Sarasota, FL, April 24, 2025.  Take Stock in Children of Sarasota County’s Celebration of Hope honored121 graduating seniors receiving college scholarships.  The Take Stock in Children of Sarasota County’s Celebration of Hope reached new heights with the largest class of scholars in their 30-year history.  The annual event was held at The Ora in Sarasota on Tuesday, April 22^nd at 5:30 p.m.

The Riverview High School Kiltie Band Saxophone Quartet, and the Booker High School Jazz Band II Cyclone   performed to greet guests for this very special occasion. College dreams for 121 graduating seniors become reality as college scholarships were awarded to the deserving students who have participated in the powerful and proven Take Stock college readiness and mentor program. College bound students and families, along with their volunteer mentors, joined the scholarship donors, and community leaders to celebrate the student’s commitment to academic success, perseverance, and determination in reaching their college dream.

“Take Stock in Children is proud to celebrate our 30^th Anniversary with our largest graduating class to date.  The Celebration of Hope recognizes these impressive students, caring mentors, and the generous Sarasota community that made it possible” commented Take Stock in Children Executive Director Lisa Bechtold.  “

We are incredibly grateful for the following sponsors who made the Celebration of Hope dinner and awards celebration possible without cost to the students and families:  Rays Baseball Foundation and Rowdies Foundation, Mariner Foundation, Publix Super Markets Charities, Sunwest Bank, Scott Atkins, Heather Clark, Jon F. Swift Construction and the Swift Family Foundation, Neal Communities, First Horizon Bank Foundation, Community Foundation of Sarasota County, Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation, Atlas Insurance Agency, Marjolaine & Steven Townsend, S-One Holdings, Jay Brady, T.J. Chitekwe, Michelle Cherp, Brittany Lamont, and Kelley Lear.

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About Take Stock in Children of Sarasota County

Take Stock in Children was founded in 1995 as a nonprofit organization by business and community leaders and built as a public-private partnership to break down barriers to opportunity and instill hope in economically disadvantaged youth.  The Take Stock multiyear model benefits students by providing support services through a volunteer mentor, a college success coach, and college readiness workshops while mitigating financial barriers to higher education by providing a scholarship.  Student support services continue from college acceptance through certification/degree attainment ensuring students are workforce ready.  Today, Take Stock is known as one of the nation’s preeminent mentoring, college readiness, scholarship, college access and completion direct service organizations.  For more information or to become a mentor, please visit takestocksarasota.org or call Director of Development, Diana Dill 941-504-0995.