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About Take Stock in Children

Take Stock in Children was founded in 1995 to combat a troubling and persistent dropout rate that plagued the public school system. With the backing of concerned education, community, and business leaders, Take Stock sought to give high-potential, low-income underrepresented students the resources they needed to graduate from high school, go to college, achieve degree attainment, and succeed in college, career, and life.

 

From the outset, Take Stock in Children was looking to be transformative. The program recruits participants in middle school, early enough in their lives to make a difference; it provides scholars with volunteer adult mentors, and the program carefully monitors students' progress. Students sign a contract to remain crime-free and drug-free, maintain good grades and behavior, meet regularly with their mentors, complete all required workshops and college coaching sessions, and earn a Florida Prepaid Project STARS scholarship upon high school graduation. The Take Stock in Children program emphasizes responsibility and accountability among students, their parents, and mentors.

 

Take Stock began with serving 500 students, and businesses took notice, recognizing Take Stock's potential as an instrument for building a more educated workforce. Among other companies, Florida's largest bank and grocery chain urged the program to expand. Within a year, Take Stock in Children had autonomous affiliate programs - franchises essentially - in every Florida county. The program's simplicity and flexibility and its emphasis on local control helped it thrive in diverse environments. The program has grown to include a postsecondary completion program and serves approximately 15,000 students each year.

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Almost 30 years, ago Take Stock in Children became a statewide program and has successfully served more than 39,000 low-income, at-risk children through scholarships, mentors, and hope.”

Citrus County's Program

Fast Facts​

  • Qualified students & their parents complete a Take Stock scholarship application.

  • Student selections are made based on various criteria (especially financial need).

  • Students must maintain a 2.5 GPA to remain in good standing in the program.

  • Student’s grades (GPA), attendance, & discipline are reviewed each quarter of each school year in the program.

  • Our program has 2 student application periods each year (Fall & Spring).

  • We have a Board of Directors who help to guide policy & encourage support for the program.

  • Take Stock in Children of Citrus County is a 501c3 non-profit organization​.

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Scholarships

  • Scholarships are purchased through Take Stock’s partnership with the Florida Prepaid Foundation.

  • Program funds are matched dollar for dollar through the Florida Prepaid Foundation

  • If students do not meet the program criteria or if they do not use their scholarships in college, we can reclaim and use the money to purchase other scholarships for new students.​

 

Services

   We provide:

  • Mentors for all students enrolled in the program

  • Enrichment Workshops throughout their years in the program

  • A Florida Pre-paid two-year tuition free college scholarship to a Florida school

  • A College Success Coach who meets with students & provides support, guidance & college preparation information.

 

Awards

  • Recipient of Take Stock in Children’s Gold & Luminary Awards

  • Over the years, 7 Take Stock Citrus students have been awarded Take Stock’s prestigious Leaders for Life Fellowship sponsored by the Asofsky Family Foundation.

  • In 2024, five students graduated from our program

  • There are 40 graduates enrolled in colleges or universities throughout Florida

  • Graduates have become lawyers, doctors, entrepreneurs, technology specialists and members of the United States Military

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