Take Stock in Children Recipient of Prestigious $5M "Development" i3 Grant

We are very pleased to announce that Take Stock in Children has been chosen as one of 49 highest rated applicants for the US Dept of Education’s Investing in Innovation (i3) Grant. Nearly 1700 school districts, nonprofit education organizations and institutions of higher education applied in order to compete for a share of the $650 million in i3 Grants. In order for Take Stock in Children to be awarded the $5 million Development Grant, we must submit documentation for the required 20% private sector match by September 8th.

The purpose of the Investing in Innovation Fund is to support innovative programs with a record of improving student achievement and attainment. The grant award will allow Take Stock in Children to expand the implementation of innovative practices that have a proven record of improving student achievement and student growth, closing achievement gaps, decreasing dropout rates, increasing high school graduation rates, and increasing college enrollment and completion rates.

The proposal submitted, entitled FLIGHT (Facilitating Long-Term Improvements in Graduation and Higher Education for Tomorrow) met several of the i3 grant eligibility criteria and grant priorities as described in the original RFP. A summary of the project description can be found by accessing this link: http://data.ed.gov/grants/investing-in-innovation/applicant/15583

This grant award winning proposal could not have happened without the collaborative efforts of several parties, but special recognition must be given to Research Associates for their very well written proposal and Judy Saylor for her leadership on this project. More information to follow.

Take Stock in Children Students in Santa Rosa County Receive Scholarships, Mentors …. And Laptops!

Story By Carmen Paige, PNJ.com

Brandon Wigent, 18, received the surprise of his life when fellow teenagers Nathan and Nick Gupta of Gulf Breeze gifted him with a laptop computer.
"I really needed a computer, and I was so grateful," he said. "I couldn't do my homework at home because my computer was not updated, and had to stay after school in the computer lab. It was frustrating."

Brandon and 19 other Take Stock in Children Santa Rosa County graduates received laptops and software courtesy of the Gupta brothers, who kept the donation a secret.
"The students were really excited, and we were really excited to give the computers," said Nathan Gupta, 17. "We had been looking forward to giving the computers to them."
The brothers raised more than $15,000 to pay for the gifts.

"When we realized (the project) was going to come through with the support of the community, it was amazing," said Nick, 15. "It just made us realize the community is behind these kids."

Nathan and Nick are great people, said Brandon, who just graduated from Navarre High School and Pensacola Junior College under the dual enrollment program. He plans to become a photographer.

"This is the most amazing thing I've ever seen done," he said. The brothers and their parents, Dr. Sunil and Lisa Gupta, are supporters of Take Stock Santa Rosa. The family has provided college scholarships.

"Nathan and Nick know Take Stock will provide the students with the financial support to get to college," said their mother, Lisa Gupta. "But, the library and computer lab may not have long hours, so computers will not be accessible."

Lisa Gupta said her sons researched what computers would be best for college students and looked for the best value for the money they raised. They even developed pamphlets about Take Stock and the use of computers in a college student's academic success to hand out when making their pitch to individuals and groups. "They were out and about a lot, sometimes until 9 p.m.," said Lisa Gupta. "They also went to a lot of breakfast meetings, some starting at 6:30 a.m. So, they worked hard."

Santa Rosa has had a Take Stock program for 14 years. Scholarships, mentors and hope are provided for low-income youth in grades 6-9, who are chosen through an application process.

"We need more mentors in Pace, Milton and Navarre," said Angi Brown, program director. "Mentors meet with students once a week for 30 minutes during school hours."

With 20 graduates, this is the program's largest class, Brown said. There are 122 students in the program. "All the kids have scholarships purchased," she said. "But, we are trying to raise $140,000 next year (to add more students)."

What the Gupta brothers have done is phenomenal, Brown said. "I knew they were doing this project, and it was hard to keep quiet about it," she said. "The closer they got to the actual moment of unveiling, the more I got pumped up."

Nathan and Nick are students in the Pensacola High School International Baccalaureate program, which has a rigorous curriculum. They are at the University of Maryland this week because their exhibit on muckraking journalism is in the National History Day contest.("We don't have too much free time," said Nathan. "We put in a lot of time studying."(After listening to the brothers talk about their research and enthusiasm for helping out, Michael and Jo-Ann Price of Gulf Breeze made a donation. She is a Take Stock mentor and the Price Family Private Foundation has given scholarships.

"Seeing young men this age get excited about helping other kids have the tools for success, I had to be a part of it," she said. The brothers have shown that youths can get involved, Jo-Ann Price said.

"These boys are the best of what this community has to offer," she said. "They saw the need for the students to head off to college with a computer, which is a necessary tool."

Nathan and Nick are making plans to raise money to give laptops next year to Take Stock's 30 graduates. "We realize how much we use our computers every day, and going off to college without a computer is pretty tough," said Nick. "It has been inspiring to us to give the computers with the community's support, and we want to continue."

Take Stock in Children Awards Seven Outstanding Programs

Take Stock in Children honored local program partners from across the state for their success in providing low-income, at-risk children with scholarships, mentors, and hope.

