Take Stock in Children Palm Beach County

Take Stock in Children has a 27-year history of advocating for economically distressed families to close the academic "achievement gap" for minority students. Our program creates positive change in disenfranchised communities, levels the playing field, and provides hope for underprivileged students living in Palm Beach County through mentoring and education.

As disengagement at the secondary level continues to be an issue, the School District reports experiencing an all-time high of "F" non-passing 12th-grade students; unfinished academic learning is a significant concern, contributing to what U.S. Surgeon General Vivek H. Murthy has called an emerging mental health crisis facing our youth. In response, Take Stock in Children quickly addressed the issue by collaborating with local mental health partners to bring mental health workshops to our students and families, which is now a mainstay of our program.

We accomplish our 98% program success rate through our evidence-based multi-year model that provides wraparound services to underserved youth, with no drop-off services after high school completion. Services begin in the 9th grade and continue through post-secondary completion. Take Stock in Children has directly impacted the lives of over 2,000 students throughout 30 Palm Beach County schools by providing each student with one-on-one mentoring services, college readiness coaching, a guaranteed 2-year Florida Prepaid college scholarship, and post-secondary transition & advising services. Every dollar raised for scholarships is matched dollar for dollar by Project STARS funding, resulting in twice as many scholarships and students benefiting from our program. 

Our goal with "A Community Thrives" is to raise $10,000 to expand our reach in the Glades region by providing direct program outputs to over 100 students and expanding services by enrolling additional low-income students into the program. Your donation will aid us in aiding students and their families to escape generational poverty. The Glades community is located just 40 miles from the much wealthier coastal communities in Palm Beach County with a median household income of $28,028 - less than half the average American household. 

With your donation, you can play a direct role in changing the lives of students like Esther. She and her siblings grew up in a single-parent household after their mother passed away. Her father worked 15-hour days as a farm laborer and struggled to make ends meet. Esther was a vibrant young lady who faced a bleak future as she did not have the resources to escape poverty. That all changed when she was selected to join our program. "Take Stock in Children provided me with the one-on-one support I needed to achieve my academic dreams. Their daily guidance, the promise of a college scholarship and mentoring helped mold me into the young woman I am today, they placed me on the path to success! I am a true witness of the impact that a caring person can have in the life of a child and for that I am forever grateful." Esther graduated from Florida State University with a bachelor's in Education and is currently teaching while pursuing her master's degree in education policy.

Take Stock in Children is an evidence-based program rated "Best in Class" by the Florida Legislature. Program outcomes include:

• 100% of the Class of 2022 graduated, compared to 80% of their peer group;
• 96% of students enrolled in a post-secondary program, compared to 21% of students in poverty;
• 74% of Take Stock in Children students obtained a post-secondary credential, compared to Florida's average of 27% for students in poverty.

For low-income and minority students, education is the key to success and upward mobility. Your generous donation will help us toward our goal of ensuring all students, no matter their background, have equitable access to quality education. As Nelson Mandela said, "Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world."