GiveZooks!

As more LA SCORES students enter high school we continue to try to provide new resources and expanded programming for those who want to stay involved. We have established a high school camp during the summer, organized trips to soccer games and planned events geared for our alumni. We are also in the process of providing SAT prep classes for our 11th graders and organizing a weekly indoor soccer league. All of our efforts, in turn, have been received by the unmatched reciprocity of our alumni students. They continually volunteer at game days, summer camps, tutoring sessions and other special events. Their passion for our program is what motivates us to keep striving to provide them with whatever we can and remain involved in their lives as they mature as athletes, students and young men and women.

But our abilities can only take us so far. This is why we have started a donation campaign with GiveZooks online giving to raise money to support our Alumni Program. We are trying to raise money to provide scholarships for our students to attend SAT classes with Revolution Prep and pay for gym reservations and transportation costs of starting up the indoor soccer league. The thermometer on the right will show the progress we are making and the "Learn More" button will take you to our campaign page where you can read about what we are hoping to achieve. We hope you will take a minute to look at our page and support our alumni.

On behalf of the LA SCORES staff and students, Thank You.

8 foods you should eat everyday!

Here are some foods you should try to fit into your diet on a daily basis to help keep your body and mind healthy.

SPINACH: Helps muscle growth, is good for the heart, strengthens bones and enhances eye sight. Plus it makes a great salad.

YOGURT: Helps fight cancer, strengthens bones and boosts the body's immunity. This means plain yogurt, not the sweetened kinds we tend to lean to. But mixed with some berries and you have a delicious snack or breakfast.

TOMATOES: Fights cancer, keeps a healthy heart and also boosts immunity. A glass of tomato juice or 8 red cherry tomatoes should do the trick.

CARROTS: Fights cancer, enhances eyesight and boosts the body's immunity. Go to town on those baby carrots!

BLUEBERRIES: Stimulates the brain, fights off cancer, helps the heart and boots immunity. C'mon their delicious!

BLACK BEANS: Helps build muscle, stimulates the brain and keeps a healthy heart. You can use them in a burrito or in a chili.

WALNUTS: Help build muscle, stimulate the brain, fight cancer, good for the heart and boosts immunity. Add to salads or in pancakes for some extra pizazz.

OATS: Helps build muscle, stimulates the brain and keeps a healthy heart. Eat granolas and cereals to get lots of fiber.


*Information provided from www.bestlifeonline.com and Men's Health Magazine

Feelin' like a million bucks...a healthy perspective to finess

In today's world the idea of fitness has become synonymous with gym routines and work out regiments; and people believe that in order to be fit they have to lift weights and run for miles. While all these things have their value and benefit to the body it is also important to understand that fitness is not confined to the two hours you spend in the gym. It encompasses a healthy lifestyle of activity and an awareness of personal habits and choices. To understand more about what this means and how we can have a healthy perspective on fitness click the image above. You will be redirected to a personal fitness blog, written by Mint Condition Personal Training, that provides weekly health and work out tips. Read the post on "Fitness in Motion" and for a more serious workout continue on to the "Core Training" posts.

Enjoy and, in the words of a good friend of mine, Happy Fitness!

Follow Mint Condition on Facebook here

Can you put it all together?

Click the link below to put together a puzzle of a mystery LA SCORES photo! Test your wits and see if you can complete the picture!

Puzzle Time!

--click the link and scroll down on the page it re-directs you to. The puzzle will show up on the bottom half of the page. You can also use the website to create your puzzle of a picture you have.--

Summer in the City

Now that schools have officially closed their doors until September we at LA SCORES thought it would be a good idea to create a list of free or cheap things to do this summer. Here is how to enjoy LA in the next few months while on a budget.

