At HEF, we are committed to closing achievement gaps for our most vulnerable students, and one of the ways we are doing that is by focusing on closing the digital divide.

We are proud to share that our Digital Equity initiative, that we launched when the pandemic first impacted our district in 2020, is now being replicated in five other Florida counties through local education foundations with support from statewide funding.

HEF has served more than 1,700 students during this pandemic and the referrals for hundreds more still in need keep coming.

Understanding that education is key to a prosperous community, last month 220 community supporters attended our EmpowerED luncheon and helped make our annual fundraiser a huge success. Together, we raised more than $120,000 that will directly support our programs to help ensure all students in Hillsborough County can benefit from a high-quality public education. We are thankful for everyone's continued commitment to help close the achievement gaps and change the trajectory for our students.

During our EmpowerED event, Romello Jones, one of the students in our Take Stock in Children mentoring program shared some of the incredible challenges he's overcome to succeed in school and the tremendous impact having a mentor, a male role model to look up to, has made in his life over the past five years.

Right now, we're in need of nearly 30 more men, like Romello's mentor Tracy Smith, who can spare a half hour per week to change a student's life.

Check out our interactive map to see which schools have the greatest need for mentors and apply today at EducationFoundation.com/Mentor-A-Student.

Hillsborough County Public Schools is asking the state Education Commissioner to layout the plan to distribute the third round of federal funding to address the impact the pandemic has had and continues to have on K-12 public schools.

In this recent letter from Supt. Davis and Board Chair Lynn Gray, they say, "These dollars are necessary to ensure our district can best meet the needs of students in Hillsborough County under these ongoing and inauspicious conditions. HCPS is projected to receive approximately $491 million in ESSER III dollars that is desperately needed in these challenging times."

The district says the majority of money from the first round of funding from ESSER I (Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief) has been spent, including a designated $7M in computers and other technology purchases ordered.

Throughout the years, Long & Associates has sponsored nearly every one of HEF's events, including our Excellence in Education Awards, EmpowerED, Regional STEM Fair, Play FORE Education Golf Classic, New Teacher Orientation and this year will be joining us for the Larry Wilder Memorial Fishing Tournament. Often, employees are not only event participants, they also lend a hand as volunteers.

Using their creative talents, Long & Associates also ensures students have a state-of-the-art place to learn. They completed a new 33,000 square foot classroom building at Spoto High this school year and helped with the modernization of Woodson PK-8 Leadership Academy.

"Every generation tries to build and make the community better than the one before and hopefully our support helps create an even better world. Every child should have the best education we can provide and the opportunities that come with that," said Steed.