Take Stock In Children Presents Its Inaugural “Strides For Education” 5k Walk/Run Across Florida
Saturday, November 19

To learn how you can support Take Stock in Children’s “Strides For Education” 5K Walk/Run as a participant, volunteer or sponsor, please call 888-322-4673 or visit give.takestockinchildren.org.

Statewide Effort Seeks Sponsors and Participants to Raise Funds for College Scholarships for Low-income Students

Take Stock in Children, a statewide non-profit organization with a 16 year history of breaking the cycle of poverty by providing scholarships, mentors and hope, will present its inaugural “Strides For Education” 5K Walk/Run around the state to help raise awareness and funds for Florida’s low-income and at-risk youth who wish to pursue a college education on Sat., Nov. 19. Many of Take Stock in Children’s “Strides For Education” 5K Walk/Runs will take place across Florida to benefit local programs in Brevard, Broward, Collier, Escambia, Franklin, Hendry, Immokalee, Lake, Lee, Miami-Dade, Nassau, Palm Beach, Pinellas, Sarasota and Sumter counties.

Take Stock in Children aims to have a few thousand participants statewide as a part of this first-ever fundraising effort, which will raise much needed funds to provide college scholarships for low-income students. With the cost of tuition rising and significant increases of other college-related expenses, children throughout Florida are struggling more than ever to achieve their dreams of a college education.

“Strides For Education is more than just a walk, it’s an opportunity to get the community involved in supporting these students along the path to success,” says Richard Berkowitz, State Board Chair of Take Stock in Children. “We are dedicated to preparing our scholars to become the next generation of leaders, and to helping create a better tomorrow for the communities in which we live.”

Take Stock in Children’s “Strides For Education” 5K Walk/Runs are open to all individuals, families, companies and local organizations, and will feature family-friendly activities, giveaways, and much more. Registration is $35 per person, with all proceeds to benefit Take Stock in Children, which currently serves nearly 8,000 students in grades 6-12 annually throughout 67 counties in Florida.

Take Stock in Children is currently seeking participants, volunteers and sponsors for this statewide effort. As an official sponsor, you can support Take Stock in Children and have your company name attached to all promotional materials, as well as displayed in key locations throughout Florida. Sponsors to date include the Helios Education Foundation, Comcast, Berkowitz, Dick, Pollack & Brant and Pollo Tropical.

Take Stock in Children is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization with a solid 16 year history of providing mentors, educational scholarships and hope for Florida’s low-income and at-risk youth. The organization has provided educational support and college scholarships for over 17,000 children in partnership with more than 800 public schools throughout 67 counties in Florida. It is the only scholarship mentoring program with the mission of breaking the cycle of poverty through education, and has attained a high school graduation rate of 92 percent in Florida (as compared to Florida’s average graduation rate of 76%). 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.