AC Portland is inspired and operates on the foundational principles of America SCORES, successfully pursuing a MISSION: To inspire urban youth to lead healthy lives, be engaged students, andhave theconfidence and character to make a difference in the world. And a VISION: of a world where all youth find their voice, achieve their goals, and unleash their full potential. America SCORES partners with urban schools to provide a high quality, team-based program that integrates soccer, poetry and service-learning, with an approach that improves students’ health, academic achievement and civic engagement. It is the is the only urban youth development program with curriculum specifically aligned with the twelve Standards for English Language Arts, the six National Standards for Physical Education, and the eight K-12 Service Learning Standards. America SCORES serves public school students in 15 other US cities and has been an effective national program for more than a decade. A recent national evaluation of America SCORES found improvements in these areas:

• Statistically significant gains in WRITING achievement as demonstrated through pre- and post-program writing tests
• Increased reporting of READING enjoyment and longer time spent reading independently
• Increased levels of PHYSICAL FITNESS as demonstrated through pre- and post-program running tests
• Increased reporting of feelings of SELF-CONFIDENCE, self-efficacy and ENJOYMENT OF LEARNING
• Increased frequency of daytime classroom ATTENDANCE during the America SCORES seasons

For more information visit www.AmericaSCORES.org

AC Portland also works directly with the U.S. Soccer Foundation to operate Soccer for Success. The Foundation's Mission is to enhance, assist and grow the sport of soccer in the United States with a special emphasis on underserved communities.

Soccer for Success is the U.S. Soccer Foundation's innovative youth development program that uses soccer as a tool to combat childhood obesity and promote healthy lifestyles for children in low-income urban communities. The Foundation partners with community-based organizations across the country to operate Soccer for Success sites - providing thousands of children in grades K-8 with free after-school programming.

4 Components of Soccer for Success:

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY: Children participate in 90 minute sessions at least three days a week to ensure they receive the recommended 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise.

MENTORSHIP: Each site is staffed by caring coaches who serve as mentors - invested in the successful development of each child. Mentors stress the importance of doing well in school and avoiding negative influences such as drugs, alcohol, and violence.

NUTRITION: Soccer for Success staff deliver relevant educational activities where participants are taught the basics of nutrition, the importance of making healthy lifestyle choices, and the importance of maintaining healthy eating habits.

FAMILY ENGAGEMENT: Soccer for Success strives to turn parents and family members into advocates who reinforce the program's teachings by applying them in their homes. Family members are provided with information on nutrition, health, and public services that will aide them in their pursuit of a healthier lifestyle.

Addressing National Issues

CHILDHOOD OBESITY: Childhood obesity is one of the most pressing problems facing our children today. In the United States, nearly one in three children is overweight or obese. The problem is even more acute in underserved communities. More than 20 million children are at-risk to develop a host of obesity-related health issues.

JUVENILE DELINQUENCY: In the United States, 1.2 million juveniles are arrested each year. Every four minutes a minor is arrested for a drug offense and every seven minutes a minor is arrested for a violent crime. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the most dangerous period for juveniles to both commit and be victims of crime are the three-to-four hours immediately following the school day.

The Soccer for Success program was designed to address these serious issues. The U.S. Soccer Foundation and AC PORTLAND seek to fill the void created by limited after-school programs by giving the most vulnerable children in our country an opportunity to work with mentors and develop important life skills through Soccer for Success. Together we pursue the development of places to play, places to grow and places to learn in the Portland community.

For more information visit www.USsoccerfoundation.org