Poetry Slam Raises $150,000 Poetry Slam Raises $150,000 for After-School Programsfor After-School Programs

•The America SCORES 7th Annual National Poetry SLAM!, an event that showcased poetry performances from elementary school students, raised $150,000 for the national after-school program. Much of the money came from guests of honor Joe Tacopina, a New York defense attorney, and Shep Messing, a retired professional soccer player, and their associates, who donated thousands of dollars in matching funds. The money will be used for SCORES after-school programs, which are free and provide excellent opportunities for more than 8,000 young people across the United States.

•“America SCORES combines what I think are the key ingredients to be successful in life - literacy and sports,” Tacopina told a news outlet. “Having sport be part of their education, to me, is the magic elixir.” Tacopina is a longtime soccer fan and recreational soccer player.

•More than 300 people filled the audience at the poetry slam, where 27 students from 14 cities performed. The students were part of SCORES after-school writing and performing workshops and were chosen for the event through auditions. Poetry is an integral part of SCORES after-school programs, which also use soccer and service learning to help students stay healthy and get engaged in their communities.