San Francisco, CA – December 19, 2024 – UpMetrics is proud to announce Real Options for City Kids (R.O.C.K.) as the winner of their inaugural Social Impact Showcase, an initiative designed to elevate and celebrate the work of nonprofit organizations that are embracing data and impact measurement to accelerate meaningful change. As the winner, R.O.C.K. was also awarded a $50,000 grant to help further their mission of supporting at-risk youth through uplifting sports and fitness programs, outdoor adventures, and nurturing school-based support. 

The six Showcase finalists were selected from a large and competitive pool of applications, and received one-on-one coaching from UpMetrics’ Sr. Director of Community, Stephen Minix, around how to most effectively position their organization and work to funders - highlighting the importance of engaging both the heart and head in impact storytelling.

Final presentations took place on December 12th in front of an esteemed panel of judges that included Kamaal Martin, Founder of Art, Power, Equity, a socio-cultural enterprise that promotes equity, access and opportunity in the creative economy; Tanya Beja, General Partner at AlleyCorp and leading the Economic Infrastructure team where she focuses on investments  that directly benefit working families; and Derek Jernstedt, Executive Director of both the HEDCO Foundation and Quest Foundation, organizations that support educational, social, and health-related nonprofits.

R.O.C.K’s winning presentation highlighted their nearly year-long collaboration with UpMetrics, which has transformed how they track, analyze, and act on critical data. They stood out for their commitment to creating long-term, community-centered results, and for demonstrating innovation, creativity, and excellence in using data to understand the impact of their programs on students, identify opportunities to expand or maximize value, and effectively share their impact story with relevant stakeholders. 

"We are humbled and beyond grateful to have been selected as the winner of the 2024 Social Impact Showcase among so many deserving organizations,” said Curt Yagi, Executive Director at R.O.C.K. “This is a significant award that, coupled with UpMetrics' tools, will strengthen our ability to create lasting, positive change for our students and their futures."

R.O.C.K is the largest provider of academic and social support for at-risk youth in San Francisco’s Visitacion Valley. Since 1994, R.O.C.K. has served the needs of children in their community by providing structured programs that foster personal development within a safe, loving and supportive environment. Their programs focus on addressing the whole needs of the child through uplifting sports and fitness programs, outdoor adventures, and nurturing school-based support. With the help of their programs, children who might not otherwise have a reasonable chance to succeed are granted a level playing field.

👉 Check out R.O.C.K's Impact Framework and application video to learn how they're using UpMetrics to measure progress towards their mission of nurturing the healthy development of children within the Visitacion Valley community.

"The response to our Social Impact Showcase exceeded expectations, with remarkable entries showcasing the diverse ways organizations are using data to creating real-world change," said Drew Payne, CEO at UpMetrics. "R.O.C.K’s holistic approach to impact measurement and their ability to demonstrate tangible, measurable outcomes made them a standout choice. We’re excited to see how their work continues to inspire others in the field."

Other Showcase finalists included:

• Oakland Lacrosse Club
• America SCORES Chicago
• FACES SF
• Kingmakers of Oakland
• Peer Health Exchange

To learn more about the Social Impact Showcase and to watch the winning, finalist and participant videos, visit https://upmetrics.com/social-impact-showcase.