The Pasco Education Foundation has played an intricate role in the development of FIRST LEGO League Jr. at Trinity Oaks Elementary. It is through their generous grant that students in Kindergarten through Third grade have been introduced to the love of science, engineering, and coding. With the help of funding from The Pasco Education Foundation, students have been learning FIRST Core Values, building models using LEGO®Education WeDo 2.0 and creating Show Me posters to present what they learned. They have been focusing on building interest in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) through a real-world challenge – to be solved by research, critical thinking, and imagination.
~LEGO League Jr. Club Sponsor
I am an alumna scholar, was a mentor, and am a volunteer for this group. They are the ones who know how to care for a person in a way that truly establishes a path of leaving poverty through mentoring and financial support. I have been them be the major turning point for many families having hope and progress that no one else was able to give them. I will always support and love them.
I can’t say enough great things about the Pasco Education Foundation and the incredible people that run it! When I was at my lowest point they were so kind, patient and understanding when helping me put together an endowment fund to carry on the memory of my precious daughter by allowing my family to create the Krista Marie Sellars foundation. They really took their time explaining everything involved and how it all worked. It’s hard to put into words how much it has helped to have the opportunity to create this scholarship. We have been able to give back annually over the past 10 years and to help other children that want to attend college reach their dreams. This could not have been done without the help of the PEF. I looked into other ways and places to make this happen, but truly nothing compared to the PEF. The knowledge and professionalism of the PEF is like non other. This is a top notch organization and I am so grateful everyday that I choose to invest in the Pasco Education Foundation. Kristas dreams will carry on forever through all the recipients of her scholarship because of this great foundation!
Thank you so much!!
Cathi and Kevin Schmidt
Pasco Education Foundation is a real asset to our local community! A few years ago I decided to honor a former teacher that had passed away with a scholarship to local high school graduates in his honor. The first couple of years, I felt that I didn't have the information to really find the best candidates. Then I was put in touch with the folks at the Pasco Education Foundation - they had a system in place where I could put in my criteria and easily find students that needed help and fit my particular specifications for the scholarships. In addition they put on a great celebration event where we got to meet the recipients and their families, seeing first hand how our scholarships impacted their continuing education goals.
Pasco Education Foundation has supported our scholars in a variety of ways! Most recently they purchased calm down carpets for all 27 classrooms! This has supported our Tier One behavior plan and allows scholars to Reflect and deescalate and return to engaging lessons in their classrooms! Without the support from Pasco Education Foundation this would not Have been possible! Thank you!
The Pasco Education Foundation is all about giving back to both students and teachers! Last year I was a recipient of their Innovative Classroom Project Grant. I received $500 to use to purchase materials for my classroom to help improve my students problem-solving skills while working collaboratively on STEM activities. The students were actively engaged and so excited about their learning! Thank you Pasco Education Foundation!
I have the pleasure of having exposure to the Pasco Education Foundation, Inc. as both a client-served/beneficiary and as a volunteer/mentor. Take Stock in Children and the Pasco Education Foundation, Inc. work hand-in-hand to help break the chain of poverty through education. These two great nonprofit organizations have a passion to accomplish their mission in a way I have not seen. I am proud to be an alumnus of both of these programs and a current mentor. I have had the unique opportunity to see these programs' works and accomplishments through both of these points of views. I highly recommend these excellent programs.
I have been a mentor for Take Stock in Children for over 20 years. I have had a variety of mentees assigned to me & each one of them has gone on to further education. It has been a pleasure to get to know these capable students & see them flourish & grow intellectually & emotionally. This organization is truly a great investment in our future!
We have been warmly welcomed by Pasco Education Foundation from our first contacts and the cooperative reception for our desire to join in to help in solving the issues and needs of our struggling elementary school students has evolved into a deep, long lasting dialogue.
Their professional and personal commitment to the goals set before them encourages us to keep up our part In the fight for our children and their education.
