A Message From the President

As we begin this week, I want to share with you all the highlights and details of our very successful “Passport to Excellence” State Leadership Conference, as promised. This was truly a perfect opportunity for us all to gather and celebrate our excellence in action! Let’s start with the Awards Dinner, which took place at the FSU University Center and recognized several of our outstanding leaders including John Henry, our first-ever Statewide Mentor of the Year, Richard Berkowitz, our Champion of Education, and India White, our Alumni of the Year recipient. All of the photos from the Awards Dinner can be found here: http://www.lcoltharp.com/take_stock/011012_awards/.

Beloved by all, John Henry has been a board member of The Immokalee Foundation for several years, a Take Stock Board Liaison for two, as well as a mentor to three scholars simultaneously. He is a stellar example for the young men he mentors, his drive to help others succeed is seemingly limitless and his generosity is inspiring. With January being National Mentoring Month, I could not think of a better time or place to recognize and honor his efforts. Thank you John, for all that you do each and every day.

The Champion of Education award was given to Richard Berkowitz, an outstanding member of his community who has worked tirelessly to raise awareness on behalf of the children of Florida while also advocating to address needs that have not yet been met. For years he has consistently devoted his time and talents to Take Stock in Children to ensure that every child has an opportunity to achieve their dreams through education. Thank you Richard, for your unyielding dedication to improving the lives of our students.

India White was selected as Take Stock in Children’s Alumni of the Year for her motivating leadership and efforts of paying it forward. Her path has led her from living in a homeless shelter to eventually becoming a teacher, mother and enthusiastic spokesperson and mentor for Take Stock in Children. She plays a vital role in the continuing success of our organization and all those who follow in her footsteps. Thank you India, for being such a powerful inspiration to us all.

I would like to deeply thank our keynote speaker for the Awards Dinner, Gary Chartrand, Executive Chairman of Acosta, a leading full-service sales and marketing agency. His insights on how to be successful and become an “unreasonable” leader serve as invaluable information for us all.

The next morning began with a General Session, featuring motivating guest speaker Gerard Robinson, Florida Commissioner of Education. Thank you Commissioner Robinson, for sharing your wisdom with us and for your unwavering support of our organization. I would also like to again congratulate all of our local programs who were recognized with special awards for their outstanding achievements, including Broward County, Citrus/Levy County, Bay County, Duval County, Indian River County and Santa Rosa County. All of the photos from our General Session can be found here: http://www.lcoltharp.com/take_stock/011112_am_meeting/.

Next, we were able to take advantage of hosting several educational breakout sessions on a broad range of topics such as creating partnerships and solutions for college retention, how to join forces to leverage relationships and resources, and discussions of best practices. This was followed by a luncheon featuring another very special guest speaker and strong supporter of Take Stock, Representative Will Weatherford, who is also the incoming Speaker of the House. Thank you Rep. Weatherford for sharing the story of your Take Stock in Children mentee, and reminding us all of how this is a two-way relationship that all of our mentors benefit and grow from as well.

Later that evening, we had the pleasure of hosting the Leaders 4 Life Awards and Legislative Reception sponsored by Comcast. We were all ecstatic to have Governor Rick Scott and First Lady Ann Scott in attendance for this very special occasion. A very heartfelt thank you to Mark Asofsky and the Asofsky Family Foundation, who were in attendance to celebrate the culmination of a long and joyful process of selecting this year's Leaders 4 Life Fellows. This fellowship program would never have been possible without your vision and support! Also, thank you to Representative Marti Coley, Chair of the House Pre-K – 12 Appropriations Committee, for recognizing our Leaders 4 Life fellows during her committee meeting, followed by two very special tours on the Senate and House Floors by Senator Don Gaetz and Representative Marlene O'Toole.

Congratulations to all of the 2012 Leaders 4 Life Fellows Vanessa Colchado, Tyler Dwyer, Alfonso Mejia, Huong Thuy Nguyen and Daniel Pierce! All of the photos from the reception, as well as a photo shoot with Governor Scott, can be found at the following links: http://www.lcoltharp.com/take_stock/011112_reception/ and http://www.lcoltharp.com/take_stock/011112_governor/.

This was the most successful and largest State Leadership Conference that Take Stock in Children has hosted to date. I want to thank everyone who attended and participated including all of the legislatures who took time to share words of support, with special gratitude to Paul Luna, President & CEO of the Helios Education Foundation; Christian Moore, M.S.W., author of “Why Try?”; Randy Hanna, Chancellor of Florida College System; Deb Hauck, FranklinCovey Senior Consultant; Representative Marlene O’Toole; Jeffrey Sharkey of the Capitol Alliance Group; and last but certainly not least, Cindy Stoddart-Cooper, Vice President of Strategic Alliances for Take Stock in Children.

In closing, as January is National Mentoring Month I strongly encourage you all to recognize and honor your mentors. They are the heart of our organization, and our success would not be possible without their help in changing children’s lives.


Wishing you a successful week,



Emilio Alonso-Mendoza


A lot of people have gone further than they thought they could because someone else thought they could. - Unknown

Emilio Alonso-Mendoza Appointed as President/CEO of Take Stock in Children

Emilio Alonso-Mendoza has been appointed to serve as President/CEO of Take Stock in Children, a statewide non-profit organization with a solid 16 year history of working to help low-income and at-risk youth break the cycle of poverty by providing scholarships, mentors and hope. The announcement was made by Richard Berkowitz, State Board Chair of Take Stock in Children.

“Emilio joins us at an ideal time when we are reaching new heights with nationally recognized programs and exciting challenges,” says Berkowitz. “His invaluable not-for-profit experience and commitment to succeed is ideal as Take Stock in Children continues to play a vital role in paving the way to ensure a bright future for our next generation of leaders.”

In his new role, Alonso-Mendoza will lead all facets of the organization, which currently serves nearly 17,000 low-income and minority students annually from middle school through college throughout 67 counties across the state. With a competent team of professionals and an active Board of Directors, he will oversee all aspects of the operations including fundraising and development, program services, board governance and strategic partnerships, as well as community and legislative affairs.

Alonso-Mendoza has built an amazing 25-year career working with vital non-profit organizations. He has spent the past five years as President of the Archdiocese of Miami Development Corporation and the Catholic Community Foundation in the Archdiocese of Miami. In this role, he successfully led many to support a vast array of charitable and social services that aim to raise funds to build churches, feed the hungry, house the homeless, and provide spiritual guidance.

“With my passion for advocacy and children’s issues, I am very excited to be joining this vital organization that helps shape the future of our next generation of leaders. Take Stock in Children has already demonstrated unparalleled success to change the lives of Florida’s at-risk youth. I look forward to growing this impactful program,” says Alonso-Mendoza.

Alonso-Mendoza’s professional experience also includes serving as President of the Children’s Home Society Foundation, helping orphaned, abandoned and neglected children throughout Florida and as President of the National Parkinson Foundation for 10 years, traveling the world and establishing 52 centers of excellence for research and treatment.

He is a law graduate of the University of Miami and resides in Miami with his wife Marina.