700 District of Columbia Elementary Students Turn Out for Balanced for Life/DC SCORES Soccer Jamboree!

    WASHINGTON, June 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Hundreds of urban-area children from 22
 Washington, DC Public Schools turned out today at Trinity University for the
 DC SCORES Jamboree!, Holly O'Donnell, DC SCORES Executive Director, announced
 today.  Sponsored by Balanced for Life, an initiative of the nation's vending
 industry to help address skyrocketing childhood obesity rates, the Jamboree!
 is a soccer festival including round-robin style tournament games, arts and
 crafts, and fun activities for the entire community.
     While kicking off the Jamboree!, O'Donnell said, "We're all very proud of
 the work our students have done over the past year and are excited to watch
 them showcase their skills today at our 10th annual DC SCORES Jamboree!.  We
 are also thrilled to have the support of the nation's vending industry through
 its Balanced for Life initiative that helped fund the events we're enjoying
 today."
     After O'Donnell's opening remarks, Hugh O'Neill, president of the
 Maryland/DC Vending Association and vice president and general manager of
 Hagerstown Canteen Service, Inc., presented to the organization on behalf of
 the nation's vending industry a $10,000 check and additional $1,000 check from
 the Maryland/DC Vending Association.  In presenting both checks, O'Neill said,
 "DC SCORES is a great program because it helps get kids active which we think
 is critical to the health of our nation's youth.  On behalf of the Balanced
 for Life program and the Maryland/DC Vending Association, we present these
 checks to DC SCORES and look forward to working with you on other programs
 that help protect the health of our nation's youth."
     In the US, over 65% of urban, city, school children do not participate in
 extracurricular activities that involve any form of exercise and 32% are
 overweight or obese. The DC SCORES after-school program engages children from
 the District of Columbia in at least 90 minutes of soccer three times a week
 ensuring that student-athletes learn to be physically active and involved in a
 team activity at an early age. The DC SCORES Jamboree!, presented by Balanced
 for Life,  is the culminating event of the spring DC SCORES season where
 students get to show the community how much their soccer skills have improved
 over the season.
     Every day, DC SCORES works with 700 children in 22 District of Columbia
 public elementary and middle schools. Using a unique combination of soccer,
 poetry and community service projects, DC SCORES utilizes a whole child
 approach to youth development for students who are at-risk of academic
 failure.
     Concluded O'Donnell, "On behalf of everyone associated with DC SCORES,
 most especially the hundreds of school children who were the stars of the day,
 we thank all of our program partners who made this event possible."
 
     About DC SCORES
     DC SCORES, an affiliate of America SCORES, is an innovative after-school
 program that uses soccer, literacy and community service to build healthy
 bodies, healthy minds and healthy communities among at-risk kids in
 Washington, DC, Public Schools.   A dedicated team of public-school teachers
 works with 8-14 year olds on basic skills including literacy and physical
 fitness, as well as character development areas such as leadership and team
 work. The result is happier, healthier and stronger kids and communities.  For
 more information visit http://www.DCSCORES.org.
 
     About Balanced for Life
     Balanced for Life is a program created by the National Automatic
 Merchandising Association's non-profit foundation designed to teach our
 nation's youth the importance of a balanced diet and physical activity.  For
 more information visit http://www.balancedforlife.net.
 
 

SOURCE  NAMA