College and Career Readiness Summit Highlights Criticality of Education Pathways for Youth in Poverty

MIAMI, Sept. 11, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Take Stock in Children's first College and Career Readiness Summit presented by the Florida Lottery and held at the Westin Orlando Universal Boulevard in Orlando attracted national thought leaders who addressed the criticality and necessity of helping Florida's youth in poverty focus on a pathway from middle and high school into college and career.

The Summit launched with a Microsoft YouthSpark luncheon that examined the gaps between skills Florida's employers need in science, technology, engineering and math and the opportunity to draw more youth into the field. Attendees included Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and Pamela Gould, school board member, Orange County Public Schools.

More than 250 participants who attended the two-day Summit, learned from national leaders about the latest trends and data on youth poverty, mentoring, college readiness skills, and career pipelines and resources, as well as how to effectively connect youth with STEM jobs critical to our economy. Serving more than 24,000 students since 1995, Take Stock in Children is a Florida-based scholarship mentoring program based on the principal that with high expectations, mentorship, a college scholarship and college readiness curriculum, children living in poverty can succeed.

"For 20 years, Take Stock in Children has been transforming the lives of children in poverty," said Take Stock in Children President and CEO Madeline Pumariega, "This year's Summit crystallized why the work we do is more important than ever. At Take Stock, we know that the education of a child is an essential investment in our country."

The Summit featured presenters and panelists from MENTOR: The National Mentoring Partnership, Roadtrip Nation, Opportunity Nation, Kaplan, America's Promise Alliance, the Center for Mentoring Exellence, Lumina Foundation, Reach Georgia, Florida College Access Network, Pinellas Education Foundation, Level 6 Marketing, CareerSource – Central Florida, GSL Solutions - Digital Bell and the Florida Council of 100. Sponsors included the Florida Lottery, KIND Healthy Snacks, Bright House Networks and Kaplan.

"The Florida Lottery is proud to be part of this event that has such a significant impact on education and students in the state of Florida," said Florida Lottery Secretary Cynthia O'Connell. "Take Stock in Children and the Florida Lottery share a common mission of insuring all children have the opportunity and the pathway to achieve the American dream of a college education."

About Take Stock in Children
Take Stock in Children, a Florida 501(c)3 non-profit organization, provides  mentors, scholarships and hope for Florida's low-income and deserving students. Incorporated in 1995 and maintaining a 96 percent high school graduation rate, TSIC is Florida's flagship and most successful mentoring and scholarship program. In every Florida county, TSIC scholars in middle and high school pledge to meet regularly with their mentor, maintain academic standards, and remain drug and crime-free on the way to achieving a high school diploma. The reward for fulfilling these commitments is a scholarship to a Florida state college, university or vocational school. To donate, volunteer or learn more about Take Stock in Children, please call 888-322-4673 or visit www.takestockinchildren.org.

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SOURCE Take Stock in Children