The Education Foundation since 1988 has been supporting the students, teachers and schools of Sarasota County. We award grants to teachers for support in their classrooms, celebrate the talents of our area’s accomplished student artists through a renowned juried arts competition and provide technological support to students in need with our 27 digital learning labs located throughout Sarasota County. The Education Foundation remains steadfast in these commitments as it enters into an exciting and pivotal period developing new and innovative initiatives that will provide even greater impact to our area students, teachers and schools. A new chapter for the Education Foundation has begun.

In support of its commitment to a lifelong love of learning, the Education Foundation of Sarasota County will ensure and sustain its legacy as an independent philanthropic organization as it embarks on these exciting initiatives. With a sharpened vision and enhanced mission, the Education Foundation adheres to a creed of guiding principles that serves as a beacon of light in all that we do:

• We believe education changes lives.
• We believe every child deserves to reach his/her full potential.
• We believe in creating brighter futures for our children.
• We believe in leading in education innovations by taking calculated risks.
• We believe a vibrant and prosperous community is dependent upon the value its community members place on high-quality education.
• We believe an investment in a child’s education is the best investment anyone can make.

As we celebrate College Knowledge month in October, we invite you to learn more about the work we do and encourage you to become involved.  

Next week, we are hosting a Superintendent Finalist Reception on Thursday, October 13 from 6pm–7:30pm at Riverview High School. The Sarasota County School Board will decide on October 18 who will become the next superintendent upon Lori White’s retirement, and this will be the last opportunity for the community to meet the final candidates and share their voices with us.

On October 14-16, we will be hosting our inaugural #SRQHacks Hackathon at New College of Florida. Over 60 students and more than 80 mentors will come together over the weekend to work in teams to create and build mobile applications that address real community issues. With Gulf Coast Community Foundation and Star2Star Communications generous support and partnership, this coding conference will serve as a springboard for sustainable opportunities for students to be exposed to careers and mentors on an ongoing basis.

Then, on October 21, the Education Foundation will host a GradNation Summit at Suncoast Technical College. In partnership with America’s Promise Alliance and AT&T, this summit will convene students, teachers, community partners and area leaders to identify ways in which we can raise the high school graduation rate to an ambitious 90 percent. According to the Gulf Coast Community Foundation’s community indicators, Sarasota County is 79 percent, better than the 67 percent national average but still leaving 21 percent of our students on an uncertain path for their future. We want to work with our community to expose students to opportunities available post-graduation—opportunities that exist only if they graduate.

Our new chapter is full of opportunity to make meaningful impact with our students, teachers and schools. After all, 100 percent of tomorrow’s future is dependent upon the leaders we are developing and investing in today. Please visit our new website at www.edfoundationsrq.org and be a part of our story.

Jennifer Vigne is executive director of the Education Foundation of Sarasota County.