Bentley University Announces New Partnership with Boston Scores

Bentley University is excited to unveil a new collaboration with Boston Scores, a leading nonprofit organization dedicated to helping urban youth develop life skills and essential character through soccer and educational programs. team enrichment. Launched in 1999 as the first regional affiliate of the America Scores Network, Boston Scores traces its roots to the 1994 World Cup and was founded by Julie Kennedy, a public school teacher in Washington, DC. Boston Scores offers free programs to nearly 1,500 kindergarten students. -12 each year, in partnership with more than 30 schools and community programs. This emerging collaboration between Bentley and Boston Scores, rooted in a shared commitment to empowering youth and fostering community engagement, represents a significant advancement in the missions of both organizations.

“Boston Scores is excited to partner with Bentley University to support the college and career readiness efforts of students who participate in our organization’s after-school football programs,” said John Maconga, Executive Director of Boston Scores. “We look forward to growing this partnership in ways that strengthen Bentley’s community engagement and enable Boston Scores to serve more students with a deeper impact.”

Recognizing the significant potential of this collaboration and its ability to support Bentley’s 2030 strategic plan to advance community engagement, Bentley faculty member and former student-athlete Rick Miller ’80 initiated contact between the Boston Scores team and various campus stakeholders. Bentley’s athletic department is committed to supporting the development of young athletes, while the Center for Women in Business has been tasked with delivering an enrichment program focused on developing leadership skills gained through team sports. “To increase the representation of women at all levels of the business leadership pipeline, we need to engage girls in business early and often and meet them where they are. Our partnership with Boston Scores, an organization serving Boston communities, supports Bentley’s commitment to access and opportunity as well as our continued investment in using business education to promote girls’ economic mobility, women and their families,” said Yaro Fong-Olivares, executive director of the Center for Women and Business.

Over the past six months, representatives from both organizations have engaged in collaborative efforts, virtually and in-person, to shape a shared vision and strategy for the partnership. In March, Bentley hosted a group of 40 high school students from Boston Scores, giving them a campus tour and soccer clinic, both led by members of the women’s soccer team and head coach Sarah Dacey. During the campus tour, students toured the Center for Women and Business and the Bentley Trading Room, where they gained insight into campus life, sought advice on the application process at university and discovered how a business degree could support their future entrepreneurial goals. The day ended with students sharing a meal and attending a Bentley men’s soccer game.

Reflecting on this experience, a Boston Scores participant from the Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers High School said, “Touring the Bentley University campus, I realized it was huge, pretty and filled with classrooms that exceeded my expectations. football field, through the different drills and activities I learned more about what it takes to play in college. A Boston Scores participant from Brighton High School added, “I learned more about campus and really liked the environment; I was also interested in finance and business. I will definitely apply to this university. I felt they were very close. and a connected community, which is amazing because you can make a lot of friends and get involved in the community.

“This partnership demonstrates Bentley’s commitment to community engagement and empowering the next generation,” said Bentley Athletics Director Vaughn Williams. “Bentley Athletics, the Center for Women and Business and Boston Scores will form a formidable team, serving as a win-win partnership to support an organization with a tangible impact on the Boston community.”

The partners look forward to building on the success of the March event and continuing to create impactful opportunities for young people.