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The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Lutz since 1964 and Pasco since 1981.
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Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

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Zephyrhills Rotary Club

Pasco organization assists youths on road to success

March 6, 2019 By Brian Fernandes

When high school student Sherman Milton entered the Pasco County’s Take Stock in Children program, he had no idea the impact it would have on his life.

Through the program, he gained access to academic resources, and a mentorship, which helped him to graduate from high school — which then led to college and, now, a career in real estate in East Pasco County.

He recently shared his experience at a Take Stock in Children fundraiser.

Take Stock in Children has been mentoring at-risk students for more than two decades to help them become successful academically.

Gina Granger, left, Rosanne Heyser, Kayla Conologue and Nikii Lewis of Take Stock in Children of Pasco County, showcase their Luminary Award. The organization was recognized for its exceptional work in aiding Pasco County students for the 2017-2018 school year. (Courtesy of Take Stock in Children Pasco County)

Established in 1995, the statewide organization serves all 67 counties and is funded by the Department of Education.

“What our program does is incentivize our students to continue reaching their goals,” said Rosanne Heyser, executive director of the Pasco County branch. “We are there to provide their motivation – a road map to their success.”

To help make this happen, Take Stock has partnered with various institutions, such as educational foundations and businesses.

While there is one umbrella organization, each county has a branch in conjunction with its school district, which may operate by different guidelines.

Selecting a child
Pasco County’s program focuses on preparing eighth-graders, as they’re on the verge of high school years.

The program invites guidance counselors from both public and charter schools to train them on how to identify eighth-graders who have academic or economic hardships.

In some cases, students come from homes where parents work multiple jobs and are unable to dedicate sufficient time to their children, Heyser said.

Counselors recommend these students to Take Stock in Children.

Students, along with their parents, can sign a contract to remain in the program throughout high school – providing they meet program criteria.

Under that criteria, a student must be on free or reduced school lunch, maintain a 2.5 grade point average, must demonstrate exceptional attendance and behavior in school, and must participate in Take Stock events.

Once they enroll in high school, students who participate in the program have access to a wide range of resources.

Program staff frequently interact with students, hold educational workshops, monitor grades and stay in contact with parents.

Because of the collaboration with district schools, the program is aware of students who are experiencing declining grades, and the program can intervene to create a success plan for students to improve their performance.

College readiness coaches also help students prepare for collegiate life.

“By doing that combination, we really get to know these kids quite well,” Heyser said.

A constant, friendly face
Mentors also help.

These volunteers are trained to effectively communicate with students, find common interests and help them with schoolwork.

Mentors play an important role, Heyser said.

“It can create a huge impact on a student by just having somebody that is [an] adult role model to talk to,” she added.

Mentors meet with their proteges on school grounds, typically during lunch or a study hour.

They are asked to identify a student’s talents or interests and to encourage them to think about how to turn their niche into a practical career.

Team projects include helping students create mock resumes and cover letters – practice that will come in handy when they enter the workforce.

The teaching goes both ways between mentors and students.

In April, students who are now in college will be reuniting with the mentors they had in high school during a Take Stock in Children event in Pasco.

As part of a panel, they will provide insights to mentors who are helping current teens prepare for college life.

Higher learning
When Take Stock in Children began in Florida, its sole purpose was to increase the high school graduation rate, Heyser said. And, over the years, it has been highly successful — increasing the graduation rate for students in its program to 96 percent.

However, Take Stock has shifted its focus to helping students in its program to enroll in college and have the skills necessary to graduate from college.

“Our newest goal that was created this year is to have a 96-percent college graduation rate,” Heyser mentioned of the program’s intentions.

Right now the graduation rate for Take Stock college students is at 67 percent.

She admitted that it’s a challenge but one that can be achieved – considering what has been accomplished this far.

At the collegiate level, students are assigned a college completion coach who helps find resources addressing any academic or financial needs.

And, while away at school, students must still stay in contact with the program – submitting their grades every year for review.

Although the willingness may be there, the cost of college is a major obstacle for many students, which can prevent them from continuing their studies.

The program partners with many organizations, which provide scholarships.

The Pasco program receives donations and has mentor volunteers from the Zephyrhills Rotary Club, the West Pasco Chamber of Commerce, the North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce, and others.

