October 2009 Vol. 8, Issue 10
In This Issue
Upcoming Events
October Success Story
Foundation in the News!
Foundation Spotlight
Career & College Fest
Foundation Fanpage
Thanks Sept. Supporters
Get Involved!  

 
 
 

 
Upcoming Events 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Excellence in Education Awards
January 28, 2010
Evening
Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center
 
The time has come to honor Hillsborough County's brightest stars!  Join 2,500 guests who will gather for this brand new event to recognize the nominees and finalists, and announce the winners, of Hillsborough County's Teacher of the Year, Instructional Support Employee of the Year, and Ida S. Baker Diversity Educator of the Year.  Sponsorship opportunities are available.  For more information contact Shannon Sellards at (813) 231-1864 or visit us online.
Good4U, Good4Us!
Apples
 
Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Hillsborough County Schools Day
November 22, 2009
1:00pm
Raymond James Stadium 
 
Root for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as they take on the undefeated New Orleans Saints on Hillsborough County Schools Day!  You can save $11 on each ticket, as well as take advantage of a reduced convenience fee.  A portion of each ticket sold will benefit the Foundation.  To purchase your discounted tickets click here and look for the Bucs logo.
 
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Tampa Bay Lightning Fall Education Night
November 27, 2009
7:30pm
St. Pete Times Forum
 
Cheer for your Tampa Bay Lightning as they take on the New York Rangers, and support Hillsborough County Public Schools.  Player and Coach packages will get you discounted tickets, food and drink vouchers, and the opportunity to win Lightning prizes!  A portion of all tickets sold will benefit the Foundation.  Deadline to order is November 24.  Click here for the order form and more information. 
October Success Story  
 
 
Reciprocity
By Amber Valentin
Recipient, Hillsborough Education Foundation Florida Prepaid Scholarship
 
When I was ten years old my teacher, my mother, and a team of philanthropists I may never meet, determined that I had the potential to do great things -- if given the opportunity.  From that decision, the Foundation's Florida Prepaid Scholarship program set into motion a series of events that have brought me to where I am today. 
 
As the first college graduate in my family, I am blazing new trails for my three younger sisters.  The generosity bestowed upon me will be reciprocated for years to come as I now pursue my passion for philanthropy and responsible citizenry.  The knowledge that I took away from my studies in Finance and Non-profit Leadership at the University of Florida were significantly complimented by my extracurricular involvement in the Florida Leadership Academy, the Center for Leadership and Service, and my position as the first student board member of the United Way of North Central Florida.
 
To learn more about Amber's journey, click here.
Learn More 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Hillsborough Education Foundation in the News!
 
Join our mailing list!
Note from the President
 
We have some wonderful stories in this month's Core from scholarship recipients, funders, and organizers.  I'll let them tell you what they think about the program and how it's changed their lives and the lives of literally thousands of recipients over the years. 
 
But let me start you with some fast facts about the program ... 
  • Did you know that for just $6,700 you can fund total tuition (2 years community college + 2 years university) for an at-risk student?
  • Did you know that every dollar invested in a prepaid tuition scholarship is matched 1 to 1 (doubled)?
  • Did you know that by awarding these prepaid scholarships early in high school and providing a mentor to a student you create the best "stay in school" program around?
  • Did you know that each year the Foundation is only able to provide scholarships to about 10% of student applicants due to insufficient funding for scholarships?

Foundation Spotlight 

Tony Sledd Memorial Endowment
 
Antonio James Sledd was one of the first Marines kilIed in the actual war in the Middle East. During that week, VA Hospital friends, families and co-workers collected monies and decided to open the Antonio J. Sledd scholarship trust fund. This money is used to award annual college scholarships to select Gaither High students. One of Tony's goals was to go back to college. Thru this scholarship, students from Gaither High School will live and carry out Tony's dream. From the classrooms and hallways of Gaither High, Tony dreamed about his future.  Through this scholarship in his memory, I know he is smiling -- just knowing that other Gaither students will be helped to realize their dreams. Gaither High school honored Tony's ultimate sacrifice by placing a plaque that was mounted on a beautiful rock remembering Tony at the football field.  On behalf of my husband, Tom, and son, Mikey, we wish to express our gratitude for remembering our son and for the donations to the Antonio J. Sledd Scholarship trust fund.  Tony always will be with us in spirit.
- Norma Figueroa, mother
Students glimpse future possibilities 
 
More than 3,500 Hillsborough County students and parents flooded into the Special Events Center at the Florida State Fairgrounds on October 13 for the annual Career & College Fest.  This day-long event showcased more than 20 local businesses and 100 school and magnet programs.  Through interactions with these businesses and schools, students learned about the many career possibilities in Tampa Bay and what they will need to do to pursue them.
 
