Take Stock in Children Palm Beach County, in partnership with Target, hosted its 13th annual back to school shopping event to make heading back to school brighter for 50 Palm Beach County students who live in poverty.
The Aug. 6 shopping spree at the Target store in Lantana gave students, ages 13 to 18, the freedom and chance to pick out personalized items and pay for them with $200 gift cards, generously sponsored by the Law Firm of C. Debra Welch and underwritten by private donors from the community.
“It is a real privilege to partner again with Take Stock in Children Palm Beach County and Target to help students begin the school year with the things they need to achieve academically,” said event sponsor Debra Welch of the Law Firm of C. Debra Welch. “Nothing can more positively impact a child’s life than a positive and successful educational experience.”
Unique to Take Stock in Children’s back to school shopping initiative is the pairing up of the nonprofit’s donors and mentors with sponsored students for the chance to meet and share smiles while they shop.
“It’s so important for our students to realize that there are people in the community who want to help them reach their educational goals, and have the opportunity to meet them, for that real-world experience and the chance to say thank you,” said Nancy Stellway, executive director of Take Stock in Children Palm Beach County. “I am filled with such gratitude to Debra Welch, the extended community and Target, for once again making it possible for Take Stock in Children to uplift kids and give them the boost they need to feel confident and ready to learn when they return to campus.”
In its 26th year, with the graduation and two-year scholarship awards to 111 seniors from Palm Beach County schools, Take Stock in Children once again celebrated a 100 percent success rate of the students it serves.
Mentoring and college readiness programs are at work to further the nonprofit’s vision to help children break out of the cycle of poverty that surrounds them with higher education. The organization awarded nearly $1 million in scholarships to Palm Beach County students in the Class of 2021.
Take Stock in Children helps kids from economically distressed families dream, plan and achieve higher educational goals. College scholarships are awarded to students who earn them by adhering to a goal-focused, consistent contract of agreement, signed by students and parents.
Take Stock in Children is supported by a dynamic force of volunteer mentors and teachers who work alongside school administrators, counselors and faculty, and donations from donors and community partners.
Visit www.takestockpalmbeach.org to learn more.
