Pinellas Education Foundation

Pinellas Education Foundation
Formation 1986 (1986)
Founders
  • Gus A. Stavros
Type Nonprofit organization
(IRS exemption status): 501(c)(3)
Purpose Education
Headquarters Clearwater, Florida, United States
Area served
Pinellas County, Florida
Method Scholarships, mentoring, and volunteering
Key people
 Gus A. Stavros, founder
Stacy Carlson, president
Gary Regoli, chairman
Website pinellaseducation.org

The Pinellas Education Foundation is a nonprofit organization founded by Gus A. Stavros in 1986. Based in Clearwater in Pinellas County, Florida, the foundation's primary aims are to improve educational opportunities in Pinellas County schools and improve the quality of public education. The foundation has raised over $140 million to support students and teachers in Pinellas County.[1] The Pinellas Education Foundation has been ranked first in the annual national study and ranking of K-12 Education Foundations for three consecutive years.[2]

History

In 1986, the Pinellas Education Foundation was founded by Gus A. Stavros.[1] The foundation is a coalition of business and community leaders, and is partnered with or sponsored by several businesses and organizations, including the Stavros Institute.[1] Terry Boehm served as the foundation's president from 2001 to 2017, before being succeeded by Stacy Carlson in March 2017.[3][4] In an annual nationwide study and ranking of K-12 Education Foundations, the Pinellas Education Foundation has been ranked first for three consecutive years, in 2014, 2015, and 2016.[2] In August 2018, the foundation's logo was changed from its original blue-and-white design, which featured an image of a graduation cap, to a logo with a sunburst graphic and a warmer color palette.[5]

Programs and partnerships

Enterprise Village and Finance Park

Partnered with the Stavros Institute, the Pinellas Education Foundation helps run Enterprise Village and Finance Park, hands-on educational programs on economics and business. Enterprise Village, is designed for fifth-grade students.[6] After a unit of in-classroom learning, fifth-grade students at participating schools visit Enterprise Village, an indoor set of various artificial stores, where they learn to use checks and debit cards, and apply for and work in mock-up jobs at partnered companies.[7] Finance Park is the eighth-grade equivalent of Enterprise Village, with a focus on understanding insurance, along with budgeting healthcare, utilities, and other expenses.[6][8][9][10]

Future Plans

Future Plans is an interactive and self-administered online program developed by the Pinellas Education Foundation to aid students and military veterans in finding in-demand career choices.[11][12]

Next Generation programs

The foundation's Next Generation Entrepreneurs program, started in 2012, awards grants to students with innovative business ideas.[13][14] The Next Generation Tech program, started in 2016, provides high school students with real-world settings for developing software while working with mentors.[13] The program emphasizes the software development framework and the varied types of skills and career opportunities required to develop technology solutions.[15] The Tampa Bay Technology Forum named the Next Generation Tech program the Student Program of the Year for 2016.[16] On April 26, 2017, the Pinellas Education Foundation awarded a total of $30,000 to the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd-place winners of the 2016–17 Next Generation Competition, with first place for each program receiving $10,000, and the second and third places receiving $3,500 and $1,500, respectively.[13]

Take Stock in Children

Through donations, the foundation has awarded scholarships to over 1,200 low-income students in Florida through the Pinellas Take Stock in Children Scholarship program, in partnership with the statewide Take Stock in Children program.[17] The statewide program is a fellow nonprofit organization established in 1995.[18] Over 24,000 children have been enrolled in the overall program.[19]

Walker's Rising Stars

Established in 2003, the Walker's Rising Stars scholarship competition recognizes public high school junior and senior students with proficiency as visual or performing artists.[20] The young artists, in the fields of culinary arts, dance, instrumental, theatre, visual arts, and vocals, compete for up to $5,000 worth of scholarships distributed by the Pinellas Education Foundation, which are awarded to 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th-place finalists.[21][22][23]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "About Us". Pinellaseducation.org. Pinellas Education Foundation. Retrieved June 28, 2017.
  2. 1 2 "Pinellas Education Foundation Ranks First in National Study of K-12 Education Foundations - 12/07/16". Pinellaseducation.org. Pinellas Education Foundation. 23 March 2017. Retrieved June 28, 2017.
  3. ↑ Colleen Wright (April 7, 2016). "Pinellas Education Foundation president to step down in 2017". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved June 28, 2017.
  4. ↑ Colleen Wright (December 14, 2016). "Stacy Carlson of Tampa named president of Pinellas Education Foundation". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved June 28, 2017.
  5. ↑ "Introducing Our New Logo". YouTube.com. Pinellas Education Foundation. August 23, 2018. Retrieved August 23, 2018.
  6. 1 2 Kate Feldman (February 11, 2015). "Growing up quickly: Stavros Institute introduces students to adulthood". Tbnweekly.com. Retrieved June 28, 2017.
  7. ↑ "Enterprise Village". Stavrosinstitute.org. Stavros Institute. Retrieved June 28, 2017.
  8. ↑ "Finance Park". Stavrosinstitute.org. Stavros Institute. Retrieved June 28, 2017.
  9. ↑ Taylor Katz (May 20, 2012). "Finance Park educates eighth graders on budgeting basics". WTSP. Retrieved June 28, 2017.
  10. ↑ Stephen Czarda (June 4, 2016). "Redskins Rookies Attend Junior Achievement's Finance Park". Redskins.com. Retrieved June 28, 2017.
  11. ↑ "Future Plans". Pinellaseducation.org. Pinellas Education Foundation. Retrieved June 28, 2017.
  12. ↑ "Meet the Finalists: Q&A with the Pinellas Education Foundation". Reachhigherchallenge.com. Reach Higher. June 27, 2016. Retrieved June 28, 2017.
  13. 1 2 3 "Pinellas Education Foundation Awards $30,000 To The Winners of Its Next Generation Entrepreneurs And Next Generation Tech Programs". Tampa Bay Newswire. April 28, 2017. Retrieved June 28, 2017.
  14. ↑ "Next Generation Entrepreneurs". Pinellaseducation.org. Pinellas Education Foundation. Retrieved June 28, 2017.
  15. ↑ "Next Generation Tech Competition". Pinellaseducation.org. Pinellas Education Foundation. Retrieved June 28, 2017.
  16. ↑ "The Pinellas Education Foundation's Next Generation Tech Program Named Student Program of the Year by Tampa Bay Technology Forum". Pinellaseducation.org. Pinellas Education Foundation. March 23, 2017. Retrieved June 28, 2017.
  17. ↑ "Take Stock in Children". Pinellaseducation.org. Pinellas Education Foundation. Retrieved June 28, 2017.
  18. ↑ "Scholarships, Mentors & Hope". Takestockinchildren.org. Take Stock in Children. Archived from the original on June 28, 2017. Retrieved June 28, 2017.
  19. ↑ "Our Program". Takestockinchildren.org. Take Stock in Children. Retrieved June 29, 2017.
  20. ↑ Eric Horchy (May 26, 2017). "High-schoolers shine at Walker's Rising Stars competition". The Suncoast News. Retrieved June 29, 2017.
  21. ↑ Terri Bryce Reeves (May 22, 2009). "Walker's Rising Stars Scholarship Gala showcases talented Pinellas student". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved June 29, 2017.
  22. ↑ "Twenty-three finalists go for top honors in Walker's Rising Stars competition". Tampa Bay Times. April 29, 2015. Retrieved June 29, 2017.
  23. ↑ "The 13th Annual Walker's Rising Stars Scholarship Competition". The Weekly Challenger. May 12, 2016. Retrieved June 29, 2017.
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