Squash Partnership Provides Opportunity to Low Income Students
Students of Empower College Prep, a public charter school based in Central Phoenix, will serve as the flagship program of Arizona Squash, Inc., a non-profit group that engages underserved Phoenix area youth with academic support, squash and wellness, mentoring, enrichment, and community service to develop high school ready middle schoolers, college ready high schoolers, and career ready adults.
Phoenix, AZ, November 22, 2017 --(PR.com)-- During this holiday season, when squash comes to mind, we think of a delicious side dish served during our Thanksgiving meals. However, squash will now have a different meaning for the students of Empower College Prep, a public charter school based in Central Phoenix, who, through a new partnership with North Phoenix Baptist Church and Grand Canyon University, will serve as the flagship program of Arizona Squash, Inc., a non-profit group whose goals include mentoring and introducing the game of squash to the students of the school.
Arizona Squash is an after school program that uses the game of squash to engage underserved Phoenix area youth through academic support, squash and wellness, mentoring, enrichment, and community service to develop high school ready middle schoolers, college ready high schoolers, and career ready adults.
The program is newly launched in Arizona and is one of 20 programs around the US that use the sport to enrich the lives of more than 2,000 young people. The programs are associated with notable universities across the country including, Northeastern University in Boston (Squash Busters), Yale University in Connecticut (Squash Haven), Columbia University in New York (Street Squash) and the University of Chicago (MetroSquash).
Empower College Prep 5th and 6th graders will vie for 24 team positions at tryouts November 27 and 28 at the campus of Empower College Prep at North Phoenix Baptist Church. Arizona Squash is a Canyon Educational Participant and students who make the team will additionally be provided with tutoring through a partnership with Grand Canyon University.
“The goal of the Squash curriculum is to empower our students to be fit, healthy and active through the vehicle of squash,” said program Founder and Board Chair James Dodson. “We accomplish this by combining squash instruction and competitive play, wellness and nutritional awareness and emphasize sportsmanship and teamwork.
“Squash is a global sport and its connection to higher education and strong networks makes it a natural partner for our ultimate goal . . . college success,” Dodson said. “It instills mental toughness, helps students become fit, and in turn, lead healthier life styles.”
Using squash, academics, mentoring and life skills development, Arizona Squash support students in finding and graduating from top-level colleges and universities. This is a shared value with Empower College Prep, whose goal is to ensure 100 percent of their students have a college acceptance letter when they graduate high school.
“Empower is thrilled to be partnering with Arizona Squash,” said Naquana Mitchell Borrero, Director of Development and Community Relations, Empower College Prep.
“We are committed to providing our students with unique opportunities that will help develop their gifts and interests and I believe that this program exposes them to a global game that can expand not only their college opportunities but their cultural awareness," she said. “We are happy to have GCU on board to partner with us on the academic development and North Phoenix Baptist Church as a facilities partner. This is the perfect example of the community working together to support its children, it’s wonderful.”
How can you help Arizona Squash Start-up?
Empower College Prep and Arizona Squash will both be participating in #GivingTuesday, November 28th, 2017, a global day of giving that harnesses the collective power of individuals, communities and organizations to encourage philanthropy and to celebrate generosity worldwide. Community and corporate partners would enable Arizona Squash to deliver our high quality program free of charge to our participating students and will also allow Empower to continue to provide college trips to its students.
About Arizona Squash
Arizona Squash is following a model of Urban Squash success across the US. Leading Arizona Squash is James Dodson, a Phoenix area resident and a founding board member and past board Chair of Chicago’s MetroSquash, which opened its $8.3 million squash and academic facility on the campus of the University of Chicago, April 2015. For more information contact Dodson at james@arizonasquash.org or 312-909-7793. And, follow Arizona Squash, Inc. on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
About Empower College Prep
Empower College Prep was founded in 2012 with the purpose of transforming the emerging community they serve. Empower offers personalized education for students by assigning each scholar to an advisor that proactively focuses on the students’ well-being while providing mentorship to them resulting in an average of 150% academic growth each year. Empower’s signature “University Trips Program” is the only program in Phoenix that provides the opportunity for students in every grade to visit a college campus every year, translating into maximum college access for their scholars, while also working with students to get the financial aid they’ll need to accomplish their dream to go to college. For more information about Empower College Prep visit their website at www.empowercollegeprep.org.
