Programs
Take Stock In Children (TSIC)

History

Take Stock in Children was established in 1995 as a non-profit organization in Florida that provides a unique opportunity for low-income and at-risk students, many from minority families, to escape the cycle of poverty through education. Take Stock in Children offers students college scholarships, caring volunteer mentors and hope for a better life. Its comprehensive services start in middle school, continue through high school and includes the transition into college. Since inception in 1995, Take Stock In Children has demonstrated its success and sustainability by delivering life changing results for its students. Community Blood Centers of South Florida (CBCSF) makes a significant impact on TSIC's ability to purchase FLPP scholarships for future students. The practice of donating $20 per unit collected at Key’s area schools has added to the efforts to offer the TSIC promise to students in our communities. The CBCSF's donations are matched dollar for dollar by the Florida Prepaid College Foundation through their Project STARS. This means CBCSF's contribution is doubled and can go twice as far in obtaining scholarships for qualifying participants of Take Stock.

How TSIC operates

TSIC is a comprehensive program that helps high potential, low-income children succeed by providing college and vocational scholarships (FL Prepaid 2+2 scholarship), volunteer mentors who meet each week with their student (mentee), student advocates, tutoring, early intervention and long-term support. TSIC helps students stay in school, earn a high school diploma, graduate from college and enter the workforce. The students in the program sign performance contracts agreeing to meet with their mentor, earn good grades (As, Bs and Cs), exhibit positive behavior, abide by the code of student conduct and remain crime and drug-free. Upon graduating high school, if all terms of the contract are met, the student has earned his/her Florida Prepaid scholarship.

Requirements

To be considered for a TSIC COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP, you must:

  • Be enrolled in a Monroe County Public School, grades 7 - 10

  • Have grades of As, Bs, and Cs in all classes

  • Have FCAT scores of 300 in both Reading and Math

  • Meet financial eligibility requirements established by the TSIC Program

  • Sign a contract agreeing to remain crime and drug free, and attend school regularly

  • All applicants must have a U.S. social security number

Additional Information

Any questions about the Take Stock In Children Program and your responsibilities should be directed to Jim Hall, Program Coordinator at 305-293-1546 or Jim.Hall@keysschools.com