Sarasota, FL, May 20, 2025.  The Henson Fund partners with Take Stock in Children of Sarasota to further their aligned mission to empower underserved children to reach their full academic potential and future success.  The Henson Fund launched the partnership with a generous $275,000 grant to sponsor 50 student scholarships, college coaching, mentoring, and an outreach coordinator to ensure the communities with the greatest need are aware of this amazing opportunity. 

“Take Stock in Children is very proud to partner with The Henson Fund.  We are incredibly grateful for the opportunity to serve and impact additional children and families in Sarasota County” commented Take Stock in Children Executive Director Lisa Bechtold. 

Partnering with Take Stock in Children and their 30-year history of student success in providing scholarships, mentors, and hope will expand postsecondary opportunities for youth at St. Jude’s Catholic Church and in the North Port area. 

“This is an exciting partnership for our community” said Mary Kay Henson of The Henson Fund.  “Collaborating with Take Stock in Children will accelerate The Henson Fund vision for every child to have access to educational opportunities that promote academic success.”

Take Stock in Children will provide the proven program services including a volunteer mentor, college success coaching, college readiness workshops, ACT/SAT preparation, financial aid assistance, scholarship management, and postsecondary degree/certification attainment support.  The Henson Fund committed to provide scholarship funding for 50 students.  The scholarship investment will receive a dollar-for-dollar match through the Florida Prepaid College Foundation STARS program, thereby, doubling the impact of a scholarship investment for low-income, at-risk students.

“The Take Stock in Children community partnership model demonstrates the power of collaboration to serve more students with efficiency and effectiveness” commented Take Stock in Children Executive Director Lisa Bechtold.  “We are confident that leveraging the strengths of both organizations will prove to be a stronger impact for student performance and success.  College dreams can become reality.”

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About The Henson Fund 

The Henson Fund was established by Mary Kay and Joe Henson to further their mission and vision:

MISSION: To enrich and thereby empower underserved children to reach their full academic potential and future success.

VISION: We envision a world where every child has access to educational opportunities that promote academic enrichment, creativity, and innovation.

For more information, please visit www.thehensonfund.org or call Dr. Bianca Harris  941-387-4546.

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.