Seven awards were presented to program partners who demonstrated outstanding dedication and commitment to the students they serve during the 2009/2010 school year. The following awards were presented:

• Excellence in Mentoring – Communities in Schools of Bradford County and Flagler County Education Foundation
• Excellence in Program Growth – Take Stock in Children of Orange County and The Foundation of Lee County Public Schools
• Excellence in Program Management – Take Stock in Children of Miami-Dade County, Education Foundation of Lake County and Walton County Public Schools Foundation

The Florida Lottery, a long-term statewide sponsor of Take Stock in Children sponsored the awards ceremony and dinner attended by more than 160 educational advocates from around the state including Stanley Tate, founder of the Florida Prepaid College program. The Florida Lottery has contributed more than $19 billion to education initiatives across the state as they believe the future begins with supporting Florida’s children with a strong education

Take Stock in Children partners with American Express

Did you know, you can redeem your American Express Membership Rewards points for a donation? For every 1,000 points you redeem, Take Stock in Children will receive $10.00. Click on the "Members Give" banner to get started. Donations can be made in dollars or, if you are enrolled in the Membership Rewards® program*, you can redeem your points for a donation. Your dollar donation is tax deductible to the extent allowed by law and you will receive an immediate e-mail receipt that meets IRS requirements as a record of your contribution. The site also enables you to set up recurring donations so you can spread out your donation over time. If you are enrolled in an American Express Loyalty program, you can earn valuable rewards with virtually every dollar you donate.

Volunteer Mentors rewarded with "Give a Day, Get a Disney Day"

We are pleased to announce that Take Stock in Children will be participating in Walt Disney World’s “Give a Day, Get a Disney Day” program through the HandsOn Network. Take Stock in Children is proud to celebrate the unsung heroes who serve as Mentors to students in their communities with this exciting rewards program. All volunteer Take Stock in Children Mentors are eligible and we encourage you to enjoy the benefit of visiting Walt Disney World. Please contact your local program agency for local volunteer mentoring opportunities in your community.

We appreciate your continued support of Take Stock in Children, and we hope that Give a Day, get a Disney Day will serve to recognize your outstanding commitment to Take Stock in Children and our scholars. We look forward to celebrating the spirit and power of volunteerism with you this year!

JANUARY IS NATIONAL MENTOR MONTH

A Message from Maria Sastre
President & CEO
Take Stock in Children

We know Mentors are the answer…

As we begin a new year, we, at Take Stock in Children, also begin a month long celebration and outreach campaign promoting and encouraging mentoring. National Mentor Month, launched January 2002 by the Harvard Mentoring Project, MENTOR, and the Corporation for National and Community Service, is a month-long campaign that aims to increase national attention about the need for Mentors and the positive, life-changing effects mentoring can have on the lives of our young people and in particular at-risk youth.

Research confirms what previously we had known only anecdotally or intuitively, that purposeful mentoring does work. A recent Research Brief published by Child Trends and titled, "Mentoring: A Promising Strategy for Youth Development," found that youth who participate in mentoring relationships experience numerous positive benefits. In terms of educational achievement, mentored youth have better attendance; a better chance of continuing into postsecondary education; and better attitudes towards school”.

The positive results of mentoring have also been validated by the exceptional performance of our students in Take Stock in Children. Our exceptional high school graduation rates and college enrollment rates have been achieved through our comprehensive program model with a core feature of in-school volunteer Mentors who serve our students.

In addition, other tangible benefits of being a Mentor are that Mentors tend to have a beneficial influence on the health and safety of mentees. Mentoring appears to help prevent substance abuse and reduce some negative youth behaviors, which are critical success factors for students in our program. Mentored youth tend to have a more trusting relationship with their parents or legal guardians, which improves their communication. They also feel they receive more emotional support from their friends than do youth who are not mentored. It is obvious that all of these positive outcomes of mentoring contribute to the critical links in the chain of support that enable Take Stock in Children to change the lives of these children.

As you access your goals for 2010, please consider volunteerism, and more importantly, please consider becoming a Mentor for Take Stock in Children. If you want to change the life of an at-risk child, and contribute to your community, please donate your time as a Mentor and make a choice to become a partner in the process of helping a child grow and develop into a contributing member of society.

As we acknowledge, recognize and thank all of our volunteer mentors this month, please take a moment and think of the mentors in your life—a team coach, teacher, a concerned neighbor, or another caring adult—who cared enough to take the time and thank them for their consideration and again, consider becoming a Mentor yourself.

Wishing you a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year from all of us at Take Stock in Children.

Take Stock in Children Launches New Website

Welcome to our newly redesigned website. This new design promises to be an engaging experience, allowing our visitors to learn about Take Stock in Children in a variety of ways - including video interviews with our students, mentors and sponsors.

Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen Speaks About Take Stock in Children on the Floor of the House of Representatives

Maria Sastre, Take Stock in Children President and CEO traveled to Washington to advocate for Federal resources, on behalf of Take Stock in Children, with Congressional Members, Senator Bill Nelson's staff, the Department of Justice, and the Education Department. The focus of the trip was to raise awareness for Take Stock in Children, and display its outstanding results while discussing ongoing needs.

During her visit she met with Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen from Florida, District 18 in Miami. Ileana was instrumental in securing the Florida legislation for the Florida Prepaid Program in the 1990's, and as a former educator has a strong affinity to issues regarding education. After providing her with a thorough update on Take Stock in Children and its efforts throughout the state of Florida, she was impressed, so much so, that last week she spoke about Take Stock in Children on the House floor.

Take Stock in Children Receives Community Service Award

Take Stock in Children of Clay County received the highest prize at the inaugural Celebrate Clay community service awards. The $10,000 Paul E. & Klare N. Reinhold Awards honors Paul E. Reinhold, who told his family members often the story of the cathedral builder -- the workman who saw not the task, not the paycheck, but the dream that would be realized.

Accepting on behalf of the students and mentors, Anna Taylor, Program Director stated, "It is easy to see how Take Stock in Children exemplifies the cathedral-building spirit Mr. Reinhold admired. Without the countless hours and boundless energy that mentors, leadership council members, liasons and school principals devote to our students, they would not be experiencing the academic and personal success we see today."

Each year the Paul E. & Klare N. Reinhold Foundation awards a total of $65,000 to organizations that provide community services in Clay County.