Pasco Education Foundation is dedicated to supporting the neediest families in Pasco County. For years, they have accepted donations to support families who are in crisis and need essentials such as food, housing assistance, electric bill support, and even assisting families who have had a death of a child in the family. I cannot express the importance of the commitment and dedication the Foundation provides to families in poverty.
In addition to the many important causes the Foundation supports, this nonprofit most recently supported funding for children who are not receiving any preschool services to attend school readiness events and funding to provide basic literacy skills to families who do not speak English and do not have a foundation of literacy even in their home language.
It is with great honor that we describe the experience with the Pasco Education Foundation.
I served two Take Stock in Children/Pasco Education Foundation scholars as their mentor for 5 years each and I can say it was the most rewarding volunteer experience. Watching them blossom from 8th grade through their senior year of high school was an amazing journey for all parties involved. Although I am not "officially" their mentor any longer since they graduated high school, moved on to college and are no longer in the program, I will always be their mentor. I was just recently matched with another student and am excited to start this mentor/mentee relationship with her. This non-profit is amazing and kids who might otherwise fall through cracks have their lives transformed. The amount of support and training provided by the organization is awesome! Serving as a volunteer mentor is such an honor and I do not doubt for a minute that I have made an impact in these students' lives.
As a new academy lead teacher, one of the greatest obstacles I face is financial support for the many ideas I hope to incorporate into the New Teacher Academy program of Pasco County, Florida. The "NTA" is a "Grow Your Own Program" to train and replenish future teachers in Pasco County. Students have an opportunity to prepare for their educator career while still in high school, prior to attending college to secure their degrees. With a growth from 38 students our inaugural year (16-17) to 104 students, 27 months later (2018), it is essential to find support systems that understand the importance of providing funding to enhance education. The Pasco Education Foundation has gone above and beyond in providing not only opportunities for my students to share, but also financial support to make their dreams come true. As a result of the Foundation's support, I was able to take my students on a state-wide, four university tour to USF, UCF, UF, FSU, FLDOE, and the Capitol, in which they presented the data and work we have done in the New Teacher Academy. We shared our hashtag across the state: #InspireTheDesireToTeach, and this would have never been possible without the Pasco Education Foundation's support! The PEF decision to support our academy changed lives and open doors for the future of education.
Check out our growth in just 27 months!! The NTA loves the Pasco Education Foundation this much (See picture of one of my students)!!
Thank you, Pasco Education Foundation!!
Beth Hess
Lead, New Teacher Academy, RRHS
Having been involved with the Pasco Education Foundation for 5+ years now, I have personally seen how their efforts have helped change the lives of the students and teachers through college scholarships, teacher classroom scholarships and the Take Stock in Children program. This is a wonderful charity to be involved in if your looking to give your time, talent and treasure in your community!
The Pasco Education Foundation truly lives their mission statement. The team works daily to serve the students and the teachers by not only financially assisting the efforts of the teachers to enrich the classroom experience but providing scholarships to the students so they can achieve their dreams.
The Pasco Education Foundation fills an important gap to make sure that students can go to college. by partnering with business and the school district, the foundation is able to send several students to college each year who wouldn't have that opportunity otherwise.
As a volunteer board member, I've witnessed first-hand the care and compassion that runs through the organization while being very responsible stewards of their donors' money. I am proud of the Foundation and all that they do.
I have had the honor of serving on the Board of Directors of the Pasco Education Foundation for more years then I care to count and during that time I have had the great pleasure of seeing the true impact of what the Foundation has meant to so many students and their families. I have often cried reading the stories of Take Stock in Children recipients who have been the first in their families to ever even dream of attending college. I have held back tears of joy in seeing the pride in the eyes of parents when I have awarded their children scholarships at graduation ceremonies. I have marveled at the commitment and compassion of teachers who have applied for grants to better their own education so that they can better serve their students. And most of all I have been inspired by our employees and my fellow board members who everyday remind me of what it means to serve such a worthy cause as the public education of our children. I have had the privilege of watching this foundation grow into something very special that changes the lives of students, teachers and even their families as we provide the financial support to truly make dreams happen every day!