We would like to thank all those who contributed to the 2009 Career & College Fest, including:
 
Platinum Sponsors
Everest University
Florida State Fair Authority
Hillsborough County Public Schools 
 
Gold Sponsors
International Academy of Design & Technology
Mosaic
Suncoast for Kids Foundation
The Nielsen Company
 
Silver Sponsors
CF Industries, Inc.
Grow Financial Federal Credit Union
Lockheed Martin
Propeller Club, Port of Tampa
TECO Energy
Coming around full circle 
 
Sangeeta Bhagwandeen
Florida Prepaid Scholarship recipient
Take Stock in Children mentor
Teacher in Hillsborough County Public Schools
 
I am the first in my family to graduate from high school and attend college.  After graduating high school I attended Hillsborough Community College, receiving an Associate in Arts degree in the spring of 2007. I am now a 2009 graduate of the University of South Florida with a Bachelors of Science in Elementary Education.  I am currently a first grade teacher at Mort Elementary.
 
Now I have come full circle, where my experience with my mentor has compelled me to make a commitment to become a mentor for a current TSIC student.  The best part of being a mentor is having a great friendship and knowing that I am making a difference in my mentee's life.  It goes farther than just meeting with her for one hour a week to chat up on school and events.  It's a commitment and an investment, an investment in her future, and a friendship that extends further than an hour.  It's a life-long bond with someone you know whose life you somehow influenced.  That's a reason why I still keep in contact with my mentor. 
 
I started on my career path at Mort Elementary two weeks before school opened.  It has been truly a rewarding experience.  I am always learning and trying something new and I can honestly see growth in myself as teacher.  Mort has offered me a chance to seek out more opportunities for professional development. I must say, I am blessed!
 
To read more of Sangeeta's story, click here.
Chamberlain alumni break the curse  
 
Ted Hoffman
Chamberlain High School Class of '76
Spirit of '76 Dreamcatcher Award
 
The Chamberlain High Class of '76 was kind of ... cursed. Our graduation was rained out. For arcane and humiliating reasons, we didn't have a prom. Our typical lunch was Paint Chip Helper, served on plates made of asbestos. Here we were, representatives of a graduating class during the year of our nation's Bicentennial, and we seemed to have as much luck and spirit as a Canadian goose getting sucked into a jet engine.
 
Fast forward to 2001. All of these feelings of frustration had simmered long enough.  At our 25th reunion, I stood in front of my balding, paunchy, hairy-backed classmates -- and that's just the cheerleaders -- and made a plea that we get that monkey off our backs by doing something, as a class, to honor Chamberlain.  I pressed the notion of starting a scholarship. I formed a small committee and came up with the name: The Spirit of '76 Dreamcatcher Award.
 
It's a great feeling. It's yours; it's a gift from your class, your generation, to another. The Education Foundation makes it incredibly easy to maintain and implement. The remarkable thing is that it doesn't take a massive effort on your classmates' part. You have to be realistic: Not everyone will contribute, especially the kids who used to eat chalk or who ended up marrying their truancy officers. But those who do join in your cause are remarkably generous, I've found. They recognize the importance of giving something back, and they'll keep the blood flowing through the scholarship's veins.
 
To read more about the Chamberlain Class of '76 scholarship award click here.
Show the world you are a Foundation fan! 
 
The Hillsborough Education Foundation is on Facebook, are you?  Join our fanpage between now and November 16 and be entered to win tickets to the Tampa Bay Lightning Fall Education Night on November 27 versus the New York Rangers.  The winner will be notified through Facebook on November 17.  As a fan you will receive updates on Foundation happenings, interesting articles on education, testimonials, and information on promotions and events.
 
See how we're making a difference in Hillsborough County Public Schools, become a Facebook fan today!  And don't forget to tell your friends.  

Tampa Bay Business Journal's 2009 Up and Comers 
 
We are proud to announce our own Cris Vatalaro, Executive Associate, was named one of the Tampa Bay Business Journal's 2009 Up and Comers in the Under 30 category.  Cris is a dedicated and hard working individual, and a true asset to the Foundation's team and our mission.
 
