Focus Area: Youth Development

Grant Amount: $10,000

Based in Minneapolis, serves statewide. Founded in 1994, ACES (Athletes Committed to Educating Students) has been working to reduce Minnesota’s academic opportunity gap and improve the chance of success for students in underserved communities by providing exceptional math and social-emotional education through the lens of sports. More than 10,000 4th-8th graders have participated in ACES programming at schools and community centers across the state. It has the direct support of every major Minnesota professional sports team, as well as the U of MN’s Athletic Department.

Grant supports two ACES sites, Northeast College Prep and Hennepin Schools, serving 100 4th-6th grade students throughout the school year. Programming takes place onsite at these 2 partner schools, after school for 2 hours per day, 4 days per week. Sports content is woven throughout programming as a hook to inspire student interest and as a valuable basis for subject and concept learning. Over the school year, these students will receive more than 200 hours of additional academic instruction, reinforcing key math, science, and social-emotional skills beyond their regular school day.