College Bound

When Becka was in 6th grade, an offer was made to everyone in her class (the entire 6th grade, not the individual classroom) to send them to college for 4 years. The kids had to agree to stay in school, stay out of trouble, and meet with a mentor on a regular basis. The families had to agree to attend two meetings/classes a year. Five families showed up to the initial meeting. Three families applied. Two students managed to stay in the program. Becka received her four-year scholarship last night.

I can't say enough good things about Take Stock in Children. Since 1995 Take Stock has been working to keep Florida's low-income and at-risk children in school and provide them with the opportunity to get a college degree. People in the community volunteer their time to meet with a student weekly as a mentor, letting the student know that they have opportunities that they might not have realized while providing them with a safe adult to look to for friendship and guidance. Take Stock is supported financially by companies and individuals who believe that our children are a future worth investing in. Since its inception, Take Stock has helped over 16,000 Florida children receive an education.

I only wish that more of Becka's classmates had taken the offer. And I wish that we had the ability to make the offer to all the children.