanne and Joe JachinowskiErin KaiserSandra Cohn and Mark KannettBonnie and Glenn KeetNicolas KenigMartha and Raoul KennedyMathilda KhabbazShoukry KhabbazIbinabo KrukruboLisa LacayoSylvie Blumstein and Uri LadabaumJohn LockhartRichard and Natalie LogginsAmy LymanSandra and Shep MaherMarketing WerksMary A. Crocker TrustKaren McGuinnMcKinsey & CompanyJoy and Thomas MisteleHarriet Heyman and Michael MoritzDaniel MyersNetwork For GoodNextagErin and Tim O’DonovanEamon O’GormanEric ObengFrank PatitucciLaura PuccinelliNonie RamsayBarbara and Jack RedingLily and Andrew RiesenfeldFred Rodoni
John RookeRoyal Netherlands EmbassyLorae RussoThe SAKSalesforce FoundationSan Francisco Department of Children, Youth and Their FamiliesSan Francisco Unified School DistrictSand Fair FoundationHolly and Ned ScheetzWilliam SchloughAnna SchocketMichael SchoenholzLori SchweitzerMark SetzenSilver Lake Technology Management, LLCEva and Ken SippolaMolly and Charles SlaughterSoccerFoursChristina SpenceSports Basement, Inc.The Starbucks FoundationBrian StevensElizabeth StoneStubhubKeri and Mark TalucciConor TaniguchiThomson ReutersTPG CapitalUCSF Community Partnerships ProgramUnion BankJames VolpentestPriscilla WallackWells FargoWest Contra Costa County Unified School DistrictAmy and James WeyhrauchWLS Spencer Foundation
We are grateful for all of our generous supporters. The above list reflects all gifts of $500 and up received between April 1, 2010 and November 1, 2011.Xitlaly M. performing at the New York National Poetry SLAM!
20
Leadership
Mark Talucci, ChairThe SAK
Jonathan Denholtz,Vice ChairDigital Media Consultant
Christina Spence, TreasurerBecherer Kannett & Schweitzer
Muhammad A. NadhiriUrbanCore, LLC
Sam FortDraper Fisher Jurvetson
Andrew HartmanMorgan Stanley
Ibi KrukruboErnst & Young
Richard LogginsGoldman Sachs
Shep MaherThomson Reuters
Lally Weyhrauchsalesforce.com
Steve GilletteJones Day
Mathilda Khabbazcitibank
Conor TaniguchiBank of America Merrill Lynch
Ellen BechererWoodminster Realty
Lori SchweitzerBecherer Kannett & Schweitzer
Andrew Hartman, ChairMorgan Stanley
Doug ClarkGoldman Sachs
Carlos Almanderez BACR
Stuart Berman Bain & Co.
Nayeli Cerpas Independent Research Consultant
Paul Glover Traveler’s Insurance
Kim KlinedinstEducation Director at TRX Training
Bret Wallace TPG
Operating Board
Development Board
Advisory Board
Honorary Board
Staff and Volunteers
Colin Schmidt, Executive Director
Emily Queliza, Associate Director
Eva Gabel Sippola, Dir. of Development & Health Initiatives
Dan Schwer, Communications Director
Yuri Morales, Program Director
Marty Mannion, Education Director
Angela Bailey, Legacy Awards Director
Shannon Burns, Program & Volunteer Manager
Roberto Gil, West Contra Costa Program Dir.
Abby Loomis, Education Program Manager, CAA
Genaro Jr. Arana, Program Manager, CAA
Staff Volunteers
400 Alabama St.San Francisco, CA 94110
Why is Zoomba wearing one shoe?
Mickey Agoglia Dimi Barton Mackenzie BeaschlerOthmane Belcaid Paul BoudetMaxwell BreenSean BurnsCory Comer Jonah CruzSean DolanChristina Fregoso
Justin GammJennifer GilbertValerie Guardardo Shawna GuberaDaniela GulamMadeline HernandezTannia HernandezMark LaVineSarah MarkusHector MathesAntaisha McClary
Kristen MerloneEmmanuel PaviaDanielle PawlingMartha PetruchaDameon Philpotts Dayle PicerneBrooke RogersKarina SotoNina Vasques Genki Watanabe