Providing 3,000+ kids at Title 1 schools with access to high-quality enrichment activities, DC SCORES' whole-child approach is unique in the DC youth development space — combining soccer, poetry, and service-learning to help "poet-athletes" build physical fitness, find their voices, improve their literacy, increase school engagement, and strengthen ties to their community. The program is free – kids get everything they need to participate: balls, uniforms, coaches, fields, transportation, journals, writing supplies – and it's not "a la carte." Poet-athletes participate in all aspects of the program, which pushes everyone outside their comfort zone. Students who join to play soccer end up performing poetry on stage, and students drawn in by service end up scoring their first goal on an athletic field – with their peers and their coaches (85% of whom are teachers), supporting them all the way.

Headquarters: DC-Ward 2

Where They Operate: DC-Citywide; DC-Ward 1; DC-Ward 2; DC-Ward 3; DC-Ward 4; DC-Ward 5; DC-Ward 6; DC-Ward 7; DC-Ward 8

Age Groups Served: Youth (5-11); Pre-teen/teen (12-17)

Population(s) Served: Students

Schools They Work In: Ward 1 (year programming began); Bancroft Elementary School (1999); Bruce-Monroe Elementary School (2017); Cardozo Education Campus (2010); Cesar Chavez Public Charter Middle School for ; Public Policy – Chavez Prep (2012); Lincoln Middle School (2007); Harrison Recreation Center - Elementary (2015); Harrison Recreation Center - Middle (2015); H.D. Cooke Elementary School (2005); Marie Reed Elementary School (1994); Parkview Recreation Center - Elementary (2015); Parkview Recreation Center - Middle (2015); Tubman Elementary School (2001); Ward 2; KIPP DC: WILL Academy (2012); Seaton Elementary School (2012); Thomson Elementary School (2007); ; Ward 3; Hearst Recreation Center (2016); Ward 4; Barnard Elementary School (2013); Brightwood Education Campus - Elementary (2002); Brightwood Education Campus - Middle (2014); Capital City Public Charter School - Elementary ; (2012); Capital City Public Charter School - Middle (2012); Imagine Hope Community Charter School - Lamond ; Campus (2016); LaSalle-Backus Education Campus - ; Elementary (2014); LaSalle-Backus Education Campus - Middle ; (2017); MacFarland Middle School (2007); Powell Elementary School (2012); Raymond Education Campus - Elementary ; (2007); Raymond Education Campus - Middle (2014); Truesdell Education Campus - Elementary ; (2000); Truesdell Education Campus - Middle (2014); Upshur Recreation Center (2016); Ward 5; Imagine Hope Community Charter School - ; Tolson Campus (2013); Turkey Thicket Recreation Center - Elementary ; (2015); Turkey Thicket Recreation Center - Middle (2015); Ward 6; Amidon Elementary School (2015); Jefferson Middle School (2012); Miner Elementary School (2013); Van Ness Elementary School (2017); Walker-Jones Education Campus (2017); Ward 7; Aiton Elementary School (1999); Anne Beers Elementary School (1994); Burrville Elementary School (2000); J.C. Nalle Elementary School (2012); Kelly Miller Middle School (2004); Kimball Elementary School (2017); KIPP DC: KEY Academy (2013); KIPP DC: QUEST Academy (2014); Smothers Elementary School (2017); Thomas Elementary School (2014); Ward 8; Barry Farm Recreation Center (2015); Hart Middle School (2012); KIPP DC: AIM Academy (2013); Leckie Elementary School (2013); Leckie Middle School (2016); Moten Elementary School (2011); Orr Elementary School (2012); Turner Elementary School (2016); Washington School for Girls (2015)


  • Annual Report:  
    FY12 Annual Report: Read about DC SCORES' outcomes - http://bit.ly/1aKvMVb
  • FY15 impact report:  
    http://www.dcscoresimpact.org/annual-report-2015.html
  • FY16 impact report:  
    Http://www.dcscoresimpact.org/annual-report-2016.html

Awards & Recognition

During the 2017-18 season, DC SCORES has received the following recognition:

Executive Director Bethany Rubin Henderson was named an Executive Director of the Year by the Washington Business Journal.

DC SCORES was listed as a top-rated nonprofit by GreatNonprofits.

Longtime DC SCORES coach Mark “Popsie” Lewis received the 2017 Scottish Rite Community Service Award for his incredible commitment to DC youth.

