SARASOTA, Fla. (September 2, 2022) — The Education Foundation of Sarasota County recently received a $15,000 grant from Bank of America to help fund programs that provide Sarasota County students with greater access to individualized resources and opportunities that help them prepare a plan for their lives after high school.
The Education Foundation’s Student Success Program vision is to provide all students with expert college and career advising, mentoring, and access to building relationships that will help them identify and successfully pursue education, career, and life goals after high school.
Jennifer Vigne, Education Foundation president and CEO, noted that the 1:378 ratio of school counselors to high school students in district schools makes it challenging for students, especially underserved students, to access the individualized advising that is vital in helping young people formulate life plans.
“Our aim is to expand our active outreach of low-income, minority, and first-generation college students in order to create life-changing educational opportunities and connections that will help bridge the gap and equip more students with the tools and resources they need to succeed.
“Bank of America’s grant will help us directly address this challenge in numerous ways, chiefly in helping us focus on the unique needs of underserved youth and provide direct support to help them develop a plan and access community relationships and resources that make a difference,” Vigne said.
The expanded initiative will be based at LaunchPad4U, the foundation’s innovative community resource site that also offers college-career advising, mentoring for at-risk students, and other focused student support services.
“Bank of America supports the Education Foundation’s goals in strengthening Sarasota County’s long-term socioeconomic outlook and helping its individual families and underserved students build meaningful relationships in the community that encourage financial security,” said Erik Vatter, president, Bank of America Sarasota-Manatee. “Through this partnership, underrepresented youth will have the opportunity to access skills and workforce development programming, mentorship, and exposure to post-secondary educational opportunities and career pathways.”
In total, Bank of America has granted over $500,000 to 20 nonprofits across Sarasota-Manatee this year. These grants are part of the company’s long-term commitment to equity and responsible growth as it works to improve the financial lives of individuals, families, and entire communities.
More information about the Education Foundation and its programs that support student success is available at EdFoundationSRQ.org.