From our Executive Director
Hello and welcome to Take Stock Sarasota’s newsletter. We are truly blessed to partner with the best donors, mentors, schools and organizations to provide college success coaching and post-secondary
education to amazing, deserving students in Sarasota County. Thank you to all who make our program so successful.
Take Stock Sarasota loves every opportunity we get to celebrate our mentors. January is when we get to celebrate our amazing mentors all month long and host our Mentor Appreciation Breakfast! Mentors are truly the heart and soul of our program. We had a parent say many years ago, “the scholarship is the gift to the family, the mentor is the gift to the student”.
This statement is so true. Our mentors do not get paid with money, but rather with the knowledge that they are making a difference in the life of a young person. Sometimes it might not seem like you are making an impact, however, you are. You are showing up!
We truly thank you for all that you do.
Justafriendlyreminderthatwewillbemovingournewslettertoa quarterlybasis.Thankyouforreading!
February 2023
Student Success
Volunteer Mentors are at the heart of our program. Their commitment changes lives by:
Helping a student build a solid foundation of values
Establishing goals
Improving their academic and life skills
Developing their self-esteem and confidence
Hearwhatourstudentssayabouttheirmentors... Joseph&Bruce
"Gettingthroughhighschoolwouldhavebeensomuchharderifyouwereneverapartofit,especially juniorandsenioryear.YouarealwaysthereformewhenIneedanextrapushtomaintaingood academicstanding,whilestayinganactiveparticipantinmycommunity."
"She supports me, encourages me, motivates me & believes in me. All of this makes me believe in myself & strive to do better with every challenge or obstacle I face."
"She listened to my academic and life goals and my concerns allowing me to craft my vision and plan for my future while offering feedback.".
"I’m honored to be able to call you my mentor, and am very happy that you were there when I needed someone to talk to, someone to lead me in the right path, and someone to help me advance my career."
"He taught me life lessons not only regarding school but about life itself."
Kadie&Madeline
s been my friend, and the person that has helped me through so much. She has my back through school situations and even in my personal life "
"You’ve been a mentor, a second mom and a friend to me and words could not explain how appreciative I am. Even when you weren’t sure how you could help, you still managed to every time I needed it and that in itself shows how much of an incredible and kind person you are."
I've learned that people will forget what you said people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.
— Maya Angelou
February 2023
Mentors Matter
On Thursday, January 26th, we hosted our annual Mentor Appreciation Breakfast at Suncoast Technical College. It was a wonderful morning celebrating our fabulous Volunteer Mentors. We were thrilled to recognize our 2022-2023 Sarasota Mentors of the Year, Ronnie Riceberg and Neal Colton
Mentors truly are the foundation of our success. All of us at Take Stock Sarasota want each and every one of our mentors to know how valued and appreciated they are!
Mrs Riceberg saw potential in me and believed in me enough to help me become my best version of myself, and I am very thankful for her. She is always there if I need something.
- Jahliek, Class of 2023
Neal goes way above and beyond expectations. He is helpful and keeps me motivated. I trust him and know that he is someone who always believes in me.
- Daniel, Class of 2023
February 2023
2022-2023 Mentor of the Year
Dedicated Donors
H. JACK HUNKELE FOUNDATION GIVES HOPE FOR STUDENTS
Take Stock in Children of Sarasota is incredibly grateful for the H. Jack Hunkele Charitable and Family Foundations generous combined gift of $90,000 for student scholarships. The large increase in the number of student applications to participate in the program inspired the generous grant. Scholarship dollars are matched dollar for dollar by the Florida Prepaid College Foundation, thereby doubling the impact for deserving students in Sarasota County.
BANK OF AMERICAN CLIENT FOUNDATION
Sarasota County students will have the help they need to transform their college dreams into reality through the support from the Bank of America Client Foundation. The generous $50,000 grant will provide college coaching, college readiness workshops, and mentoring support for students in the Take Stock in Children college scholarship and mentor program.
FLORIDA WINEFEST & AUCTION SUPPORTS MENTORING MATTERS
Take Stock in Children of Sarasota County is proud to announce during National Mentoring Month a special $5,000 grant from Florida Winefest & Auction to support the recruitment, training, and support of 50 new mentors for students throughout Sarasota County Schools. A mentor can make a lasting positive impact on a student's life.
February 2023
Scholarship Contract Signings at Venice and Booker High College Success Coaches
Kassie Nealon
Our Sarasota Alumni of the Year is Kassie Nealon. Kassie graduated from Pine View in 2013 and headed to Boston University. After college, her journey took a challenging turn. Here it is in her own words ...
After graduating from Boston University in 2019, my curiosity and fascination by the ever-changing field of medicine drew me to clinical research. For two years, I worked at Massachusetts General Hospital in the Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery as a Clinical Research Coordinator. In 2019, I
decided to move back down to Florida and purse a Masters in Biomedical Sciences to expand my knowledge of the healthcare field. However, at the end of my first semester of 2019, I was, unfortunately, diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Following my diagnosis, I had to withdraw from my Masters program and instead undergo months of treatment which consisted of chemotherapy, total body radiation and a bone marrow transplant.
Once I had time to recover both physically and mentally from my treatment, I discovered a passion in giving back to those who are and unfortunately, will have to go through a similar diagnosis and treatment that I did a few years back. In 2021, I began working as a Clinical Research Associate with Be the Match, the national bone marrow transplant registry, on clinical trials which aim to improve blood cancer and transplants treatments. I have also become a Imerman Angel cancer peer mentor and WeGO Health Leader where I guide newly diagnosed patients, answer their questions and comfort them throughout the process and lastly, I have published a children’s book titled “Bye, Bye Bad Blood” which aims to explain Leukemia and its treatment to children in terms that they understand and prove to little ones affected by the disease know that they are not alone. All proceeds of the book have been and will continue be donated to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. I look forward to continuing to use my knowledge and passion for the betterment of others.
Wealwayswanttocelebrateyoursuccessesand we'dlovetofeatureYOUinanupcomingissue!
Pleasesendupdatesandphotosto
nikki@takestocksarasota.org orashley@takestocksarasota.org
February 2023 Amazing Alumni
HEY ALUMS!
