PAHOKEE, Fla., Aug. 28, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The Anquan Boldin Foundation (Q81 Foundation) and Florida Crystals Corporation have partnered for the second consecutive year to host the Q81 Summer Enrichment Program.  The eight-week program completed on August 10, garnered significant results: 30 students at Everglades Preparatory Academy (EPA) grades 9-12 increased their grade point average and four student-athletes earned a 2.0, clearing their eligibility to participate in sports during the Fall semester.  EPA students who needed courses to catch up academically had been encouraged to do so through the Q81 Summer Enrichment program, consisting of a classroom, computer-based credit recovery program, followed by daily recreational activities, all free of charge.  

The Q81 Summer Enrichment Program has provided the opportunity to take one or two courses, depending on their need. Following the morning credit-recovery curriculum, students had a variety of activities, including popular guest speakers, classroom discussions, college visits and field trips that had taken the students outside of Pahokee. The 2012 Program travelled to a Miami Marlins game, Palm Beach State College of Belle Glade, CBS News 12 station, Greenacres Bowl, YMCA Indiantown and to Universal Studios Orlando. Additionally, organizations participating during the Q81 Summer Enrichment Program, included the Miami Dolphins, AmeriCorps, Smart Money Management, City of Pahokee, the Palm Beach Sheriff Office and the Pahokee Housing Authority. 

"We are proud to learn the results earned by the students, where their GPA has increased," says Anquan Boldin, Pro Bowl professional football player and native of Pahokee, FL. "We want the students who need the extra help to have it without being held back a school year.  If the students work diligently through the program, they have the opportunity to complete coursework, while increasing their grades. We want to continue creating positive programs such as this one for years to come."

"Everglades Preparatory Academy strives to provide its students with the most comprehensive and quality educational opportunities possible," said Emilia Fanjul, founder and chairwoman of the board of Everglades Prep. "We are grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with the Anquan Boldin Foundation and Florida Crystals for a second year to offer unique summer enrichment courses to our high school students, free of charge."

The collaboration between the Anquan Boldin Foundation and Florida Crystals, a Palm Beach County-based sugar producer, was established in April 2011 to support the educational and developmental programs for youth and families in the tri-cities of western Palm Beach County, where the sugar company has a majority of its Florida operations.

The Anquan Boldin Foundation

The Anquan Boldin Foundation aka Q81 Foundation, established in 2004, is dedicated to expanding the educational and life opportunities of underprivileged children.  As evidenced by the charitable activities in Arizona, Baltimore and Boldin's home state of Florida, the Q81 Foundation has a seven-year history of helping after-school programs.  The Foundation exercises scholarship and dental programs for children. It also serves the community by awarding great scholastic and community achievement in youth.  The Q81 Foundation holds annual holiday shopping spree events and Thanksgiving meals as well as the annual Q-Festival Weekend in April.  For more information please visit www.Q81.org. 

Florida Crystals Corporation

Florida Crystals Corporation is a leading, fully integrated cane sugar company that farms 192,000 acres in South Florida, where it also owns two sugar mills, a sugar refinery, a packaging and distribution center, a rice mill and the largest renewable power plant in North America.  Its renewable energy facility delivers clean power to its sugar operations and tens of thousands of homes.  Florida Crystals is the only producer of certified organic sugar grown and harvested in the USA and the only producer certified CarbonFree® sugar, which means its products have a carbon neutral footprint.  Florida Crystals' jointly owned subsidiary, American Sugar Refining, Inc., is the world's largest cane sugar refining company, with sugar refineries in six countries worldwide. Its products are marketed through its brands: Domino®, C&H®, Redpath®, Tate & Lyle® and Florida Crystals®. 

About Everglades Preparatory Academy

Everglades Preparatory Academy is the first charter high school in western Palm Beach County.  The school was founded by Emilia Fanjul in 2002 to provide a meaningful alternative choice within the public school system. 

Bridgett Coates / Anquan Boldin Foundation
510-484-7022 or bcoates@exposurebbc.com

Gaston Cantens / Florida Crystals Corporation
561-366-5128 or Gaston_cantens@floridacrystals.com

SOURCE Florida Crystals Corporation