IGNITE STEM PASSION

Creating an integrated academy to build a better future for our community’s children through sport, science, technology, engineering and math

Starfire Sports is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, and all donations are tax deductible.

SOCCER AS A PLATFORM FOR SOCIAL CHANGE

There are numerous and varied benefits of participation in organized sports, including healthier children and improved academic achievement. Starfire Sports Academy for youth ages 18 months and up lowers the barrier of entry by creating an environment where all youth are welcome—regardless of skill level, gender, ethnicity, or ability to pay.

Our Academy serves over 1,000 student athletes annually, and is designed to inspire a passion for sport, and empower youth with the life skills to support their development as tomorrow’s leaders.

In a climate where physical activity is being increasingly defunded and removed from the public education experience, parents have found that our programs fill the gap in developing a well-rounded child. Many of the same children we serve are now in need of a helping hand in one of the most important arenas of our time: Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math - STEM.

TOMORROW’S OPPORTUNITIES ARE FOUND IN STEM...

 

However, many Washington State youth are not making the cut. While our state ranks #1 STEM jobs,3 we rank 47th in the proportion of high school graduates going directly to college,3 and our achievement gap in math and science education is the 12th largest in the nation.4 In communities surrounding Starfire...

 

Clearly, many students are not engaged and are getting left behind with no opportunity to land one of the lucrative STEM jobs in their future.

 

STEM GAMIFICATION AS PART OF THE STARFIRE ACADEMY: CULTIVATING CURIOSITY, INSPIRING PASSION, SUPPORTING SUCCESS

 
For many, the opportunities provided by the incredibly vibrant local STEM economy are inaccessible. Today, numerous alternative project-based learning methods are available that are more fun and immersive for children. Starfire is uniquely positioned to deliver these “gamified” projects to our diverse community with an approach that inspires interest in, and passion for, STEM. Starfire is seeking to extend the success of the Starfire Sports Academy soccer programs by offering our student athletes the opportunity to participate in STEM programs. Similar to our soccer programming approach, we want to reduce the barriers of entry by making STEM classes fun, approachable, and accessible to all. Our goal is not to replace the role of schools, but to help prepare our youth to engage and fully embrace STEM learning opportunities at their schools. We will do this by using STEM-based gamification products that will engage our student athletes, cultivate their curiosity, and make them comfortable with the underlying science and technology through project-based learning. From the soccer field to the classroom, we seek to make our student athletes as confident joining a robotics or coding club in high school as they are trying out for the soccer team.

SMART TOYS & STEM EDUCATION

IGNITE STEM PASSION PROGRAM MODEL

 

STARFIRE PARENTS ON STEM

Starfire Sports is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, and all donations are tax deductible.

 
STARFIRE ACADEMY LEARNING CENTER:
FUN, FLEXIBLE SPACES FOR GAMES AND PROJECT-BASED EXPERIENCES Starfire Sports is raising $1,555,000 for our “Ignite STEM Passion” capital campaign. These funds will be used for the construction of the Starfire Academy Learning Center and to launch our STEM learning program. Three new flex-space rooms will be home to Starfire’s STEM program and be configurable to a variety of engaging experiences for students to grow their knowledge and curiosity.

Your one-time, tax-deductible contribution provides capital funding for constructing the new Academy Learning Center and launching our STEM program. There will be no further solicitations to cover program operations. Like all our current soccer programs, STEM will be self-funding from participation by those that have the ability to pay. Operational revenues and program sponsorships will provide financial assistance for the underserved members of our community who cannot afford the cost of participation.

With your generosity, we will be able to support up to 1,000 youth through our STEM classes--regardless of gender, ethnicity, or ability to pay--and create a place to help our student athletes build their futures on and off the field. Together we can can help prepare our community’s youth to take advantage of tomorrow’s opportunities

 

Support our capital campaign by making a donation today. Starfire Sports is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, and all donations are tax deductible.

 

ABOUT STARFIRE SPORTS

Starfire Sports, located in Tukwila, Washington, is the heart and soul of soccer in the Pacific Northwest providing world-class facilities and innovative, inclusive programming. Starfire Sports delivers diverse programs for youth and adults, knowledgeable and professional staff, financial assistance, and a safe and engaging environment for social interaction and community building. It is a place like no other in the United States, with visitors of all ages and ethnic backgrounds that either play or watch the beautiful game – amateur and professional.

PROGRAMS & EVENTS

  • 6,000 youth and adult league participants
  • 1,000 Starfire Academy participants
  • 43 tournament events annually
  • Training grounds for Seattle Sounders FC & hundreds of youth teams
  • Host of over 7,500 youth and adult games, including Sounders FC Open Cup and S2 matches

CAMPUS

  • 54 acres of premier facilities
  • 12 outdoor and 2 indoor soccer fields
  • 4,000-spectator stadium
  • 85,000 sq. ft. Athletic Center

CORPORATE

  • 501(c)(3) public charity founded in 2003
  • Public/private partnership with the City of Tukwila, facilitated by King County
  • 51 employees

CITATIONS
  1. 2015 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NEAP) Nation’s Report Card - http://nces. ed.gov/nationsreportcard/states/ 
  2. Great Jobs Within Our Reach: Solving the Problem of Washington state’s growing job skills gap. The Boston Consultancy Group and the Washington Roundtable. March 2013. https://www.bcgperspectives.com/content/articles/education_public_sector_opportunity_all_investing_washington_state_stem_education/
  3. Washington State STEM Education Innovation Alliance 2017 STEM Education Report Card - http://www.wsac.wa.gov/sites/default/files/2017.STEM.Report.Card.pdf
  4. National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), Science 2015 and Math 2015
  5. Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction 2015-2016 Washington State Report Card - http://reportcard.ospi.k12.wa.us

Starfire Sports