Summer Impact Report 2024

Between June and August (2024) we dedicated 429 programming hours to youth enrichment, engaged 147 unduplicated DC youth, and saved low-income families a combined total of $129,810.00, which was accomplished by eliminating summer camp cost and activity fees.

Our summer youth enrollment numbers were 47% higher than originally projected in May 2024. This was due to a new partnership with Nike US Sports Camps, DC Parks & Recreations, and The Chase Your Dreams Academy, which attracted an additional 95 Ward 7 and Ward 8 youth. Together we facilitated the inaugural Nike Basketball Camp at HD Woodson High School in DC’s Ward 7, which is the second most economically disadvantaged Ward in the District.

In addition, youth enrollment numbers for our 2024 SOUL Summer Camp, which ran from July 8-August 8, was 100% higher than youth enrollment in 2023. This year we enrolled 30 DC youth between the ages of 8-12 years old, which was double the previous year’s enrollment. We also saw hikes in the youth engagement numbers for our summer basketball program, which increased by 128%. Last year, only 21 youth participated in this program, when compared to this summer where 72 youth were engaged, and 48 DC youth were enrolled.

Due to your support, we were able to take our youth to New York City to participate in Fordham University’s Basketball Camp in June and the NBPA-Five Star Basketball in July. In addition, you enabled us travel to Hershey, Pennsylvania twice with our youth, to visit the Hershey School and Hershey Park. Regarding the July New York City trip, one our youth shared, “This is my first time leaving DC.”

We are gearing up for the 2024-2025 program year and we have very ambitious social impact goals. We seek to raise $500,000, which will be used to enrich the lives of 1,000 at-risk DC youth. This will be accomplished through our delivery of in-school time and out-of-school time programs and services, in form of academic enrichment, college readiness support, youth sports programs, social emotional learning groups, scholarships, family services, and youth camps.