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Wednesday, September 14 - Friday, September 16, 2005

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National Automatic Merchandising Association (NAMA)

700 DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA ELEMENTARY STUDENTS TURN OUT FOR BALANCED FOR LIFE/DC SCORES SOCCER JAMBOREE!
Students from 22 Schools Play Back-to-Back Soccer Matches in Day-Long Celebration Sponsored by the Nation’s Vending Industry

WASHINGTON, DC – Hundreds of urban-area children from 22 Washington, DC Public Schools turned out today at Trinity University for the DC SCORES Jamboree!, Holly O’Donnell, DC SCORES Executive Director, announced today. Sponsored by Balanced for Life, an initiative of the nation’s vending industry to help address skyrocketing childhood obesity rates, the Jamboree! is a soccer festival including round-robin style tournament games, arts and crafts, and fun activities for the entire community.

While kicking off the Jamboree!, O’Donnell said, “We’re all very proud of the work our students have done over the past year and are excited to watch them showcase their skills today at our 10th annual DC SCORES Jamboree!.  We are also thrilled to have the support of the nation’s vending industry through its Balanced for Life initiative that helped fund the events we’re enjoying today.”

After O’Donnell’s opening remarks, Hugh O’Neill, president of the Maryland/DC Vending Association and vice president and general manager of Hagerstown Canteen Service, Inc., presented to the organization on behalf of the nation’s vending industry a $10,000 check and additional $1,000 check from the Maryland/DC Vending Association.  In presenting both checks, O’Neill said, “DC SCORES is a great program because it helps get kids active which we think is critical to the health of our nation’s youth.  On behalf of the Balanced for Life program and the Maryland/DC Vending Association, we present these checks to DC SCORES and look forward to working with you on other programs that help protect the health of our nation’s youth.”

US, over 65% of urban, city, school children do not participate in extracurricular activities that involve any form of exercise and 32% are overweight or obese. The DC SCORES after-school program engages children from the District of Columbiain at least 90 minutes of soccer three times a week ensuring that student-athletes learn to be physically active and involved in a team activity at an early age. The DC SCORES Jamboree!, presented by Balanced for Life,  is the culminating event of the spring DC SCORES season where students get to show the community how much their soccer skills have improved over the season.

Every day, DC SCORES works with 700 children in 22District of Columbia public elementary and middle schools. Using a unique combination of soccer, poetry and community service projects, DC SCORES utilizes a whole child approach to youth development for students who are at-risk of academic failure.

Concluded O’Donnell, “On behalf of everyone associated with DC SCORES, most especially the hundreds of school children who were the stars of the day, we thank all of our program partners who made this event possible.”

About DC SCORES
DC SCORES, an affiliate of America SCORES, is an innovative after-school program that uses soccer, literacy and community service to build healthy bodies, healthy minds and healthy communities among at-risk kids inWashington, DC, Public Schools.   A dedicated team of public-school teachers works with 8 – 14 year olds on basic skills including literacy and physical fitness, as well as character development areas such as leadership and team work. The result is happier, healthier and stronger kids and communities.  For more information visit www.DCSCORES.org.

About Balanced for Life
Balanced for Life is a program created by the National Automatic Merchandising Association’s non-profit foundation designed to teach our nation’s youth the importance of a balanced diet and physical activity.  For more information visit www.balancedforlife.net.

September 14 - September 16, 2005



September 14 - September 16, 2005



October 27 - 29, 2005