Take Stock in Children is a scholarship and mentoring program that provides deserving students an opportunity to fulfill their potential and attend college. The Education Foundation of Collier County administers the program for all Collier County middle and high schools, except Immokalee Middle and High School. The 2010 graduating class was the sixth class and there are over 130 active students in the program.

Students commit to remain drug and crime-free, maintain good grades, and meet with their mentor weekly. Upon fulfilling their promise, students receive a tuition scholarship for a Florida state college or post high school technical training. Students benefit from a supportive program that provides mentors and opportunities to learn and practice real-life skills.

Throughout the program, students come to realize that a community has invested in a partnership to support their success through education, and that their responsibility in the partnership has been doing the hard work to earn that education and go on to be contributing members of society.

Invest in the Future

Take Stock in Children is a state model of a public-private collaboration to achieve student success through mentorship, case management, accountability and scholarships.

Per student, our community invests $17,500 which is matched by $10,000 from the state. So, local donors individually or collectively contribute toward this investment in children. Any contribution, large or small, toward this local investment will help a student.

Learn more about how you could invest in a student.

Volunteer Opportunities

Adult mentors commit to meeting with their student weekly throughout the academic year at the school. The mentor builds a relationship with the student that ensures another caring adult is committed to the student’s success.

The Volunteer Corps supports the program by providing administrative support, expertise such as training or translating, and student/mentor programming.