1. LA SCORES SUMMER CAMPS!- Its free, its fun, its friends...what more could you possibly ask for.

2. Green in the City- Los Angeles Parks are a beautiful way to enjoy the summer. At Echo Park you can rent paddle boats for $10.00 for 1 hour or $7.00 for 1/2 an hour. MacArthur Park (shown in the picture above) has a small amphitheater that is home to some summer concerts and shows, while you can also relax by the lake or play soccer. (MacArthur Park is also easily accessed via the Metro Red Line). Griffith Park is the country's largest city park with a sprawling 4,107 acres (Central Park in New York by comparison is 843 acres) and offers many free activities while also providing great hiking and picnic areas.

3. The Pyramid of Books- LA Central Library is a monument in itself. A beautiful architectural feet designed in the theme of ancient Egypt during the 1920's. Its collection of books will have you busy, simply browsing, for hours and its summer programs for kids will help narrow down your selection. Having a library card is a great thing and this would be a great place to either get one or use one.

4. Where it all began- Olvera Street is located in the heart of downtown right next to Union Station. As the puebla that birthed a city, Olvera Street is a cultural and historical center. Along the alley, you will find great food and fun shopping. Olvera St. is easily accessible using any Metro line that stops at Union Station.

5. Downtown Concerts- The California Plaza is an area in downtown LA that holds free concerts throughout the summer months. The artists who come through are just as diverse as the people who inhabit the city. Its a fun event that the whole family can attend and is in a beautiful part of downtown, close to the Disney Concert Hall and Museum of Contemporary Art.

The battle for bragging rights

It was the match up every NBA fan across the country was looking forward to...Los Angeles vs Cleveland. And while the rosters didn't include either Kobe or Lebron, the pick-up game played between LA SCORES Executive Director, and Cleveland native, David Joseph and AmeriCorps VISTA, and LA groomed, Dre De La Peza was just as captivating.

There had a been a buzz around the LA SCORES office for the past few months; David Joseph, an undefeated 1-0 against SCORES staff in previous meetings, had challenged the newcomer VISTA to a game of basketball. As time passed, the anticipation grew. Backed with a seemingly endless supply of linguistic quips and verbal artillery, David's trash talk would've sent Floyd Mayweather himself, back to his corner, head hanging in despair. But Dre absorbed every word, hoping that with each blow the the mighty would only have farther to fall.

Fast forward to lunch hour on Monday. The two competitors find themselves at Palms Rancho Park taking some shots to ease the tension the last week of school has brought. After warming up David casually states "For fitness sake, wanna run one?" and with those few simple words the battle had begun. Cleveland vs. LA: Games 1-7 all at once. First to 11 and to the winner go the spoils.

The game begins and David wastes no time. A stong drive to the hole for an easy lay-up. 1-0, winner's outs. Then the Ohio version of Rex Chapman steps back and nails a shot from distance. 3-0 Cleveland. (Dre's thoughts:"Uh oh") On the ensuing play, Dre grabs a rebound of a missed lay-up. Needing to get on the board, he drives to basket to score on a reverse. 3-1. Next play, another lay-up followed by a long range shot of his own. 4-3, advantage LA. The two trade baskets leaving LA up 5-4.

Now I wish I could say what ensued was an epic battle, one of those straight to ESPN Classic games that people use to define their childhood. But it wasn't. LA would not score another bucket. Cleveland would tally 7 straight points ending on a long range 2 pointer to seal it. David's range and length allowed him to block multiple shots while converting from all over. He moves to 2-0 against SCORES staff and was able to back up his pre-game poetics. Dre had an extra long drive home that day, as he stands 0-1 and impatiently awaits the re-match.

So Congratulations Cleveland, you might not be able to win in the Majors but you're undefeated in 501 (c)(3).

SUMMER IS HERE!

The June gloom has been overcome by the summer-time sun! With that also comes the LA SCORES Summer Camps! Here are our dates and we hope you can join us!

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SUMMER CAMP

Dates: Monday July 6 through Friday July 31. Five days a week
Times: 1:00pm-4:00pm
Location: Palms Elementary

MIDDLE SCHOOL SUMMER CAMP

Dates:Tuesday July 7 through Thursday July 30. Tuesdays and Thursdays
Times:1:00pm-3:00pm
Location: Palms Middle School