The scholarships that give educational opportunity to tens of thousands of low-income schoolchildren would not be possible without the contributions of corporations. That’s why Step Up For Students, the families and students who participate and the community leaders and elected officials who support the program gather so often to pay tribute. Throughout the year, whether in the annual donor rally or through smaller individual events, Step Up For Students celebrates its corporate partners.
Our 2011 Donor Appreciation Event
Tallahassee – Gov. Rick Scott graciously welcomed more than 100 supporters of the Step Up For Students Scholarship Program to the Governor’s Mansion on Oct. 4 to celebrate and honor corporations
for collectively contributing more than $900 million to the scholarship program since 2002.
The event featured special announcements from J.J. Taylor Distributing Florida, Inc., Walgreens and Winn-Dixie Stores, Inc., all of which presented checks to Gov. Rick Scott for Step Up For Students Scholarships. Walgreens, a donor to the scholarship program since 2006, presented a check for more than $27 million – the total amount the company has donated to the scholarship program throughout the years. Winn-Dixie presented a check for $5 million and J.J. Taylor Distributing, the newest corporate donor to the Step Up For Students program, pledged $20 million to provide scholarships.
Since the first scholarship was distributed in 2002, more than 200,000 students have benefitted from a Step Up For Students Scholarship, including Travis Blanks who offered his testimony at the Oct. 4 event. Blanks is a senior at North Florida Christian School in Tallahassee where he will graduate a semester early in December 2011 and continue onto Clemson University on a football scholarship.
Our 2010 Donor Rally
St. Petersburg - Nearly 1,000 students, teachers and parental choice supporters joined Governor-elect Rick Scott Dec. 9 on the grounds of St. Petersburg Christian School to celebrate nine years of the Step Up For Students Scholarship Program. During the 2010-11 school year, more than 33,000 low-income students in Florida benefitted from the K-12 scholarship, which is made possible through the generous contributions of corporations. Since 2002, corporations have redirected more than $900 million to the Step Up For Students program, which is also known as the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship.
It is through the generous donations by corporations that struggling students such as Silas Lopez have been given a second chance and renewed hope. Lopez, a senior at Victory Christian Academy in Lakeland, told rally attendees how the Step Up For Students Scholarship has made a dramatic change in his life. “You have given me a second chance at success,” he said. “I will do my best to make you proud.”
“We are honored to be part of a program that is making such a profound impact on Florida’s children and ultimately our future.”
David Lewis, CEO Central North Florida Division, UnitedHealthcare of Florida Inc.
(Since 2009, UnitedHealthcare has contributed $20 million to provide scholarships for at least 4,819 low-income children)
Read the press release
Coverage by Bay News 9
Our 2009 Donor Rally
Fort Lauderdale - Gov. Charlie Crist welcomed 800 students, parents and business people to Mount Bethel Christian Academy to celebrate the Step Up For Students scholarship for low-income students, and he also saluted a Miami Union Academy freshman, Antonio Trigo, who has turned his academic life around and was the class valedictorian in eighth grade. In nearly 10 years since Florida created an education option for economically disadvantaged children, corporations have redirected more than $900 million to scholarships for needy students. Walgreen Co., the title sponsor of the 2009 celebration, has contributed more than $28 million.
“I am grateful to all the companies who have taken the time to learn about this valuable program and participate in it,” said Governor Crist. “With their generous support, Florida’s children have more scholarship opportunities available and together, I am confident we will continue to provide more edu-cational opportunities and options here in Florida.”