Congratulations Cris!
Thank you to our September supporters! 
William and Joni Adams
Affiliated Engineers, Inc.
All Green Holding Company LLC
ACG Tampa Bay
AMSCOT Financial
Association for Corporate Growth Central FL
The Avery Family Foundation, Inc.
AXA Advisors
AXA Equitable
Bank of America
The Bank of Tampa
Gary and Karen Bauler
Bay Cities Bank
Bay Gulf Credit Union
The Beck Group
Kathleen Belmonte  
Borrell Electric Company, Inc.
Richard and Kalyn Brandewie
Bright House Networks, LLC
Buccaneers Limited Partnership
Robert and Karen Buesing
Gene Cabrera
Caldeco Air Conditioning & Heating
Diane C. Chadwick
Cherry, Bekaert & Holland, L.L.P.
Chubb Insurance
Ron Ciganek
CIRSCO Industrial Roof Services
City of Tampa Dept of Solid Waste
Collier Enterprise II, LLC
Congregation Beth Am
Corinthian Colleges, Inc.
Cornerstone Concrete Construction, Inc.
Curves - Bloomingdale
Jeff Davis
Deep Blue Marine Products, Inc.
Michele Delsordo
Delta Delta Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi
T. Alan Denham
Ronald Dickstein
Disney Reservations Center
The Docobo Corporation
Duane Eatherly
Eckerd Family Foundation, Inc.
Engelhardt Hammer & Associates, Inc.
Family of Marvin Jerome Essrig
Frances Ferguson
David B. Finkel
Florida Retail Partners, Inc.
Florida State Fair Authority
Florida Westcoast Area/General Apprenticeship Council
Thomas and Valerie Folsom
Garcia Family Foundation
Keith L. and Stephanie C. Gibson
Gordon and Paula Gillette
Marcus Healey
Hector Gonzalez
Matthew Gordon
Grow Financial Federal Credit Union
Hamilton, MIller & Birthisel
HDR Engineering, Inc.
Helios Education Foundation
Henry B. Plant Museum
Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners
Hillsborough County Solid Waste Management
Joe and Sue House
HSBC Mortgage Services
Humana, Inc
Independent Resources, Inc.
J.C. Newman Cigar Co.
J.R. Long, Inc.
Johnny R. Adcock, CLU & Associates, Inc.
Gordon Johnston
Scott Jones
JP Morgan Chase & Co.
JPMorgan Chase Foundation
Krewe of Pandora
Carmine LaCognata
Larson Allen LLP
Laser Spine Institute, LLC
Richard and Susan Leisner
Linda Lewis
Little Red Wagon Foundation, Inc.
Long & Associates Architects/Engineers, Inc.
Mainsail
Melody M. Marrs
Harriett Marsh
Morris C. Massey
Doug and Heidi McCree
Andy and Lisa McCumber
Thomas C. McGeachy
Eugene McKinnie
McLain Plumbing and Mechanical
Milberg LLP
Mise En Place
Mosaic
Julio and Patricia Muniz
National Aviation Academy
Corey and April Neil
NGI Digital
Nova Southeastern University
Vincent L. Nuccio, Jr.
Ocean Bleu Group LLC
Dhvanit Patel
Pelican Building Contracting, Inc.
Piper's Marine, Inc.
Lisa Pizarro-Yob
The Plasencia Group, Inc.
Mike and Hope Poland
Tampa Port Authority
The Propeller Club - Port of Tampa
Republic Services of Tampa
Michael and Laura Roberts
Eli Rose
Richard and Tanya Russo
Ryan Companies US, Inc.
Saint Leo University
Scarola Assoc. Engineering Design & Land Consultants, P.A.
Janet Sciales
Jane Sebastian
Steve Sessums
Michael Shea
St. Petersburg Times
Staples Fulfillment Center
State Farm Insurance
Scott and Mercedes Steady
Stephens Financial Consulting, Inc.
Sun State International Trucks, Inc.
Suncoast Schools Federal Credit Union's Suncoast for Kids Suncoast Schools Federal Credit Union
Sunrise Landscaping Contractors, Inc.
Take Stock in Children
Tampa Convention Center
TECO Energy, Inc.
Thomas Financial Group
TimBar Packaging & Display
Time Customer Service, Inc.
Trail Blazing Sams Club
Universal Fire Systems
University of Phoenix
Craig Urquhart
Verizon Services
The Victory Foundation
Wachovia Bank
Walter P. Moore & Associates, Inc.
West Tampa Chamber of Commerce
Wheelabrator McKay Bay Inc.
Yale Lift Trucks of Florida and Georgis
Jon Yob
Johanna Zeitler
Andrea Zelman
There isn't a person anywhere that isn't capable of doing more than he thinks he can. ~ Henry Ford
Sincerely,
 
 
 
Bill Hoffman
President
Hillsborough Education Foundation