Take Stock in Children of Sarasota County’s Celebration of Hope honored 112 graduating seniors receiving 4-year college scholarships.  This Celebration of Hope reached new heights with Take Stock students accepted to Harvard, Duke, Cal Tech, Columbia, Johns Hopkins, Notre Dame, West Point, and other universities.  The Class of 2026 has the highest number of scholars planning to attend out-of-state schools to date.  The annual event was held at The Ora in Sarasota on Tuesday, April 28th at 5:30 p.m.

The Booker High School Jazz Band II Cyclone performed to greet guests for this very special occasion. College dreams for 112 graduating seniors became reality as college scholarships were awarded to the deserving students who have participated in the powerful and proven Take Stock college readiness and mentor program. College bound students and families, along with their volunteer mentors, joined the scholarship donors, and community leaders to celebrate the student’s commitment to academic success, perseverance, and determination in reaching their college dream.

“Take Stock in Children is proud of the resilience, persistence, and academic excellence achieved by the Class of 2026.  The Celebration of Hope recognized these impressive students, caring mentors, and our generous Sarasota community that made it all possible” commented Take Stock in Children Executive Director Lisa Bechtold” 

We are incredibly grateful for the following sponsors who made the Celebration of Hope dinner and awards event possible without cost to the students and families:  Presenting Sponsor - The Henson Fund, Publix Super Markets Charities, Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation, Dancer Family Wealth Management of Raymond James, Jon F. Swift Construction and the Swift Family Foundation, Suncoast Credit Union Foundation, Scott Atkins, Heather Clark, Community Foundation of Sarasota County, ReMax Alliance Group, Atlas Insurance Agency, Tandem Construction, Florida Power & Light, Marjolaine & Steven Townsend, Michelle Cherp, Justin Williams, Lisa Bechtold, and Brittany Lamont

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About Take Stock in Children of Sarasota County

Take Stock in Children was founded in 1995 as a nonprofit organization, built as a public-private partnership with business and community leaders 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 readiness coach, and college workshops while mitigating financial barriers to higher education by providing a scholarship.  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.