DEC SET FOR TAKE STOCK IN CHILDREN MONTH-LONG “STRIDES FOR EDUCATION” INITIATIVE
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TAKE STOCK IN CHILDREN ANNOUNCES MONTH-LONG “STRIDES FOR EDUCATION” INITIATIVE FEATURING 5K WALK/RUN EVENTS
Statewide effort to raise scholarship dollars to support low-income college bound students
MIAMI, FL – Celebrating the resounding success and support of its inaugural “Strides For Education” 5K Walk/Run events, Take Stock in Children has designated December 2012 for its next installment of this statewide effort. This month-long initiative will be a milestone with multiple events taking place across Florida to raise awareness and funds for deserving low-income youth, many of whom are the first in their family to have the opportunity to pursue a college degree.
“We enjoyed an extremely successful first-year effort, and are excited to launch an even bigger and better ‘Strides For Education’ during December,” says Emilio Alonso-Mendoza, President/CEO of Take Stock in Children. “With the support of generous sponsors and committed individuals, we will continue to develop the next generation of leaders, resulting in a stronger workforce and better communities.”
In 2011, more than 3,000 students, mentors, business and community leaders from around the state joined Take Stock in Children for its first-ever “Strides For Education” 5K Walk/Run events, raising an impressive $350,000. This year the statewide non-profit organization, which has a 17 year history of providing scholarships, mentors and hope, aims to have more participants come together to help its many eligible scholars achieve their dream of a higher education.
The $350,000 made a huge impact on the services exclusively offered by Take Stock in Children. These additional scholarship dollars have been earmarked to ensure that Take Stock in Children’s students receive one-on-one mentoring, resources and referral support and ultimately college scholarships. Take Stock in Children secures scholarships for its students with private donations that are then matched dollar for dollar by the state of Florida through the Project STARS Florida Pre-Paid program.
Take Stock in Children’s 2nd Annual “Strides For Education” 5K Walk/Run events will be open to all individuals, families, companies and local organizations, and will feature family-friendly activities, giveaways and much more. All proceeds will benefit Take Stock in Children, which currently serves nearly 8,000 students in grades 6-12 annually throughout 67 counties in Florida.
To learn more about one of Take Stock in Children’s “Strides For Education” 5K Walk/Run events near you, please call 888-322-HOPE or visit www.stridesforeducation.com.
About Take Stock in Children
Take Stock in Children is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization with a solid 17 year history of providing mentors, educational scholarships and hope for Florida’s low-income and deserving youth. The organization has provided educational support and college scholarships for over 18,000 children in partnership with more than 800 public schools throughout 67 counties in Florida. It is the only scholarship mentoring program that has attained a high school graduation rate of 92 percent in Florida. The program’s multi-year commitment to students and their comprehensive program services begin in middle school and continue through high school graduation and into college. Special emphasis is placed on student accountability and specific measurable outcomes. Take Stock in Children students pledge to meet with their assigned mentor once a week, maintain a minimum grade point average of 2.5, and remain drug and crime free. Upon successful high school graduation, as a fulfillment of their contractual agreement, students are then awarded a college scholarship to any college, university or vocational school in the state of Florida. To learn more about Take Stock in Children, please call 888-322-4673 or visit www.takestockinchildren.org.
