Anthem Sports & Entertainment, the global multi-platform media company which just purchased a majority interest in AXS TV and HDNet Movies, and its subsidiary IMPACT Wrestling, one of the world’s largest professional wrestling organizations, have partnered with the nonprofit Higher Education & Learning Professional Consulting, Inc. (HELP) to deliver the federally recognized SCORE (Shaping Careers with Officers and Relating Experiences) Program’s Educational and Social Justice Curriculum to youth across the U.S. and Canada.
The SCORE Program was designed by HELP to specifically address the need for intentional programming in support of the NFL Foundation Social Justice Grant Matching Program and the NFL Inspire Change Initiative. In the first round of funding, HELP was awarded the most NFL Social Justice Matching Grants in the country, teaming up with 32 former NFL players to provide The SCORE Program to 10 high school varsity football teams selected by the player partners across three states (Texas, Georgia and Louisiana) to assist student-athletes to reach their full academic potential, address social justice issues and build trust with local law enforcement agencies.
This summer, on July 8 and 9, three IMPACT Wrestling stars, including Quinn Ojinnaka, who wrestles as Moose and played in the NFL from 2006-2012, third-generation female wrestler Tessa Blanchard and World Championship contender Michael Elgin participated in the SCORE Workshop with the varsity football team at Sam Houston High School in Arlington, TX, along with president Liffort Hobley and others members of the Dallas NFL Alumni Chapter, former Dallas Cowboy Greg Ellis, Larry Wansley, Director of Security for the Dallas Cowboys, local business leaders and the Arlington Police Department.
"IMPACT was honored to have our wrestlers take part in The SCORE Program’s workshop and their participation allowed us to see first-hand the impact that SCORE had on not only the youth participants but also our wrestlers and us an executive team,” said Ed Nordholm, Chief Corporate Officer of Anthem Sports & Entertainment and president of IMPACT Wrestling. “This partnership formalizes our relationship with HELP and launches our continued support and participation with both The SCORE Program and the NFL Alumni Association, providing IMPACT Wrestling a unique avenue to contribute to not only the communities in which we operate but also all 32 NFL cities and in the home towns of players.”
“The NFL and its Inspire Change Initiative was searching for a program that could be modeled and provide data towards best practices and we feel that the SCORE Program addresses that need,” said HELP Consulting, Inc.’s president and CEO and SCORE Executive Director, Dr. Edward L. Tarlton. “We shared our mission, vision, and values with the team at Anthem and IMPACT Wrestling and without hesitation, they came on board in a strong and impactful way. We are proud to cultivate this relationship with such a well-respected global brand and seek to grow the program with their support.”
IMPACT Wrestling kicked off its collaboration with the NFL Alumni Association this past January. Meanwhile, The SCORE Program announced its partnership with the NFL Alumni Association in October. Together, the three groups will collaborate on community initiatives targeting youth across North America.
Conducted in a workshop format, The SCORE Program incorporates college and career readiness and ACT Test Prep with solution-oriented, high-impact common-ground and bridge-building social justice-related activities that specifically focus on the NFL Inspire Change initiative priority areas related to Education and Economic Advancement and Police and Community Relations. Data from this summer’s pilot program highlighted that the SCORE learning objectives were not only met but exceeded: a) Trust was built- 90% of students and 98% law enforcement “Strongly Agree” or “Agree,” b) The ability to have challenging conversations on social justice issues was established- 89% of students and 96% law enforcement “Strongly Agree” or “Agree,” and c) College & Career Readiness knowledge was increased-
91% of students and 96% law enforcement “Strongly Agree” or “Agree.”
To learn more about HELP or The SCORE Program, visit www.thescoreprogram.com.
To learn more about Anthem or IMPACT Wrestling, visit www.anthemse.com, www.impactwrestling.com, and plus.impactwrestling.com.
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About Anthem Sports & Entertainment:
Anthem Sports & Entertainment Corp. is a globally integrated multi-platform media company with offices and studios in New York, Toronto, Los Angeles and Nashville. Anthem's portfolio includes AXS TV, a leading music, entertainment and lifestyle channel available in over 50 million U.S. homes originally founded by Mark Cuban in 2001; Fight Network, the world's premier combat sports channel now broadcasting in the U.S., Canada and over 20 other countries; IMPACT Wrestling, one of the world's leading wrestling organizations seen in 120 countries and specializing in television programs, events, products, merchandise, music, as well as the management and promotion of professional wrestlers; IMPACT Plus, a multi-platform digital SDVOD service featuring live monthly premium network specials, instant access to the 3,000-plus hour IMPACT Wrestling library, original series, reality shows and documentaries, exclusive events from international promotional partners and historical content from old territories; GameTV, featuring game shows, reality series, movies and sports available in over nine million homes; Game+, the home for fantasy sports gaming news and information, action sports, E-sports, high stakes poker and other action driven programming; and HDNet Movies, which features theatrically released films and documentaries and is available in 12 million U.S. homes. Anthem also has a significant ownership interest in Pursuit Channel, one of the top outdoor channels in the U.S. available in 45 million homes and on digital platforms.
About IMPACT Wrestling: IMPACT Wrestling is one of the world’s largest wrestling entertainment properties, creating more than 300 hours of original content annually across television and other digital platforms. IMPACT Wrestling specializes in creating premium content, events, products, merchandise, and music, as well as the management and promotion of professional wrestlers. Its highly successful flagship, IMPACT!, is broadcast globally, including AXS TV and Twitch in the United States, Fight Network and GameTV in Canada, Sony ESPN in India, 5STAR and Fight Network in the United Kingdom, SuperSport in Africa, and MVStv in Mexico. IMPACT Wrestling is a subsidiary of Anthem Sports & Entertainment Corp.
About HELP Consulting, Inc.:
Higher Education & Learning Professional Consulting, Inc. (HELP) is a federally recognized 501(c)(3) non-profit, founded in 2011, whose mission is to help students get to and through college and graduate school and on to careers. To accomplish the mission, HELP partners with youth-serving organizations, faith-based institutions, businesses, community leaders, and secondary and postsecondary institutions to enhance college and career readiness levels enabling students to become productive members of society where they live and work.
About The SCORE Program:
The SCORE (Shaping Careers with Officers and Relating Experiences) Program was designed by the non-profit Higher Education & Learning Professional Consulting, Inc. (HELP) specifically to address the need for intentional programming in support of the NFL Foundation Social Justice Grant Matching Program and the NFL Inspire Change initiative. SCORE’s mission is to improve community – law enforcement relations by building collaborative partnerships to enhance social connectivity and increase college and career preparation for youth and young adults.
