Starfinder Foundation

In Philadelphia, nearly 40% of children live under the poverty line, ranking last in the state on every health indicator with nearly a third of young people dropping out of high school without graduating.  

Starfinder combines football with mentoring, education, and leadership development to help young people achieve their full potential. Football is the magnet; success in school, in the community, and in the pursuit of higher education and employment is the goal.

Starfinder serves young people through after-school, weekend, and summer programmes at its football and education facility and at neighbourhood outreach sites. Starfinder targets young people aged 5-18 from low-income neighbourhoods where average household incomes are less than $35,000.

The organisations’s approach to youth engagement is a strengths-based, positive youth development model that encourages “voice and choice”, fosters sustained, meaningful relationships, and builds on the power of play and community.