Spotlight On: Starfinder Foundation, 2012 GoGirlGo! Grant Winner
Who They Are: Starfinder's soccer and personal development programs inspire girls from Philadelphia’s underserved communities to achieve success both on and off the field. Starfinder promotes youth leadership, a love of learning, the benefits of teamwork, and the rewards of commitment and responsibility.
What They Do: In 2012, Starfinder was given a grant from our
GoGirlGo! grant program. The money won will fund the third year of the Soccer Girls Rule Program that provides soccer and learning experiences for underserved girls. Girls will enhance their self-confidence, resilience, and self-efficacy; increase their knowledge about physical development, healthy behaviors, and interpersonal relations; and embrace physical activity as a key component of their adolescent lifestyle. All-female coaches, instructors and role models share their own life experiences with overcoming outside influences, and provide continuous encouragement, praise and accountability.
Where They Do It: Starfinder is based in the Manayunk section of Philadelphia and serves girls in the Greater Philadelphia area.
When They Do It: Annually, Starfinder works with approximately 700-800 children, ages 6-18, for an average of more than 60 hours each.
Why They Do It: Starfinder aims to teach Philadelphia girls how to match their boundless aspiration with purposeful action, to find the "stars" in themselves, and become agents of positive change for their classmates, teammates and peers.
In Their Own Words: “Our combination of athletic, educational, and personal enrichment programs are designed to help young people aspire to, and achieve, the highest levels of success, both on and off the field. We want to inspire and motivate them. We want to help them enjoy success in practical ways on a daily basis while they have fun with their peers. We want them to avoid bad decisions at school and in their personal lives, and stay on track towards a diploma and a bright future.”
Learn more about Starfinder here.