Equlity in Sports Takes Center Stage at America SCORES Seattle's Holiday Breakfast

With the 2026 FIFA World Cup on the Horizon, Panelists Talked Equity, Community, and the Future of Sports

Seattle, WA – On December 12, America SCORES Seattle hosted an inspiring Holiday Breakfast at the Columbia Tower Club uniting community leaders, sports professionals, and supporters to discuss Equity in Sports: From Youth to the Pros. The event celebrated the organization’s impactful work as a legacy project of the 1994 FIFA World Cup, while looking ahead at the transformative opportunities the 2026 World Cup will bring to Seattle.

America SCORES Seattle empowers hundreds of at-risk youth across King County each year through a unique combination of soccer, poetry, and community service-learning. The program’s impact on its Poet-Athletes speaks volumes:

• 95% of participants agree that SCORES helped them gain self-confidence and feel good about themselves.

• 96% of participants agree that they try to avoid being absent from school so they do not miss SCORES programming.

• 89% of parents stated their child’s reading time has increased.

• 93% of coaches stated the SCORES program helps increase students’ knowledge of healthier behaviors and activities.

This year’s event featured a dynamic panel discussion with former Seattle Sounder & Ballard FC Founder Lamar Neagle, Rise Above Executive Director Natalie Welch, and Seattle Seawolves COO Drew Dambreville, who explored topics such as inclusivity in youth sports, grassroots development, and the role of corporate and personal giving in driving equity.

Inspiring the Next Generation of World Cup Athletes

The FIFA World Cup is the pinnacle of achievement for young soccer players worldwide, yet for many youth in the U.S. the “pay-to-play” model creates barriers that prevent talented athletes from ever realizing those dreams.

“We have the opportunity to encourage that same drive in thousands of kids when the World Cup comes to Seattle in 2026. By developing athletes through free, accessible training and mentorship programs, we can inspire the next generation of soccer stars right here in our community,” says Alexandra Foster, America SCORES Seattle Executive Director.

America SCORES Seattle’s goal is to establish programming in 5 additional elementary schools in 2025 and provide at least 100 more Poet-Athletes with the skills, support, and opportunities they need to succeed both on and off the field.