Monday, May 14, 2012

Going to the White House!






America SCORES invited to White House for Let's Move Soccer Clinic with First Lady Michelle Obama


On May 15, 2012, thirty-four America SCORES students will get the opportunity of a lifetime. From America SCORES programs in DC, St. Louis and Denver, they will travel to The White House to participate in the Let's Move Soccer Clinic with First Lady Michelle Obama and the Major League Soccer (MLS) Champion LA Galaxy.

President Obama will welcome Major League Soccer champions, the LA Galaxy to the White House to honor their 2011 season and their MLS Cup victory. Following the ceremony, LA Galaxy players will join the First Lady to hold a Let's Move! soccer clinic on the South Lawn for students from across the country. The children will also have the chance to watch the ceremony.

"These six students [from America SCORES St. Louis] demonstrated good sportsmanship, thoughtful leadership, and perseverance this school year and are excellent representatives for our organization. The invite to the White House is beyond what we have dreamed for these kids and is an amazing opportunity that they will remember the rest of their lives," said Serena Muhammad, Founding Executive Director, America SCORES St. Louis.

Through a unique combination of soccer, poetry, and service-learning, 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.

"We are honored that The White House recognizes the importance of what we do to address childhood obesity. Our hope is that we will continue to see even more support locally," added Muhammad.

America SCORES participants receive ten times more exercise than the national average and lower their BMI by 2% by the end of each season. Using soccer as a tool to encourage fitness, sportsmanship, and leadership, America SCORES inspires the life-long appreciation of sports and health-enhancing behaviors like choosing to eat more fruit and vegetables, participating in organized sports and spending less time watching television and playing video games. 

Each year, America SCORES serves 7,500 students at 150 schools through fourteen affiliates located in major urban centers across the United States. Founded in 1994 in Washington DC, America SCORES grew to a national organization and expanded to Denver in 1999, and again to St. Louis in 2005. Today, DC SCORES serves over 800 low-income DC youth at 27 schools; America SCORES Denver serves 320 youth at ten West Denver DPS schools; America SCORES St. Louis serves 260 youth at seven schools.

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