Representative: Katie Phillips
QC Scores is a free after school program that is proven to help kids establish healthy habits and develop critical life skills. The mission is to give children an opportunity to be part of a team, to wear their very own jersey, and to have a coach/mentor they can call their own. QC Scores gives every child in Charlotte a chance to play, regardless of their background or socioeconomic status.
What is the focus of your organization?
QC Scores promotes health and character development among youth in our city through the game of soccer, focusing on underserved communities.
How did your organization start?
Soccer Shots Charlotte saw that there were children in the community who were unable to participate in their program due to cost. QC Scores works to meet this need by providing every child in Charlotte with the opportunity to play soccer and receive quality mentorship.
What is the issue you’re addressing?
For many non-profits, transportation is a major barrier; we struggled with this during our first year of programming. As a result, we have shifted our focus, and instead of running programs at schools, we enter communities directly, meeting children where they are and eliminating the need for transportation. Our soccer players are able to ride the bus home and then walk to and from practices held right in their neighborhoods.
Where did your passion for this cause come from?
I grew up playing soccer and saw how it transformed the trajectory of my life. I would be a different person without the incredible coaches and mentors that invested in me. I know firsthand the impact being on a team and having a coach can make, so it’s my greatest desire to provide that for a child in need.
Why is your work so important?
Juvenile crime spikes in the hours immediately following the end of the school day. We provide children in low-income communities who might otherwise be at risk with a safe place to play during that time. Our quality mentorship and soccer programming come at no cost to children or their families.
What are you most excited for as it relates to the SEED20 process?
I’m excited to see the growth in the 2019 class. Having just pitched for the first time, I’m excited to see how our pitches change and develop over the next few weeks.
What have you already learned from this process?
I’ve learned that though goals and metrics are important, the best way to communicate the impact of QC Scores is to share the stories of the children we’ve mentored.
What do you hope to get out of SEED20?
This process is short but very intense. I want to learn as much as I can as fast as I can to better share our mission and raise awareness about the work that QC Scores is doing in Charlotte.
@qcscores
SEED20 Onstage is on March 25, 2019. Tickets available soon.
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