What winning $50,000 would do for DC SCORES

We're halfway there. 

For the past 15 days -- including today -- we've asked you, over and over again, to vote for DC SCORES. 

Why, you might have asked yourself? 

Because if we accumulate the most votes during the 30-day period that the Tom's of Maine 50 States for Good contest runs, we win $50,000. It's also worth noting that if we finish in the 2nd-6th slots, we win $20,000 -- not a bad consolation prize. 

But we know how good you, our supporters, are at garnering support -- as evidenced by our victory in May's 100 Cars for Good competition -- that we've focused our sights solely on winning the grand prize, the $50,000. 

Halfway through, we're in the thick of the race, but not ahead. We need to do even better in the last 15 days. More votes. More sharing. More Tweeting. More people interacting on the Facebook event page. You name it. 

Before anyone dives headfirst in, though, we owe you an explanation. We owe you a detailed description of what, exactly, $50,000 would provide -- of what your votes are adding up to. Here's what: 

The simple lowdown: Full DC SCORES programming for two schools for a year. 

The waiting list of schools to get our free, school-based program is long. Each year, we expand as much as we sustainably can while maintaining our high-quality structure at each school. Full programming for an elementary school includes the following during 24 weeks of the school year (fall and spring): 

A five-days-a-week, full-scale program for 32 students from 3:30-6:30pm
Two soccer practices each week
Two writing/poetry workshops per week (in the fall) and service-learning sessions (in the spring)
Seven/eight DC SCORES game days at sites throughout the city (both fall and spring)
Participation in specials events such as Fall Frenzy and Jamboree!, outdoor festivals, and our highly competitive and popular Poetry Slam! in late November. 

Those are the tangibles. Of course, there is much more that the students get out of the program -- from peer-to-peer relationships to mentor relationships with coaches to daily physical activity. Add it all up, and it's no wonder that we strive to serve every child in the District deserving of such a program that provides a well-rounded after-school experience. 

We hope this is plenty of motivation for you to vote these last 15 days. We hope you'll share this blog and/or the voting link with your friends, family members and coworkers. Thanks so much for your support. 

Now let's win this thing -- and continue to expand our program to more schools. 

-- The DC SCORES team

Your 30 votes could mean $50,000 for DC SCORES through Tom's of Maine 50 States for Good contest

One of our favorite days of the year has finally arrived -- the start of the DC SCORES fall season.

Across the District this afternoon, over 1,400 kids representing 42 schools will don bright new uniforms; be handed crisp new poetry notebooks; and take to the soccer field, many of them for the very first time.

Thanks to a Soccer for Success Social Innovation Fund (SIF) Sub-Grant from the U.S. Soccer Foundation, DC SCORES -- in partnership with the Latin American Youth Center (LAYC) and KIPP DC -- is serving, by far, the most youth we ever have.

To continue to do so, we need your support -- especially during the next 30 days!

DC SCORES has been selected as the only finalist from the District of Columbia in the Tom’s of Maine “50 States for Good” program, and now we have a chance to win up to $50,000 -- the equivalent or providing full programming for a year to two schools. Anyone with a free Facebook account can vote once per day from Sept. 10 through Oct. 9. Simply:

1. Visit the Tom’s of Maine Facebook page

2. Choose "District of Columbia" from the dropdown menu and vote for DC SCORES

3. Come back the next day
4. Make it easier on yourself by signing up for a daily email reminder (note: follow this link; then choose "Help DC SCORES win $50,000" as the list you want to sign up for).

After you, our supporters, put on a voting clinic to win us a brand-new Toyota Sienna as part of the 100 Cars for Good competition on May 14, we know just how powerful you can be as a team. We hate to ask you again for a similar yet longer commitment, but $50,000 could make a HUGE difference for us. We are looking for 200 people to commit to voting every day. That, we believe, will at the very least get us one of the five $20,000 rewards for second through sixth place.

The “50 States for Good” program seeks to uncover local nonprofit groups that address urgent community needs and engage volunteers to get the work done.

Nonprofits from each state were selected by an independent panel of judges, featuring actor and environmentalist Ian Somerhalder; Laura Burge of the social action network Care2.com; philanthropic leader and Huffington Post columnist Lisa M. Dietlin; and Sam Davidson, president of Cool People Care. The public vote will determine six winning organizations to share $150,000 in funding. The organization with the most public support will receive $50,000 in sponsorship funding, while five additional organizations will each receive $20,000.

“We are thrilled to shine a spotlight on our ‘50 States for Good’ finalists and their meaningful work,” said Susan Dewhirst, goodness programs manager at Tom’s of Maine. “We can’t wait to see the lasting impact of healthy, human and environmental goodness that will come from funding our winning organizations’ projects.”

Tom’s of Maine is a longtime supporter of community involvement programs including clean waterways and greater access to affordable dental care, among many other programs. In addition, since its inception, the company has donated 10 percent of its profits back to the community.

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About DC SCORES

For people who believe in a well-rounded childhood, DC SCORES is the quality, team-based approach providing youth with the arts, athletics, and academics that will engage, enrich, and improve their lives. DC SCORES builds teams through after-school programs for over 1,450 low-income DC youth at 42 schools by instilling self-expression, physical fitness, and a sense of community. DC SCORES accomplishes this in an innovative model combining poetry and spoken word, soccer, and service-learning year-round. We have worked with over 7,000 students since our founding in 1994 and we aim to serve EVERY child in the District deserving of a team who does not have one. DC SCORES is an affiliate of America SCORES, with organizations in 14 cities. Visit www.DCSCORES.org to learn more.

About Tom’s of Maine

Tom’s of Maine is a leading natural products company focused on oral and personal care. TOMs sells high-quality toothpaste, mouthwash, dental floss, deodorant, bar soap, and body wash products. TOMs products are Kosher and Halal certified. The company has a long-standing commitment to supporting people, communities and the living  planet. For over 40 years, Tom’s of Maine has sponsored hundreds of non-profit efforts by giving 10% of its profits back to the community and encouraging employees to use 5% (12 days) of employee time to volunteer. Tom’s of Maine employees regularly contribute suggestions for improving the company’s high sustainability standards. And their ideas, from wind power to ways to improve recycled and recyclable packaging options, are critical to the company’s sensitive way of doing business. Tom’s of Maine enjoys partnering with its consumers, vendors and community organizations to support lasting, positive change  good for people and the planet. Visit us online at http://www. tomsofmaine.com/  or at http://www.facebook.com/TomsofMaine.