• 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!

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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