PBCGA Community Update: Take Stock in Children

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 4, 2022

CONTACT:

Lidia Vargas

Director of Development

(561) 603-9718

Lvargas@takestockpalmbeach.org

TAKE STOCK TRIBUNE: PBCGA SCHOLARSHIP AND MENTORSHIP PROGRAM UPDATES

April marks student celebration month for Take Stock in Children Palm Beach County. As summer approaches our focus is to finish the school year strong with goal-setting sessions with our students for the 2022-23 school year. In partnership with the Johnson Scholar Program, students receive special recognition during our after-school club meetings for Perfect Club Attendance, Most Community Service hours, and Highest GPA. In addition, seniors are also awarded Best Resume, Best Essay, and Best Senior College Readiness Portfolio. After a month of celebration, each cohort meeting concludes with a festivity filled with Certificates of Completion, senior graduation cords, and cake!

This month Take Stock in Children Palm Beach County partnered with 2U for our 4th annual Alumni Care Packages initiative. A total of 120 care packages were assembled and will be sent to our college students, wishing them a successful year. Packages include snacks, toiletries, books, college dorm essentials, and a motivational note to each student. 2U partners with top universities to help transform digital higher education through online education technology and brand stewardship. College life can be stressful, especially at the end of the school year. We are grateful for our partnership with 2U and their efforts to serve our students and support their needs.

Dear Friends,

I’m excited to share this month’s newsletter with all of you. As the Director of Development, I have devoted my time to driving innovative strategies into the organization’s financial sustainability resulting in a 133% growth rate. I started my journey at Take Stock in Children fifteen years ago. In that time, I’ve had the pleasure of witnessing the organization create positive change in disenfranchised communities by leveling the playing field and providing hope to underprivileged students through mentoring and education.

According to the United Way’s recent ALICE in Focus Children Report Release, 56% of students in Florida live in financially insecure households. These families often face difficult trade-offs that affect their child’s education and well-being. For our state’s Black and Hispanic children, the stakes are even higher, with 73% and 66%, respectively, living in households that cannot afford basic necessities. As a community stakeholder, Take Stock in Children has advocated for economically distressed families to close the academic “achievement gap” for underserved students.

Take Stock in Children promotes educational equity for students via mentoring, academic coaching, and post-secondary retention services. Take Stock in Children is the only college attainment-focused mentoring program of its kind in Florida. Students in the program receive a guaranteed 2-year full-tuition college scholarship worth 60 college credit hours. Scholarships are pre-purchased from the Florida Prepaid Foundation before the student’s enrollment and matched dollar for dollar by Stanley Tate Project STARS scholarships. Thanks to our private and public partners, we will be awarding approximately $1.2M in college scholarships to 124 graduating seniors next month.

April marks Volunteer Appreciation Month, now seems like the perfect time to say how thankful we are for all of our Take Stock mentors volunteering their time and investing their knowledge in our students. Our mentors and community partners make it possible for us to offer our evidence-based resources, which have helped thousands of marginalized children end generational cycles of poverty, creating transformative results in our communities.

Sincerely,

Lidia Vargas

Director of Development

(561) 603-9718

Lvargas@takestockpalmbeach.org