I have worked with Volunteer Florida over the past 5 years with their phenomenal Teen Trendsetter Program. High School students volunteer for 20 weeks to mentor struggling readers in elementary school. We started with 2 or 3 students and are now going strong with over 15 dedicated and regular and weekly volunteers. High School mentors are provided with professional training on mentoring and are provided with lesson plans and up to 3 series of books that are donated by Florida Power and Light. I cannot tell you how excited the teens get about working with elementary students for their community service hours. Since we have been doing Teen Trendsetting, I have students asking to particpate during the summer and I have more students than I can place at times. And, if there ever is a time when a teen does not show up for a session, I have experienced the hurt and loss that the 3rd graders (mentees) feel when they have missed being mentored. They insist we make us our time and we do! Parents are involved and are quick to provide feedback about the mentoring relationship which is always positive and full of praise. They truly appreciate the effort and find are quick to secure their spot in the elementary school's after care program. The Teen Trendsetter Program sponsored by Volunteer Florida is highly structured, well supplied, thanks to Volunteer Florida, and is truly making a difference for all of us. Last year, we mentored students at two Elementary Schools--one of which made an "A" by making their AYP. Do these teen volunteers make a difference? Most definitely. As a result of the Teen Trendsetting Program, we have been asked to read and work with additional grade levels including kindergarden. Volunteer Florida has become entrenched in our school system and is providing services to students that help the children, both the mentors and mentees, the school, and the effort demonstrates a true partnership with the community. The focus (reading) the method (teens with children--big brothers and sisters in mentoring capacity) the resources (wonderful books and lesson plans), make for a dynamic and progressive state of the art volunteer effort that is held in the highest of esteem in our district. There are no other words except that it is a win-win for all of us! Go Volunteer Flordia!!!!
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- EIN 31-1467424
- (850) 224-7173
- Po Box 1534 Tallahassee FL 32302 USA
- www.floridasfoundation.org
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Nonprofit Overview
Causes: Community Improvement & Capacity Building, Community Service Clubs, Philanthropy, Private Grantmaking Foundations
Mission: To strengthen florida by making positive changes in the lives of florida's families through initiatives developed under the leadership of the state of florida and its citizens.
Programs: Recognition education and other the foundation's recognition, education and other miscellaneous programs promote expanding and encouraging community involvement and community education. These programs include: hispanic heritage month, black history month, asia-pacific month, combat coins and the green school initiative. An additional achievement is the gubernatorial fellows program that provides leadership training to outstanding florida graduate and undergraduate students interested in public service.
Donor & Volunteer Advisory
This organization's nonprofit status may have been revoked or it may have merged with another organization or ceased operations.