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SARASOTA HIGH SCHOOL FOUNDATION HALL OF FAME PARTNERS WITH TAKE STOCK IN CHILDREN Contact Name: Colleen Buchmeier Contact Email: colleen@takestocksarasota.org Contact Phone Number: 941-441-5746 Sarasota, FL, December 20, 2022. Sarasota High School Foundation partners with Take Stock in Children to provide scholarships for deserving students at Sarasota High School (SHS). The highly acclaimed SHS Hall of Fame annual event in October celebrated a sold-out crowd this year. Proceeds from the event were awarded through a $50,000 check presentation to Take Stock in Children at SHS. “We are honored to partner with Matt Drews, Jeana Schmidt, and the entire SHS Hall of Fame committee.” commented Take Stock in Children Executive Director Lisa Bechtold. “Take Stock in Children has proudly served SHS for over 25 years and with this generous gift we can expand the number of scholarships, mentors, and hope provided for students to transform their college dreams into reality.” Since 1995, Take Stock in Children has been a proven model of success by providing scholarships, mentors, and college success coaching which includes one-to-one advising, college readiness workshops, ACT/SAT preparation, and financial aid assistance. Student support services continue after high school through postsecondary degree/certification attainment ensuring students are workforce ready. SHS alum Matt Drews stated, “we enjoy hosting the Hall of Fame recognition event every year and glad SHS students will benefit from the Take Stock in Children college scholarship and mentor program.” The monthly college success coaching sessions will prepare SHS Take Stock students to make better academic, behavior, and college planning choices, increase their likelihood of college or career success, and make the most of the scholarship investment our community has made in them. SHS Principal David Jones commented, “this program will positively impact the SHS community by increasing college scholarship opportunities for students early in their high school academic journey.” About Take Stock in Children of Sarasota County Take Stock in Children was founded in 1995 as a nonprofit organization by business and community leaders and built as a public-private partnership to break down barriers to opportunity and instill hope in economically disadvantaged youth. The Take Stock multiyear model benefits students by providing support services through a volunteer mentor, a college success coach, and college readiness workshops while mitigating financial barriers to higher education by providing a scholarship. Take Stock in Children helps students graduate from high school in strong academic standing and prepared for postsecondary success. Student support services continue from college acceptance through certification/degree attainment ensuring students are workforce ready. Today, Take Stock is known as one of the nation’s preeminent mentoring, college readiness, scholarship, college access and completion direct service organizations. For more information or to become a mentor, please visit takestocksarasota.org or call Director of Development, Diana Dill 941-504-0995.