More than 225 third through fifth graders in Dallas Elementary Schools will demonstrate their soccer skills at the America SCORES Dallas Annual Jamboree on Saturday, May 16 at the Mountain View College Sports Complex. 

The youngsters and their families will arrive at the college, located at 4849 W. Illinois Ave., Dallas, at 9 a.m. for a day of round-robin games, food and goody bags. The event is sponsored by Molina Healthcare, Macy’s and Big Thought.  Activities will include an appearance by Dr. Cleo, Molina Healthcare mascot, T-shirt giveaway by Macy’s, lunch and snacks and assistance from the Dallas Sidekicks indoor soccer athletes in running drills and entertaining children on the sidelines. ESPN Deportes Radio will also be talking with families.  The event is free and open to the public.

Participating children are part of America SCORES Dallas, an afterschool program combining soccer, writing poetry and community service.  Examples of their service projects will be on display at the event and include toy collections for animals at the SPCA, school beautification efforts, planting and maintaining a soccer field at a local school and gathering donations for Military Uplift.

“Molina Healthcare is proud to support an organization like America SCORES Dallas that is committed to helping improve the health and well-being of children,” said Craig Bass, president of Molina Healthcare of Texas. “We are excited to be part of this year’s soccer Jamboree and we look forward to partnering with America SCORES again in the future.”

Dallas SCORES has been providing at-risk children with high-quality afterschool programming since 2004 with organized activities designed to inspire them to lead healthy lives, be engaged students, and have the confidence and character to make a difference in the world.

Evaluations show these children decrease their BMI, increase their endurance and improve their literacy skills.  The poetry curriculum is designed to help these children develop creative thinking, literacy and speaking skills. Writing poetry gives them the outlet to write about personal issues and develop emotionally.

In addition to Jamboree, they participate in an annual Poetry SLAM! each December, performing their original poems before an audience of their families, friends and peers.  Two winners, one girl and boy, are selected by a panel of judges as winners of a trip to New York City to read their poetry with winners from the 13 other cities with the SCORES program.

For more information, visit www.dallasscores.org.