The organization also has an agreement with the Florida Pre-Paid College Foundation, which matches dollar-for-dollar the amount that donors contribute.

“That’s how we can afford to have so many students partake of this,” Heyser said.

Light at the tunnel’s end
After college graduation, Take Stock in Children alumni often stay in touch with the organization.

Many speak at events, offering their personal testimonies.

It gives staff and mentors an opportunity to see firsthand the kind of impact the program can have.

That’s where people like Milton come in.

He recently spoke at a fundraiser, encouraging donors to help students who are in the kind of situation he was in.

He’s just one of the alumni who has used the opportunities the program offers to prosper.
Another former alumni is now a Pasco County lawyer, with prospects of making partner at a law firm.

During her 15 years with Take Stock in Children, Heyser said she has witnessed the incredible perseverance youths possess, despite the odds against them.

“We literally see miracles happen,” Heyser said. “We have kids who are in wheelchairs and have physical disabilities in addition to the economic challenges they face.”

Outside Heyser’s office there’s a bulletin board with photographs of students who have come through the program.

She can point to a face, recall the name, and talk about the individual’s journey.

As she recounts their achievements, her eyes fill with tears.

In a nutshell, supporting such transformations is what Take Stock in Children is all about.
To become a mentor, or learn more about the program, visit TakeStockInChildren.org.

Published March 06, 2019

Filed Under: Education, Top Story Tagged With: Department of Education, Florida Pre-Paid College Foundation, North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce, Rosanne Heyser, Sherman Milton, Take Stock in Children Pasco County, West Pasco Chamber of Commerce, Zephyrhills Rotary Club

Rattlesnake fest not hiss-tory after all

March 1, 2017 By B.C. Manion

New organizers have stepped forward to take over the management of the San Antonio Rattlesnake Festival & Run, an event that had appeared to be headed toward extinction.

The Thomas Promise Foundation will be taking over reins of running the festival, that has been a mainstay in the City of San Antonio for a half-century.

A Bay News 9 reporter gets a first-hand feel for this creature at the Croc Encounters’ alligator pen, a popular attraction at the San Antonio Rattlesnake Festival & Run.
(File)

The San Antonio Rotary Club had been the festival’s primary organizer and had announced on Feb. 1 that 50th festival, which was held in October, would be its last.

In announcing that decision, Betty Burke, festival chair, said the club decided to step away from the festival because it was too much for the small club to handle.

After that announcement, however, five organizations stepped forward, expressing interest in taking over the event.

Club members talked about those willing to take over the festival during the club’s Feb. 21 meeting, and after discussing the various pros and cons of each of the interested groups, they reached a consensus, deciding that Thomas Promise would be the best fit for the festival’s original mission.

Burke then headed to the San Antonio City Commission meeting to share the news.

This isn’t the first time the festival has had a new organizer.

Burke recapped the festival’s history, in her announcement about the festival’s demise.

The festival originally was conceived by founders Eddie Herrmann and Willy Post, as a rattlesnake roundup — to replace the San Antonio Junior Chamber of Commerce’s Fun Day, which was being discontinued.

The Jaycees presented the first Rattlesnake Roundup on Nov. 4, 1967, in City Park, in San Antonio, according to a history compiled by Burke. Its aim was to entertain and to give funds back to the community.

The event continued for nearly a decade with few changes, until the Jaycees, gave up their chapter. That prompted Herrmann and other members to form the Rattlesnake and Gopher Enthusiasts (R.A.G.E.) group to carry on the tradition.

In 2013, R.A.G.E. announced it could no longer manage the event due to a lack of new volunteers to help.

That’s when the San Antonio, Dade City Sunrise, Wesley Chapel, Wesley Chapel Sunrise, Zephyrhills and Zephyrhills Daybreak Rotary clubs stepped in and assumed leadership, under the banner of the East Pasco Rotary Charities.

After that, the San Antonio Rotary Club took over in 2014, assuming full leadership for the festival.

In choosing to hand the festival off to Thomas Promise Foundation, club members noted that the organization seems in line with the original intent, to help the local community.

