A New Era for Seattle SCORES
- Sasha Lee
- Sep 10
- 4 min read
Outgoing Executive Director Alexandra Foster and incoming Executive Director Sangeeta Gogri talk legacy, leadership, and the kids who inspire it all.
As Seattle transitions to fall, so too does Seattle SCORES. This month we bid a bittersweet farewell to Executive Director Alexandra Foster, whose three-year tenure has been marked by extraordinary growth: serving more than 400 students across eight schools (up from just 60 students and 2 schools in 2022) and tripling our revenue through record-breaking events and grants.
Under her leadership, Seattle SCORES has expanded its reach, strengthened its funding base, and built the foundation for serving 1,000 students annually by 2030. Now, the baton is being passed — to continue building on a proven model while bringing fresh energy and new ideas to take our impact even further.
Reflecting on her time, she says:
“There’s still work to do—many people don’t know about Seattle SCORES, and we’re always thinking outside the box to expand our impact.”
To continue that momentum, Alexandra and the Board of Directors selected Sangeeta Gogri to take the reins beginning September 2025.
Sangeeta brings a lifelong passion for soccer, community building, and youth empowerment to Seattle SCORES. She has experienced firsthand the power of the sport to unite people, build confidence, and open doors of opportunity.
“For many years I was lucky to have the same coach, Mr. Art Hahneman—he saw potential in me and gave me opportunities. Because of him, I want to give back to the community; coaches like him did so much for me and I want to bring that to the Poet-Athletes of SCORES.”
Her career has been dedicated to philanthropy, nonprofit leadership, and creating meaningful connections across diverse communities. In previous roles, she has led community development and partnerships to expand youth programs, health initiatives, and creative learning opportunities. Deeply committed to the belief that every child deserves a safe space to play, learn, and dream, Sangeeta has helped launch and support initiatives that combine education, wellness, and sports as tools for transformation.
And her enthusiasm is palpable:
“The most important thing to me about Seattle SCORES—and why I am here today—is building our kids holistically through our programs: helping them do better in school, build healthy fitness habits, stay safe, and ultimately become leaders in their communities.”
When she first connected with Seattle SCORES, the Board even asked her to consider joining as a member—but quickly realized she was the right person to lead.
For this article, we brought both women together to talk about SCORES, what they’re proud of, and the secret sauce to working with kids.
Executive Director to Executive Director
Alexandra: Sangeeta, I’m so glad you’re here. What are you most looking forward to in this role?
Sangeeta: First and foremost, the kids. Reading scores are down statewide, and public schools face potential federal budget cuts. Our programming needs to grow to meet those challenges. At the same time, I’m excited to diversify our funding streams and tap into Seattle’s energy around World Cup 26 and beyond.
Alexandra: Love that. If you center the kids, the right steps cascade from there.
Sangeeta: Absolutely.
Alexandra: You've also mentioned that you have some ideas for new fundraisers – I won’t give anything away here of course, but very exciting for sure.
Sangeeta: No spoilers, Alex! But yes, the Board and I are working on some ideas and I hope to bring in the kind of funding that brings the impact we’re looking for. But Alex—you’ve left such an impact here. What are you most proud of?
Alexandra: Honestly, rebuilding SCORES, especially after COVID. Growing revenue, expanding the number of kids we serve, rebranding, rebuilding the website—it felt like creating a brand-new foundation. Seeing kids blossom during that process has been the most rewarding part.
Sangeeta: And you did it with such dedication. I really admire that.
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On the "Secret Sauce"
Sangeeta: Alex, people say you have a special touch with our Poet-Athletes. What’s your secret?
Alexandra: For me, it comes down to respect. When I was a kid, adults set a high standard for how I should carry myself, and I do the same with our students. And honestly—I used to be them. Growing up in Title I schools, afterschool programs gave me confidence and belonging. I try to recreate that every time I walk into a SCORES school.
Sangeeta: That’s timeless. For me, the secret sauce is authenticity—being a good listener, making kids feel safe and respected. That’s when the best parts of them come out.
Alexandra: Listening is critical. And when kids feel safe, they build that same environment for others.
Sangeeta: Absolutely. These are the lifelong skills—on and off the field—that is one of the many impacts we want to make for these kids.
Alexandra: I knew we did the right thing hiring you.
On Farewells
Sangeeta: What, or who, will you miss most?
Alexandra: The kids, of course. They have always been the ones that I put first ever since I started here. And just seeing some of them blossom over the last three years, it's been super rewarding. I’ll miss them deeply, but I feel good about where I’m leaving them.
Sangeeta: You should. That’s an incredible legacy. If you had to give me just one piece of advice, what would it be?
Alexandra: Put the kids first. Every decision—fundraising, partnerships, programs—should ultimately make their lives better. If it does, then it’s the right one.
Sangeeta: That’s a legacy worth carrying forward.
Alexandra: And I'm so glad we have someone like you to take the baton. Thank you for being here, Sangeeta.
Closing
We may be saying farewell, but this isn’t goodbye. At Seattle SCORES, once you’re part of the community, you never really leave it.
We say thank you to Alexandra Foster for her leadership and lasting impact.
We’re now moving into a new era of Seattle SCORES with Executive Director, Sangeeta Gogri at the helm. With her deep experience in the soccer community to her personal connections with SCORES, we're thrilled to welcome Sangeeta as she builds the next chapter.
Meet her and learn more about our future plans at our upcoming breakfast on November 13th at FareStart in Seattle. Details coming soon!
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