Foundation for Lee County Public Schools: The Ripple Effect of Impacting Future Generations
On March 6, 2014, The Foundation for Lee County Public Schools inducted 46 new students into the Take Stock In Children Program! The value of scholarships handed out is worth more than $782,000!
Students who are accepted into the program make a commitment to maintain a minimum 2.5 GPA, stay crime and drug-free, and meet with their mentor regularly. If these standards are met, then the student is guaranteed a four-year college tuition scholarship following their high school graduation.
Jon Romine serves on the Board of Directors at The Foundation and has been a mentor for the past five years. He had the privilege to talk about what mentoring means to him alongside his first mentee, Frank Nater, who completed the program and is now a freshman at Florida Gulf Coast University.
This program was established in 1995 as a non-profit organization in Florida that provides a unique opportunity for low-income and at-risk students, many from minority families, to escape the cycle of poverty through education. It offers students college scholarships, caring volunteer mentors and hope for a better life. The Foundation starts with students in middle school and follows them through high school and into college.
Having a positive role model in their mentors is meant to inspire and encourage them on their journey. This program not only educates, but also empowers students to take stock in themselves and prepare them for their future.
Jon currently mentors another student in the program and speaks regularly on his passion for mentoring. At Ensite we recognize the value this program plays in the life of a student, and we are proud to support the program. The Take Stock In Children Program not only provides a financial opportunity for at-risk students to pursue higher education, but also instills within them a sense of accountability and responsibility. Students sign a contract, committing to the terms of the program. They are responsible for their grades, and must make the choice to remain crime and drug-free.
“Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.” – Benjamin Franklin
