Program Name: America SCORES Denver
Focus: Healthy lifestyle and literacy
Director: Brandon Blew
Address: 2125 W. 33rd Ave, Denver, CO 80211
Schools Served: Barnum Elementary, Cowell Elementary, Cheltenham Elementary, Eagleton Elementary, Edison Elementary, Munroe Elementary, Newlon Elementary, Valdez Elementary
School District: Denver
County: Denver
Phone Number: 303-832-5879
Fax Number: 303-433-3014
Email: bblew@americascores.org
Website: www.denverscores.org
Type: Non-profit
Slogan: The mission of Denver SCORES is to empower students in urban communities using soccer

Incorporated in Colorado, Denver SCORES was developed as one of the first affiliates of America SCORES, our highly successful national office. Since inception, Denver SCORES has demonstrated steady & managed growth of our highly innovative after-school programs which now serve over 250 low-income students annually in West Denver. DS began providing a school-based after-school soccer & creative writing program in the fall of 1999 in six Denver public elementary schools. Since that time we have steadily increased the number of schools & children we serve.We currently provide our programming to 256 students in 8 elementary schools in West Denver.

Denver SCORES' goal is to combine the proven benefits of an athletic program –increased physical activity, self-esteem, team pride, & good sportsmanship– with an on-site academic program that builds literacy skills in an exciting new way. Our overarching objective is to provide students with the tools & the opportunities to be successful in school & in life. Our program is distinctive in providing extensive opportunities for low-income 3rd–5th grade Denver youth to focus on developing their creative writing & athletic talents in a fun & supportive after-school atmosphere.

The mission of Denver SCORES is to empower students in urban communities using soccer, writing, creative expression, and service-learning. With teamwork as the unifying value, Denver SCORES inspires youth to lead healthy lifestyles, be engaged students, and become agents of change in their communities. We strive to help children stay in school, to help them discover avenues to fully participate in their communities, & to help them make positive contributions to society today & throughout their lives. Less than one half (47%) of the Hispanic students in Colorado graduate from high-school, & Denver SCORES has developed an innovative, effective way for reversing this negative trend (CO Literacy Research Initiative 2005). We achieve our mission through after-school programming that combines soccer, creative writing, & service-learning, with teamwork as a unifying value.