ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (March 27, 2017) – The Pinellas Education Foundation will join with the city of St. Petersburg and Pinellas County Schools to present 125 6th through 10th grade St. Petersburg public school students with the opportunity to receive a Take Stock in Children Scholarship (TSIC) once they graduate from high school. The annual St. Pete’s Promise Awards Celebration will be held at St. Petersburg’s historic Coliseum, 535 Fourth Ave. N., on Wednesday, March 29, beginning at 6 p.m.
Students attending this event will sign a scholarship contract stating they will earn a ‘C’ or better in each class they take, attend school regularly, have good behavior in and outside of school, meet with a TSIC mentor and remain crime and drug free, among other items. The major sponsors of these scholarships include the employees of the City of St. Petersburg, the Beth Dillinger Foundation, the Kiwanis Club of St. Petersburg, Bill Edwards, the Rays Baseball Foundation and Helios Education Foundation. The total value of these scholarships is more than $1.75 million.
In addition to the students being honored, St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman will pay tribute to all St. Petersburg-area public schools and give special recognition to the 11 schools that achieved an “A” grade during the 2015-2016 school year. This recognition is part of the St. Pete’s Promise Program, which is a partnership between the City of St. Petersburg and the Pinellas Education Foundation.
“We know that for our children to be successful, we need to invest in their education, and I’m not just talking about money. I’m also talking about investing ourselves by giving our time and our talent to our schools. That’s what we celebrate at this event,” said Mayor Kriseman.
About The City of St. Petersburg
St. Petersburg, Florida’s fourth largest city, is one of the brightest spots on America’s Gulf coast. Known for more than a century as a winter resort, St. Petersburg has evolved into much more than a vacation destination. With more than a quarter million residents, it sits at the heart of the St. Petersburg/Tampa Bay metro area – the largest household market in Florida, the nation’s fourth largest state, and is the gateway to Florida’s High Tech Corridor. Its thriving corporate sector is also home to leading companies in health and financial services, media and marine science. St. Petersburg has also emerged as Florida’s center for the arts, voted the No. 1 Arts Destination for mid-sized cities three years in a row. Whether for vacation, work or spending a lifetime, St. Petersburg is an ideal choice.
About The Pinellas Education Foundation
The Pinellas Education Foundation is an independent, non-governmental not-for-profit established in 1986. The Foundation’s mission is to enhance and improve educational opportunities in Pinellas County Schools. Well known Pinellas Education Foundation programs include: Enterprise Village, Finance Park, Future Plans, Take Stock in Children Scholarships, Youth Connect and Fund A Classroom Grants.
About Pinellas County Schools
Pinellas County Schools is the seventh largest school district in Florida and 26th largest in the nation, serving more than 101,000 prekindergarten – 12 students at 132 schools. With more than 17,000 employees, the school district is the largest employer in the county. The vision of Pinellas County Schools is 100% Student Success. We encourage parents, business leaders and community members to partner with us in our mission to educate and prepare each student for college, career and life.