Take Stock In Children Announces Madeline Pumariega As New President/CEO

MIAMI, Oct. 3, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Madeline M. Pumariega has been appointed to serve as President & Chief Executive Officer of Take Stock in Children, a statewide non-profit organization, which has helped over 22,000 low-income and at-risk youth to break the cycle of poverty by completing college. The announcement was made by Don Pemberton, State Board Chair of Take Stock in Children.

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"Madeline joins us at a critical time when we are expanding our college success strategies to increase college completion," says Pemberton. "Madeline is a nationally-recognized leader in higher education and someone who deeply understands the challenges at-risk youth confront in completing college.   Her experience will be invaluable to the future success of Take Stock in Children and our scholars."

Pumariega has been a leader at Miami Dade College (MDC), the largest institution of higher education in the nation, since 1992, including most recently serving as President of the Wolfson Campus. She is nationally regarded for her work in developing innovative approaches to support academic progress and student success, ensuring thousands of youth access and complete college. Pumariega was instrumental in establishing Take Stock in Children's largest affiliate, at MDC, currently serving 600 youth.

In her new role, Pumariega will lead all facets of the organization, which currently serves nearly 8,000 low-income and at-risk middle and high school students each year, and approximately 6,000 students pursuing post-secondary education at colleges across Florida. Working with a competent team of professionals and an active Board of Directors, she will oversee the organization's management and operations, fundraising and development efforts, as well as strategic partnerships and legislative affairs.

"I have been a strong supporter of Take Stock in Children for many years, and am excited for the opportunity to join the organization's team of dedicated people. Working together, I'm confident that we can continue to change the course of young peoples' lives across the state of Florida," said Pumariega. "I want to lead the organization in an expansion effort so more children in our state can have access and benefit from a college education."

Ms. Pumariega values service to the community and embodies the principles of education and opportunity for all. She has been instrumental in expanding nationally-known educational programs in Miami-Dade including City Year and Year Up.  She serves on the boards of City Year Miami, Take Stock in Children and the Executive Board of the United Way. She also serves on the Our Miami steering committee for The Miami Foundation and is a member of the International Women's Forum. She was a national Kellogg Fellow for the League for Innovation's Expanding Leadership Diversity in Community Colleges program, an initiative focusing on leadership development and capacity as a change agent for communities.  

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 92 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.

SOURCE Take Stock in Children