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Dear Community Partners,
Welcome to the August edition of the Three Programs, One Mission Community Newsletter! As summer comes to a close, we are filled with excitement for the new school year. July was highlighted by our 18th Annual Target Back-to-School Shopping Event, where 48 of our students were given the opportunity to begin the school year feeling confident, prepared, and ready to succeed. Thanks to the generosity of our partners, dedicated mentors, and volunteers, our students not only received essential school supplies and clothing but also experienced the encouragement and support that remind them they have an entire community cheering them on.
As we look ahead, we are excited to welcome students back for our back-to-school Student Success Kickoff on August 29 at Palm Beach Lakes High School. This event will provide students and families with important program updates, resources, and the tools they need for a successful academic year. We look forward to reconnecting with our students as they begin another year of working toward their educational goals.
This month, we are also proud to celebrate the journey of recent alum Natasha, whose inspiring story demonstrates the lasting impact of mentorship, opportunity, and determination. Additionally, we are pleased to announce our new Board Chair, Mack Perry, whose leadership and commitment to our mission will help guide our organization into an exciting new chapter.
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Thank you for being part of our College for Kids family. Your support continues to open doors, strengthen pathways, and shape brighter futures for students across Palm Beach County. We’re grateful to step into another month of impact together.
Warmly,
College for Kids, Take Stock in Children PBC, and the TradeUp Team.
| | | 18th Annual Target Back-to-School Shopping Event | | |
Our annual Target Back-to-School Shopping Event was another incredible success, providing 48 students with the opportunity to start the school year feeling confident and prepared. Thanks to our donors, every student was given a $200 gift card to go on a shopping spree for anything they needed. Each student was paired with their mentor or a caring community member to help them shop for school essentials and offer encouragement, guidance, and meaningful one-on-one support throughout the experience. Beyond purchasing backpacks, school supplies, and clothing, the event created lasting memories and reinforced the importance of having a supportive adult invested in each student's success.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Target for once again hosting this special event and helping create a welcoming shopping experience for our students. We also want to sincerely thank the School District of Palm Beach County Police Department for volunteering their time to shop alongside our students and showing their commitment to building positive relationships within our community. Their generosity and partnership continue to make a meaningful difference in the lives of the students and families we serve. Together, we are helping ensure every student begins the school year equipped, confident, and ready to succeed.
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We hope you've had a wonderful summer and are feeling refreshed because the new school year is almost here. Palm Beach County students return to school on Monday, August 10, which means it's almost time to reconnect with your mentee and begin another year of making a lasting impact.
The Take Stock App will be back up and running soon. If you meet with your mentee before the app is available, simply keep track of your mentoring sessions and enter them into the app once it is up and running. Remember, your username is your email address, and your password is Welcome123 (make sure to capitalize the W).
Not sure how to kick off your first conversation? Here are a few great questions to get your mentee talking:
- What are you most excited about this school year?
- What goals do you have for yourself this year—academically or personally?
- Is there anything you're nervous about?
- What classes or activities are you looking forward to?
- What's one thing you want to accomplish before the end of the school year?
- How can I best support you this year?
Remember, the first few meetings are all about reconnecting, building trust, and setting a positive tone for the months ahead.
Finally, we're always looking for caring adults who want to make a difference in a student's life. If you know someone who would make a great mentor, please encourage them to join our College for Kids family. Your personal recommendation is one of the best ways to help us reach more students who are waiting for a mentor.
Thank you for your commitment to changing lives. We can't wait to see all the incredible things you and your mentee will accomplish this school year!
| | New Board Leadership Announcement | | |
College for Kids is proud to announce Mack Perry as our new Board Chair. After serving with distinction as Vice Chair, Mack now steps into this leadership role, bringing with him years of dedication, strategic vision, and commitment to helping our students achieve brighter futures.
Mack's journey with College for Kids began more than a decade ago as a volunteer mentor, where he experienced firsthand the transformative impact mentorship can have on a student's life. His passion for our mission led him to join our Board of Directors in 2016, where he has played an instrumental role in advancing our organization's growth and long-term success. As Vice Chair, he helped guide strategic initiatives focused on expanding scholarship opportunities, strengthening community partnerships, and increasing support for all of our students and families.
Beyond his leadership in the boardroom, Mack has become one of our greatest champions. He has been a driving force behind many of our signature fundraising events, including Stock the Cellars and Bridge the Gap 5K, helping cultivate partnerships, engage sponsors, and inspire community support that directly benefits our students. His enthusiasm, generosity, and willingness to roll up his sleeves have made a lasting impact on our organization and the lives of countless young people.
Professionally, Mack is a respected sales and business leader whose career has been built on developing high-performing teams, strategic growth, and operational excellence. He brings that same collaborative leadership style and passion for community service to College for Kids.
Please join us in congratulating Mack Perry as he begins his tenure as Board Chair. We are grateful for his continued leadership and look forward to the exciting future ahead as we work together to empower more students to achieve their dreams through education.
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Natasha Pedro’s journey reflects resilience, mentorship, and the lasting impact of support beyond high school. During high school, her mentor, Maria, provided guidance not only academically but also in career planning and personal growth. After graduation, Natasha continued receiving support through TRIO SSS and the First Generation Program, helping her successfully complete her Associate of Arts degree in Nursing at Palm Beach State College — without financial stress thanks to College for Kids.
Although, she was initially waitlisted for the nursing program at the University of North Florida, Natasha did not give up. After attending a College for Kids alumni reunion and campus tour and receiving encouragement from Ms. Kirby, she reapplied and was accepted.
Natasha’s story is a powerful reminder that our program support extends beyond graduation and continues to open doors for students determined to succeed.
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Current Take Stock Mentors, don't forget to check out the Mentor HUB for regular updates and info!
| | Building Futures. Changing Lives. Together. | | Imagine a child waiting for the support and guidance that could change their life - knowing time is slipping by. If 400 of us give just $10 a month, we can move one student off the waitlist every month and give them the chance they’ve been hoping for. That’s the impact of showing up together when it matters most. | |
Every day, students in our community carry burdens far heavier than most people realize - instability at home, financial uncertainty, and the pressure of being the first in their family to imagine a different future. Yet they continue to show up, work hard, and hold onto the hope that education can change everything.
A $10 monthly Stockholder gift gives the students we serve the stability, mentorship, and opportunity they need to stay on track and keep moving toward the futures they deserve.
Become a Stockholder today - a child’s future shouldn’t have to wait.
| | We appreciate your time and interest in our organization. Through College for Kids, Take Stock in Children, and TradeUp, we serve Palm Beach County students across every stage of their journey — from middle school to college to skilled trades. College for Kids provides academic enrichment and group mentoring starting in 6th grade, building the foundation for future success. TradeUp offers hands-on training and industry certifications in high-demand skilled trades, creating direct pathways to stable careers. Our Take Stock program alone holds a "best in class" rating from the Florida Legislature, with students achieving 99% high school graduation and a 74% attainment of postsecondary credentials. Take Stock in Children is the single-largest nonprofit purchaser of Florida Prepaid College Foundation Scholarships, with assets over $250M, and over $23M awarded locally. Scholarship plans are purchased at half price and matched dollar-for-dollar, enabling us to use your funds to serve twice as many students. Together, we're not just changing individual lives, we're strengthening our entire community, one student at a time. Thank you for being part of this mission. | | | | |