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During the 2016-17 season, DC SCORES received the following recognition:

DC SCORES was named the winner of the distinguished Center for Nonprofit Advancement Board Leadership Award.

DC SCORES was selected for inclusion in the 2017-18 Catalogue for Philanthropy as “one of the best small charities in the Greater Washington region.”

DC SCORES was named the winner of the prestigious Center for Nonprofit Advancement AIM for Excellence Award

DC SCORES coach Chrystal Puryear was named a Ward 7 Woman of Excellence for her contributions including leading the Thomas Elementary School team.

DC SCORES coach Gerson Quinteros of Capital City Public Charter School won a national award from the Positive Coaching Alliance.

DC SCORES poet-athlete Leron B. won the Outstanding Student Award at the 31st Annual Mayor’s Arts Awards.

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During the 2015-16 season, DC SCORES received the following recognition:

DC SCORES longtime coach Mark “Popsie” Lewis was selected the D.C. United Community MVP.

DC SCORES was one of 10 organizations chosen for a Raise DC Data Spotlight Award.

The DC Council presented a Recognition Resolution to DC SCORES at City Hall in observance of our longstanding impact in Washington, DC.

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During the 2014-15 season, DC SCORES received the following recognition:

Staff member Libby Watkins was named an Evaluate for Change Millennial Nonprofit Data Fellow.

Staff member Aaron Cannon won a Mayor’s Community Service Award, as presented to him by Serve DC and Mayor Vincent Gray.

Chris Richardson received the 2014 Scottish Rite Community Service Award for his commitment in volunteering for DC SCORES for several years and making an indelible impact in many communities.

Staff members Lyndsey Miller-Vierra, Daniel Meloy and Jacqui Kemp were selected to participate in the fall 2014 American Express Leadership Academy.

DC SCORES was a finalist for the Mayor’s Arts Awards in the “Outstanding Contribution to Arts Education” category.

The DC SCORES program model was highlighted in the DC Fiscal Policy Institute’s paper on expanded learning programs that “help poor children succeed in the classroom.”

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During the 2013-14 season, DC SCORES received the following recognition:

In January 2014, Program Manager – Soccer Operations Carlos Fonseca was awarded a National Diploma Course by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA). Fonseca’s scholarship was funded and provided by the Michael L. Curry fund.

In December 2013, Executive Director Amy Nakamoto was a featured speaker at the Doha Gathering of All Leaders in Sport (GOAL) in Qatar.

DC SCORES was a finalist for the 501cTech Technology Impact Award.

Executive Director Amy Nakamoto was a finalist for the Gelman, Rosenberg & Freedman 2013 EXCEL Award.

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During the 2012-13 season, DC SCORES received the following recognition:

DC SCORES received a $100,000 in-kind media grant from the PVBLIC Foundation for winning a Retweet competition at the Social Media for Nonprofits Conference.

DC SCORES was selected for inclusion in the 2013-14 Catalogue for Philanthropy as “one of the best small charities in the Greater Washington region.”

Volunteer soccer referee and Washington International School student Francesco Amorosino received a Mayor’s Community Service Award for his volunteerism with DC SCORES.

Senior Director of Operations Lyndsey Miller-Vierra was sworn in as a member of the Mayor’s Council on Physical Fitness, Health, and Nutrition.

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During the 2011-12 season, DC SCORES received the following recognition:

Executive Director Amy Nakamoto was a featured panelist and speaker at the May 31, 2012, Aspen Institute Forum Title IX and Beyond: How to Get the Rest of Our Girls Into the Game.

Volunteer and Soccer Manager Sean Hinkle was accepted into the “Princeton AlumniCorps Emerging Leaders” professional development program.

Athletic Director Kenny Owens received a 2012 President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition (PCFSN) Community Leadership Award. He was selected by members of the President’s Council.

Executive Director Amy Nakamoto was one of 12 people appointed to the District of Columbia’s Healthy Schools and Youth Commission, which advises Mayor Vincent Gray on health, wellness, and nutritional issues affecting youth and schools.

Executive Director Amy Nakamoto was one of three recipients of the Meyer Foundation’s prestigious Exponent Awards, “which recognize outstanding nonprofit executive directors.”

Athletic Director Kenny Owens was named one of 13 recipients nationwide of the ‘Let’s Move and Physical Activity Champions of Change.’

Press

Budget (FY2023)

  • The current budget for DC SCORES is: $3 million or higher
  • $1 million to $3 million
  • $500k to $1 million
  • Less than $500k

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