Take Stock in Children

Take Stock in Children Inc. (TSIC) is a nonprofit organization founded by Don Pemberton in 1995 and based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The organization aims to provide mentors and college scholarships to low-income students in Florida, in order to help students graduate and successfully enter a career.[1] Since its inception, over 24,000 children have been enrolled in the Take Stock in Children program, which is active in over 800 Florida schools.[2][3]

Take Stock in Children
AbbreviationTSIC
Formation1995 (1995)
Founders
  • Don Pemberton
TypeNonprofit organization
(IRS exemption status): 501(c)(3)
PurposeEducation
HeadquartersFort Lauderdale, Florida, United States
Area served
Florida
MethodMentoring and scholarships
Key people
Don Pemberton, founder
Jillian Hasner, CEO and president
Christine Knepper, chairman
Websitetakestockinchildren.org

History

In 1995, Don Pemberton founded the Take Stock in Children organization, and in 1999, the program had its first graduating class.[2] In 2010, the organization was awarded funds of around $5 million from the U.S. Department of Education's Investing in Innovation (i3) grant program.[2][4] In 2013, Ted Carter was elected the chairman of the organization.[2] In 2017, the program's division in Manatee County, Florida collected used laptops to provide to the students enrolled in the program, with Cheryl Evans, TSIC's program coordinator for Manatee County, having stated "we were shocked to learn that many of our scholars are completing their homework assignments and even writing college essays on their cell phones".[5] In 2009, Brothers Nick and Nathan Gupta raised money to buy brand new laptops for the recipients of the TSIC scholarship. This program, based in Santa Rosa and Escambia Counties has raised over $200,000 and a record $90,000 in the past three years.

Activities

The organization offers volunteer mentors, college success coaches, and, ultimately, college scholarship to low-income students in Florida. Once in the eighth grade, students can apply for the program and have to meet income eligibility requirements while maintaining satisfactory grades in school. The program selects 20 to 25 students annually out of as many as 200 applications.[6] Children in the program are paired with adult volunteer mentors, who meet with their students at their respective schools for half an hour each week, and are trained, monitored, and evaluated by the TSIC program.[1][7][8] Each student is also assigned a student advocate, who provides assistance and works closely with mentors and school staff. The TSIC program also provides college transition and college retention services for students' freshman year of college.[1]

Statistics

The organization has reported that 96% of students enrolled in the TSIC program graduate high school on time, and that 67% of TSIC students complete college, in comparison to the Florida state average of 25% for students in poverty.[9][10]

References
  1. "Our Approach". Takestockinchildren.org. Take Stock in Children. Retrieved June 29, 2017.
  2. "Our History". Takestockinchildren.org. Take Stock in Children. Retrieved June 29, 2017.
  3. "Our Program". Takestockinchildren.org. Take Stock in Children. Retrieved June 29, 2017.
  4. "Awards". Ed.gov. U.S. Department of Education. Retrieved June 29, 2017.
  5. Ryan McKinnon (June 20, 2017). "Don't throw away your old laptop. Give it to this nonprofit". The Bradenton Herald. Retrieved June 29, 2017.
  6. Matt Murschel (December 29, 2016). "Take Stock in Children program keeps college within reach for Seminole County students". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved June 29, 2017.
  7. Eryn Dion (May 23, 2017). "Take Stock in Children celebrates new members". Panama City News Herald. Retrieved June 29, 2017.
  8. Anne Conroy-Baiter (June 12, 2017). "One Step Ahead: Internships, Job Shadows, and Mentorships". Florida Today. Retrieved June 29, 2017.
  9. "Our Success". Takestockinchildren.org. Take Stock in Children. Retrieved June 29, 2017.
  10. "The Immokalee Foundation honors record number of students". Florida Weekly. June 13, 2017. Retrieved June 29, 2017.
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