Thomas Promise Foundation provides backpacks full of food complete with three meals and snacks for underprivileged children in Pasco County. The meals help feed children through the weekend when they would otherwise go without.

The charity’s Operation Backpack began after Brooke Thomas gave her lunch money to classmates she saw going hungry. When she asked her mom for more lunch money, her mom asked why, and Brooke said she just wanted to help.

Thomas Promise Foundation began with that young girl’s compassion.

Now, the organization will bring new life to the Rattlesnake Festival & Run.

Published March 1, 2017

Filed Under: Local News, Zephyrhills/East Pasco News Tagged With: Betty Burke, Brooke Thomas, City of San Antonio, City Park, Dade City Sunrise Rotary Club, East Pasco Rotary, Eddie Herrmann, Operation Backpack, Rattlesnake and Gopher Enthusiasts, Rattlesnake Roundup, San Antonio City Commission, San Antonio Junior Chamber of Commerce, San Antonio Rattlesnake Festival & Run, San Antonio Rotary Club, Thomas Promise Foundation, Wesley Chapel Rotary Club, Wesley Chapel Sunrise Rotary Club, Willy Post, Zephyrhills Daybreak Rotary Club, Zephyrhills Rotary Club

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01/19/2021 – Best of crafts

The Pasco County Library Cooperative will present a “Best of Craft Tuesdays: Playlist” on Jan. 19 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Check out a video at Facebook.com/hughembrylibrary or Facebook.com/newriverlibrary to learn about some of the craft programs that are worth revisiting from the past year. For information, call 352-567-3576, or email Danielle Lee at . … [Read More...] about 01/19/2021 – Best of crafts

01/19/2021 – Virtual gardening

The Pasco County Library Cooperative will present “Virtual Backyard Gardening with Jo Ann” on Jan. 19 at 2 p.m., via Zoom. Registration is required to receive an email on how to join the meeting. For information, email . … [Read More...] about 01/19/2021 – Virtual gardening

01/20/2021 – Library story times

The Pasco County Library Cooperative will offer these upcoming story times: Jan. 20, for birth to age 5: Participants can tune in anytime between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m., at Facebook.com/hughembrylibrary or Facebook.com/newriverlibrary, to hear “Private I. Guana.” For information, call 352-567-3576, or email Danielle Lee at . Jan. 21 at 10 a.m.: “Virtual Baby Time with Miss Cindy.” Visit Facebook.com/cplib. Jan. 21 at 10 a.m., for ages 2 to 5: “Virtual Story Time with Miss Jenn.” For information, call Amaris Papadopoulos at 727-861-3020. … [Read More...] about 01/20/2021 – Library story times

01/20/2021 – LOL Book Club

The LOL Book Club from the Land O’ Lakes Library will meet on Jan. 20 at 2:30 p.m., to discuss “Beartown” by Fredrik Backman. Register online for a Zoom link, which will be sent out via email a day ahead of the discussion. For information, call 813-929-1214. … [Read More...] about 01/20/2021 – LOL Book Club

01/20/2021 – Mouse bookmark

Learn to make a folded paper mouse bookmark on Jan. 20. Participants will use the art of origami to make the bookmark. Watch the instructional slide show, all day, on the South Holiday Library Facebook page. … [Read More...] about 01/20/2021 – Mouse bookmark

01/21/2021 – Gasparilla History

The Hillsborough County Public Library Cooperative will host a virtual session entitled “The History of Gasparilla” on Jan. 21 at 6:30 p.m., for teens and adults. Those that tune in can learn the legend of Jose Gaspar, intertwined with facts, fallacies and fantasy. The program will be presented by Carl Zielonka in partnership with the Tampa Bay History Center. Registration is through the calendar feature at HCPLC.org. … [Read More...] about 01/21/2021 – Gasparilla History

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State road projects will ease congestion. https://buff.ly/3oIP5eo

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Check out our other stories for the week

Don’t forget: This year’s Kumquat Festival is set for March 27

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The Big Shred IV helps people dispose of documents

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Talent showcase scales back due to COVID

Lower speed limit approved on South County Line Road

Judges take on leadership roles at Boy Scouts

Rioters breach U.S. Capitol building

Zephyrhills development yields roadway concerns

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Pigz in Z’Hills festival postponed until April

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