Pinellas Education Foundation

Each year, Finance Park offers 13,000 eighth-grade students lessons in personal financial management, and introduces students to the world of monetary decision-making as it relates to them as teenagers and as adults.

Through the Career Cove Ethics and Career Curriculum, high school students learn about the necessity of staying in school, experiment with ethical decision-making through virtual reality simulation, and relate school courses to personal interests and career direction.

• More than 500,000 students have visited the Stavros Institute since it opened in 1988.
• A campaign is currently underway to renew sponsorships of the storefronts in Finance Park for the next ten years. 

Frances Stavros Career Education Scholarship

• Created in 1987, this is a need-based scholarship for young people to learn meaningful vocational technical careers.
• 82% of Technical Education Center students find jobs in their field of study, compared to 40% of college and university graduates.
• 98 students are currently enrolled in the Frances Stavros Career Education Program. 
• Since 2002, 163 students have graduated from the program and are working in their chosen careers. 
• The average cost of a scholarship is $2,500.
• More than 3000 students have been awarded scholarships through this program since 1987.

Doorways Scholarship Program

• The Doorways Scholarship Program began in 1992 with 12 students at Largo High School.

• To be eligible for a Doorways Scholarship a student must be in grades 4-9 and qualify for the free or reduced lunch program.  They agree to meet regularly with a mentor, keep their grades up, stay in school, and remain drug and crime free.
• In the past four years, an average of 84% of Doorways students entering the 9^th grade have graduated on time and received their scholarships.  This is compared to 53% of all high school students graduating in Florida.

• As of April 30, 2007 there were 2,153 Doorways students enrolled in Pinellas County Schools.
• More than 1,000 Doorways students have graduated from high school and are currently enrolled in, or awaiting entrance into college.
• 84.7% of Doorways students were mentored during the 2006-07 school year.
• The current cost for a donor to purchase a four-year Doorways Scholarship is $5,500, which is matched dollar-for-dollar.
• Two year Doorways Technical Scholarships are also available at a sponsorship cost of $2,500, which is matched dollar-for-dollar.

Scholarships for Graduating High School Students

• Each year, more than $400,000 is awarded to more than 250 graduating Pinellas County high school students through this scholarship program.

• More than 1,700 Pinellas County high school seniors applied online in 2006.
• More than 100 different scholarship offerings are available.

2006-2007 Educator Classroom Grants

• In total, more than 150 applicants received grants totaling $400,000 this year, benefiting more than 33,000 students and 400 teachers.

• Wachovia sponsored an after hours reception for 60 new National Board Certified teachers in January at Tucson’s Restaurant. 
• The 1^st Annual Idea Expo was Monday, April 16 at the Stavros Institute with 33 teacher projects showcased. 
• Progress Energy is once again sponsoring a Summer Institute at PTEC.  This year’s focus will be the newly-created Centers of Excellence and the high school Career Academies. 
• Site visits were conducted for Bank of America and the National Fish & Wildlife Foundation.

• The AEGON Replicator Program invited teachers to document good ideas and lesson plans.  Launched fall 2006, 8 teachers called Developers, received personal and classroom funding.  Developers have idea catalogs available for viewing on the Foundation’s website.  The teachers who wish to implement their ideas will be called Adaptors and Adaptor applications are due in August. 
• Jim Coats, Pinellas County Sheriff, has established a $1 million endowment with the Foundation over the next 6 years.  In 2007-2008, this will fund scholarships for Skills USA participants.

Jacobson Culinary Arts Academy

·         The Jacobson Culinary Arts Academy will be a state-of-the-art culinary arts facility at Tarpon Springs High School to serve up to 500 students annually.

·         To date, the Foundation capital campaign has raised $3.4 million in cash and 

$750,000 in-kind contributions.

• A ceremonial groundbreaking was held in 2006 with construction scheduled to begin this year.

Changing Lives Through Learning

• 383 guests attended the November Changing Lives Through Learning event, with pledges totaling $338,565.
• 618 educators attended Changing Lives Through Learning events last fall, pledging $25,272 through payroll deduction.
• 270 guests have attending Pinellas Education Foundation 101 sessions since

July 1, 2006.

Seniors & Scholars/Planned Giving

• The Seniors & Scholars Program provides retired educators and community members with an opportunity to actively participate in the work of the Pinellas Education Foundation through volunteer opportunities, informational meetings and events, sponsorship opportunities and planned giving.
• To date, 70 individuals are known to have identified the Foundation in a planned gift.  Nineteen of those gifts have been realized.
• The Foundation has received $2.6 million in planned gifts since its inception and $151,472 during 2006-2007.

School & Community Outreach

• The School and Corporate Ambassador Programs provide community outreach opportunities and encourage participation in Foundation programs including License for Learning, payroll deduction, Foundation 101 sessions, Doorways mentoring and sponsorship, etc.
• Currently there are 192 School Ambassadors located at 168 Pinellas County School locations.
• The program has enrolled 48 Corporate Ambassadors representing 46 organizations as of May 2007.
• 86% of the Corporate Ambassadors have attended a Foundation 101 session.
• 1835 Pinellas County School employees (13%) participate in payroll deduction contributions to the Foundation for a total of $61,680.  52% of school principals participate in regular payroll deductions to the Foundation.

• 12^th grade post-secondary scholarship applications
• Teach for Excellence Classroom Grant applications
• Doorways nominations (parental and community)
• Mentor information and application
• SAVE applications