“Where progressive literacy meets the transformative power of lacrosse.”
“Support a Scholar” instead of just “Donate.”
Read. Think. Grow.
At Literacy & Lacrosse, we honor the languages, cultures, and strengths every student brings. Through purposeful literacy instruction, mentoring, and structured lacrosse, scholars build reading comprehension, critical thinking, confidence, and teamwork. Our learning process connects reading with reflection, practice, and leadership, helping young people grow as scholars, athletes, and engaged members of their community.
A stronger voice, one year at a time
As one multilingual student built English proficiency, Literacy & Lacrosse provided rigorous reading and writing instruction, consistent language support, and learning that honored the student’s experiences. Over the year, the student made meaningful progress in expressing complex ideas with greater clarity, depth, and confidence. This growth reflects our commitment to helping multilingual learners develop their skills and take pride in their voices as scholars.
Mission
Empowering Minds
Beyond the Scoreboard: Character for Life
Built to Read. Ready to Lead.
Every student deserves the opportunity and support to grow. Literacy & Lacrosse combines purposeful reading and writing instruction, mentoring, and structured lacrosse to build knowledge, confidence, discipline, and a strong foundation for future learning.
Built to Read. Ready to Lead.
Beyond the Scoreboard: Character for Life
Built to Read. Ready to Lead.
We challenge scholars to think deeply, express ideas clearly, solve problems, and persevere when learning gets hard. Purposeful literacy instruction builds knowledge, responsive support helps each learner take the next step, and lacrosse gives students the chance to practice discipline, teamwork, resilience, and leadership. Together, these experiences help young people grow as readers, teammates, and community members.
Beyond the Scoreboard: Character for Life
Beyond the Scoreboard: Character for Life
Beyond the Scoreboard: Character for Life
Respect, integrity, resilience, and responsibility matter in every setting. Through mentoring, collaborative learning, and lacrosse, students practice these values as teammates, classmates, and members of their community. We create opportunities for scholars to carry those habits from the field into the classroom and the choices they make every day.
Open Books. Open Fields. Open Futures.
Our Philosophy
Literacy & Lacrosse Inc. expands opportunity for historically underserved children by pairing evidence-based literacy instruction, academic enrichment, and mentoring with structured lacrosse. We strengthen reading and writing, close academic opportunity gaps, and help young people build the confidence, discipline, teamwork, and leadership to grow as scholars, athletes, and engaged community members.
Statement of Need
Behind every reading score is a young person with ideas, talent, and potential. Yet in 2026, only 39.6% of DC students met or exceeded grade-level expectations in English language arts. Proficiency was 28.3% among Black students and 36.1% among Hispanic/Latino students, compared with 86.3% among White students. DC students are making progress, and significant differences in opportunity and achievement remain.
Literacy & Lacrosse exists to help meet this need. We pair science-of-reading-informed literacy instruction with academic enrichment, mentoring, and structured lacrosse. Students work to strengthen reading, writing, and critical thinking; on the field, they practice discipline, teamwork, perseverance, and leadership.
Donor and grant support helps provide consistent instruction, learning materials, progress monitoring, mentoring, and athletic experiences. Together, we can create more opportunities for young people to grow as confident readers, scholars, athletes, and community leaders.
OSSE, 2026 Statewide Assessment Results. ELA proficiency represents students meeting or exceeding grade-level expectations.
Opening Doors
Your generosity helps provide young people with engaging books, quality lacrosse equipment, and meaningful mentorship. Together, we are creating more opportunities for students to grow as readers, scholars, and athletes one young person at a time.
Thank you for believing in their potential and supporting the work.
"The Game-Changer"
"Where Literacy Meets Lacrosse: Transforming Student Lives Through Learning and Play!"