|
|
Dear College for Kids / Take Stock Palm Beach Community,
Welcome to the April edition of the Take Stock Tribune! This month, we’re celebrating the power of connection, opportunity, and community support across every corner of our program. From expanding access for young men through the MPARMS initiative to uplifting alumni who are achieving extraordinary milestones, April has been filled with stories that remind us why this work matters.
We’re also highlighting the partners and mentors who make these moments possible — from funders investing in our students’ futures to community collaborations that bring joy, confidence, and belonging to the young people we serve. Each story reflects the collective effort that helps our students dream bigger, persist through challenges, and step into their next chapter with confidence.
| | | | |
Thank you for being part of our Take Stock 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 Palm Beach Team
| | |
Expanding Opportunity for Young Men
Through the MPARMS Initiative
| | |
At Take Stock in Children Palm Beach County, we are intentional about expanding access and opportunity for all students, with a strong focus on reaching those who have been historically underrepresented in higher education. The MPARMS grant—Mentorship Program for At-Risk Male Students—is a key part of that commitment, designed specifically to increase engagement and outcomes for young men in our community.
The Male Initiative Grant tied to MPARMS plays a critical role in our recruitment and support of students in our program. This funding allows us to be more strategic and proactive in identifying male students who would benefit from additional academic guidance, mentorship, and college readiness support. Through strengthened partnerships with schools, targeted outreach, and intentional relationship-building, we can connect with students earlier and provide a clear pathway into postsecondary education.
Beyond recruitment, the MPARMS initiative ensures that once students are enrolled, they receive tailored support that meets their unique needs. By focusing on mentorship, consistent coaching, and academic readiness, the grant helps us not only bring more young men into the program but also create an environment where they can thrive, persist, and ultimately achieve postsecondary success.
| | | Celebrating the Heart of Mentorship | | |
Thank you to all of our mentors - you show up, you care, and you make a real difference. If you’ve ever thought about becoming a mentor, or know someone who would be great at it, we’d love for you to join us and help grow this circle of support.
This month, we partnered with Prom Beach, who brought a beautiful selection of prom dresses right to our office. Fourteen girls came in with their families to try them on, laugh, take photos, and enjoy a truly special moment together. It was a joyful reminder of how powerful community can be and how deeply our mentors help shape these experiences. Thank you for everything you do - your commitment truly makes dreams come true.
| | |
Dream Investors:
Honoring Those Taking Stock in Our Students
| | |
This month, we are celebrating our partnership with the Community Foundation for Palm Beach and
Martin Counties. This past year, thanks to their generous support, we were able to increase enrollment
in our program for underserved, at-risk males by 50 students.
Our goal was to address the gender gap in post-secondary completion. Currently, women make up
almost 60% of U.S. college students, and they are completing their degrees at higher rates than men. In
our program, we had a similar discrepancy: 70% of our students were female, and 30% were male.
With support from the Community Foundation through a matching grant, we were able to increase the
percentage of male students to 39% in just one year. Each now has a caring mentor, a college-readiness
coach, and a guaranteed 2-year college scholarship, paving the way for a brighter future not only for
themselves and their families but also for the entire community.
| | |
Thank you, Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties, for believing in our mission and
investing in our young boys. Together, we’re not just preparing them for post-secondary success; we are
helping them unlock their potential and dreams.
The Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties is a nonprofit organization that leads
philanthropy locally. Since 1972, the foundation has distributed over $250 million in grants and
scholarships aimed at closing the area’s opportunity gaps. Learn more at YourCommunityFoundation.org.
| | |
Every month, we recognize a team member who goes above and beyond, and this month we’re celebrating our Manager of Student Success & Alumni Initiatives, Shania Rowley. Shania plays an important role in planning experiences for our students and supporting our alumni, creating meaningful opportunities throughout their time in the program and staying connected with them as they transition into college and beyond.
Whether she’s keeping things organized, supporting the team, or helping share alumni stories, everything she does comes from a place of genuine care. She also helped make AmeriCorps Appreciation Week feel thoughtful and connected for everyone. Shania shows up consistently, takes initiative, and is someone our team and students can always count on. We’re grateful for the difference she makes every day!
| |
Alumni Spotlight:
From Take Stock Scholar to Pharmacist
| | |
Whether you just landed your “dream” job or are still learning how to navigate adulthood after college, the Take Stock Palm Beach Alumni Club wants to hear from YOU! In honor of our ongoing alumni outreach, we wanted to take a moment to highlight one of our recent success stories: a Take Stock Alumna turned pharmacist:
“On an average middle school day in 7th grade, Take Stock in Children staff came to speak at my school. As the youngest of 3 children born to immigrant parents, I knew a scholarship like this would help. It changed the trajectory of my college life: I was well supported, and the burden of paying for college was alleviated. I was able to really find out which major would work best for me. I changed career paths from nursing to pharmacy.
I did my prerequisite classes at Palm Beach State College (PBSC), and my primary focus was taking my classes and passing them the first time. I graduated in 2019 with my AA from PBSC, and in 2021, started as a PharmD candidate at Nova Southeastern University. I graduated in May 2025 with a Doctorate in Pharmacy.
| | | |
I did this with the help of Take Stock because of a decision to apply and show up to meetings and uphold the program's core values. I also was able to learn so much and realize that one decision can change things for the better or worse. I hope current students realize that they have already made good decisions and life is going to work out if they continue the path less traveled; it will be hard, but who you are now is only a glimpse of what you will become. I would have never thought I'd be a doctor but I am now. As a pharmacist, I can advocate for those who often can't advocate for themselves. I can be a changemaker and so can you.”
Signed,
Dr. Carline Camille, PharmD
| | |
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. Take Stock in Children's program model is rated “best in class” by the Florida Legislature, with 98% of our students graduating high school and 74% obtaining a post-secondary credential (compared to only 27% of their peer group). For low-income and minority students, education is the key to success and upward mobility. Take Stock in Children is the single-largest nonprofit purchaser of Florida Prepaid College Foundation Scholarships, with assets totaling more than $250M and over $20M awarded to Palm Beach County students. Our scholarship plans are purchased at half-price and matched $ for $ through our partnership with the Florida Prepaid Foundation, enabling us to serve twice as many students.
Join us, "take stock in a child today," and help us ensure that all students, no matter their background, have equitable access to quality education.
| | | | |