Arizona Squash is an after school program that uses the game of squash to engage underserved Phoenix area youth through academic support, squash and wellness, mentoring, enrichment, and community service to develop high school ready middle schoolers, college ready high schoolers, and career ready adults.
The program is newly launched in Arizona and is one of 20 programs around the US that use the sport to enrich the lives of more than 2,000 young people. The programs are associated with notable universities across the country including, Northeastern University in Boston (Squash Busters), Yale University in Connecticut (Squash Haven), Columbia University in New York (Street Squash) and the University of Chicago (MetroSquash).
Empower College Prep 5th and 6th graders will vie for 24 team positions at tryouts November 27 and 28 at the campus of Empower College Prep at North Phoenix Baptist Church. Arizona Squash is a Canyon Educational Participant and students who make the team will additionally be provided with tutoring through a partnership with Grand Canyon University.
“The goal of the Squash curriculum is to empower our students to be fit, healthy and active through the vehicle of squash,” said program Founder and Board Chair James Dodson. “We accomplish this by combining squash instruction and competitive play, wellness and nutritional awareness and emphasize sportsmanship and teamwork.
“Squash is a global sport and its connection to higher education and strong networks makes it a natural partner for our ultimate goal . . . college success,” Dodson said. “It instills mental toughness, helps students become fit, and in turn, lead healthier life styles.”
Using squash, academics, mentoring and life skills development, Arizona Squash support students in finding and graduating from top-level colleges and universities. This is a shared value with Empower College Prep, whose goal is to ensure 100 percent of their students have a college acceptance letter when they graduate high school.
“Empower is thrilled to be partnering with Arizona Squash,” said Naquana Mitchell Borrero, Director of Development and Community Relations, Empower College Prep.
“We are committed to providing our students with unique opportunities that will help develop their gifts and interests and I believe that this program exposes them to a global game that can expand not only their college opportunities but their cultural awareness," she said. “We are happy to have GCU on board to partner with us on the academic development and North Phoenix Baptist Church as a facilities partner. This is the perfect example of the community working together to support its children, it’s wonderful.”
How can you help Arizona Squash Start-up?
Empower College Prep and Arizona Squash will both be participating in #GivingTuesday, November 28th, 2017, a global day of giving that harnesses the collective power of individuals, communities and organizations to encourage philanthropy and to celebrate generosity worldwide. Community and corporate partners would enable Arizona Squash to deliver our high quality program free of charge to our participating students and will also allow Empower to continue to provide college trips to its students.
About Arizona Squash
Arizona Squash is following a model of Urban Squash success across the US. Leading Arizona Squash is James Dodson, a Phoenix area resident and a founding board member and past board Chair of Chicago’s MetroSquash, which opened its $8.3 million squash and academic facility on the campus of the University of Chicago, April 2015. For more information contact Dodson at james@arizonasquash.org or 312-909-7793. And, follow Arizona Squash, Inc. on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
About Empower College Prep
Empower College Prep was founded in 2012 with the purpose of transforming the emerging community they serve. Empower offers personalized education for students by assigning each scholar to an advisor that proactively focuses on the students’ well-being while providing mentorship to them resulting in an average of 150% academic growth each year. Empower’s signature “University Trips Program” is the only program in Phoenix that provides the opportunity for students in every grade to visit a college campus every year, translating into maximum college access for their scholars, while also working with students to get the financial aid they’ll need to accomplish their dream to go to college. For more information about Empower College Prep visit their website at www.empowercollegeprep.org.
Contact
Arizona Squash, Inc.
James Dodson
312-909-7793
www.arizonasquash.org
James Dodson
312-909-7793
www.arizonasquash.org
Contact
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