Oh,the places you'll go
Just remember, we are a phone call away!
If you missed our High School Graduation ZOOM celebration, you can view it here. We had a lot of fun and thank you to everyone that attended!
Congratulations also to the Class of 2020
College/University Grads! We are so PROUD of you!
PAUL ABREU - FLORIDA GULF COAST UNIVERSITY
SABRINA ALEXIS - CITY COLLEGE
HAYDEE ALONSO MEJIA - UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA
PEDRO CALVILLO JR - UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA
KENIA CUQUI-BELLO - MANATEE TECHNICAL COLLEGE
TINA DINH - STATE COLLEGE OF FLORIDA 
DAVID ESPINAL - UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA
THOMAS HAMES - UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI
KEIANNA HAWTHORNE - UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA
JESSE HERRERA - STATE COLLEGE OF FLORIDA
QUINTERIA HOLMES - MANATEE TECHNICAL COLLEGE
CORRINE KING - MANATEE TECHNICAL COLLEGE
MADISON MCFARLANE -UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA
SELENA PALACIOS - UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA
ISAIAH PHELPS - UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA
ELMER PLATA-BENITEZ - UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA
RICHECAR POLINICE - UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA
JAKE RAMER - UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA
JAILENE SALAZAR-IBARRA - STATE COLLEGE OF FLORIDA
CHRISTY SORTO - UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA
TOMMILYN THARPE - MANATEE TECHNICAL COLLEGE
Each year we ask our Senior scholars to nominate their mentor for our Senior Mentor of the Year award. Each student submits a one page essay detailing why they think their mentor should be awarded this recognition.
This year the award was presented during our virtual graduation ceremony to Bernadette Azai. Bernadette has been mentoring Marlin for 4 years. Marlin views Bernadette as a teacher, advisor, confidant and a family member. Marlin has consistently felt encouraged by Bernadette to follow her dreams and to persevere through the good times as well as the challenging times. Please join
TSIC-M in congratulating Bernadette Azai on her Senior Mentor of the Year award!
This year we awarded our inaugural
TSIC-M School Coordinator of the Year award to Laura Roberts who is the College and Career Advisor at Southeast High School. Laura has been a staunch supporter of TSIC-M and our scholars over the past several years. Laura has been essential in helping potential scholars fill out our application every fall and working with the scholars to prepare for our selection process, rallying participants from BHS and SEHS for our TSIC-M 5k race and providing support to our scholars throughout the years. Please join TSIC-M in congratulating Laura Roberts on her TSIC-M School Coordinator of the Year award!
Our last mentor sessions of the 2019-2020 academic year were held the week of May 25th. Over the course of the pandemic, our mentors have completed 789 mentor sessions! How amazing is that achievement given the health and safety restrictions the mentors and the students had to adjust to over the 4th quarter! This feat just goes to show how our program persevered through this challenging time and how our mentors stepped up to the challenge as well! Thank you to all of our mentors for your dedication to our scholars and our mission!
From our Executive Director:

What a fabulous month and time this has been for Take Stock in Children Manatee! We held our first “virtual graduation” for 36 amazing students who are college bound. So proud of each and every one of them. How about the wonderful mentors, as well, who helped shape the future of success for the graduates. THANK YOU!!!!!

2019-2020 has been one special year in our history and our world. One thing is for certain and that is Education will continue! Our mission grows stronger each day to bring more students into our fantastic program.

The fall of 2020 will hold some exciting times as well in the history of Take Stock in Children Manatee. Hint: most scholarships awarded ever! We are moving closer to our goal of serving more academically qualified, financially at risk students in Manatee County. Thank you to all who make this organization spectacular! Board Members, Donors, Mentors and Students! Because of you, our mission will continue! I’m honored to be a part of this journey!
Meet David Espinal 
David graduated with a BA in History from the University of Central Florida in May and is currently interning with the Veterans History Project in Orlando. The internship will go into August at which time David will be enlisting in the ARMY pursuing the career track of Military Intelligence (MI). If David could give advice to a high school senior he quotes simply to "Have faith, the rest will follow." David would like to thank Take Stock Manatee as they "gave me opportunities when no one else could of. The mentors, scholarships, and the hope granted to me presented my life a new opening many would fight for."
David credits his mentors Alan Anderson, Wayne Blaser, and Take Stock Manatee for giving him the advice and tools he needed to complete his degree and pursue his dream. We wish David all the best in his next adventure!


Meet Paul Abreu
Paul is graduating from Florida Gulf Coast University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing. He has worked his way thru college as a Marketing Associate for Best of Golf America located in Fort Myers using his interpersonal skills and marketing expertise to help them in all aspects of their business.
Paul still keeps in touch with his mentor Gordon Wardell and credits him with providing him valuable advice and support throughout his educational journey. Paul would also like to thank Take Stock Manatee for the support of providing him with the resources he needed to make both his high school and college experience efficient and help him stay on track with his goals.
With the current pandemic, Paul has relocated back to Manatee County and is currently looking for full-time employment. Check out his LinkedIn profile below if you have any connections that fit his qualifications- Paul Abreu we can help launch him into a successful career!
We are so humbled by the support of our community. Because of you we're helping the students of Manatee County receive the post-secondary education they deserve.
A big thank you goes to the following organizations:

*The Patterson Foundation

*The Community Foundation of
Sarasota County

*The Manatee Community
Foundation

*Florida Winefest and Auction, Inc.

Because of you, we are making a difference to break the cycle of poverty.
Because of you, our mission continues.
Anne L. Heller
Executive Director
Take Stock in Children of Manatee County
We are having a Party with a Purpose and hope you will join us (virtually) and share the attachment with friends and family. Kendra Scott will be donating 20% of the proceeds from
June 5th-6th to TSIC-M. 
The code listed on the attachment must be used at checkout.
We are currently working remotely due to COVID 19. 
Please mail all correspondence to:

Take Stock in Children of Manatee County
PO Box 325
Palmetto, FL 34220


Email:
Anne Heller- Executive Director: AnneHeller@TakeStockManatee.org
Ann Colonna- Community Relations: Ann@TakeStockManatee.org