By Cindy Jackson
Reporter
March 2, 2020
If it’s March, it’s Take Stock in Children (TSIC) month and 2020 is no different. Board of County Commissioners Chair Danny Leeper read a proclamation to the effect at the BOCC meeting of February 24th.
While TSIC is a state-wide nonprofit organization established in 1995, TSIC Nassau County has been around since 1997, “providing 23 years of scholarships, mentors and hope.” An effective tagline, it succinctly describes the organization’s mission, vision and values.
“Take Stock in Children of Florida provides a unique opportunity for deserving low-income youth/students, many from minority families, to escape the cycle of poverty through education.” As further explained on the organization’s website, “comprehensive services start in middle school, continue through high school and include their transition into college.”
TSIC Nassau County Executive Director, Robin Lentz, and other board members were present to accept the resolution.
The proclamation noted some of TSIC’s major milestones including:
• Take Stock in Children has provided mentoring in high school and college scholarships to more than 611 of Nassau County’s young citizens throughout its history in the county; and
• Take Stock in Children has provided volunteer adult mentors for all of these students in their public-school careers and provided professional college success coaches in seven (7) Nassau County schools.
Unique in the nonprofit world is perhaps the fact that Take Stock in Children “requires each student to sign a contract promising to abide by the program’s rules to stay in school, maintain good grades, attend regular weekly meetings with their mentor, stay drug and crime free, and exhibit good citizenship in order to attain a fully paid college tuition scholarship.”
Editor’s Note: Born in Hagerstown, Maryland, Cindy received her BA in Political Science from Dickinson College. Upon graduation, Cindy began her career on Capitol Hill working as a legislative aide and director. She later became a part of the public relations and lobbying team of the American Iron and Steel Institute and served as director of the office of state legislative affairs for the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA). Cindy was involved in economic development with the state of Maryland, and served as executive director of Leadership Washington County. As a community volunteer, Cindy participates in numerous volunteer activities serving as a member of Sunrise Rotary, and as board member of Cummer Amelia Board of Directors.