Safe Children Coalition Receives Grant to Support Scholarships

March 12, 2021 – Sarasota

To assist deserving area students in their dream to pursue post-secondary education, the Bank of America Client Foundation, Bank of America, N.A., Trustee has awarded $20,000 to Safe Children Coalition (SCC). These funds will directly support 15-20 students engaged with SCC’s Achievers program with scholarships, as they continue their education.

To receive a scholarship, youth are required to actively participate in the Achievers program at monthly career and college readiness workshops, Achievers school meetings, financial aid and financial literacy workshops, and various community service events throughout the year.

The Achievers program empowers at-risk, minority and other disadvantaged students to set and achieve goals in both their educational and personal lives, encouraging continuous growth in the areas of personal development, college preparation, community service and leadership, cultural enrichment, and career options. The program, which has served the community for over 30 years, is open to all middle and high school students in Sarasota County. Approximately 200 students are currently involved with the Achievers program.

The program ultimately increases student participation in school programs, decreases school absenteeism and dropout rates, and prevents delinquent behavior. Youth in the program typically have one or more of the following characteristics: household income below poverty level, homelessness, unaccompanied minors, low grades, truancy, referrals or suspensions, all which place youth in jeopardy of living in poverty, educational failure and/or becoming involved in delinquent activities. 

The Achievers program has been proven, through several decades of collecting data, to increase graduation rates, improve leadership skills and motivation, and prepare youth affected by poverty for college and the workforce. Achievers participants become future engaged citizens, successful college graduates, and leaders in our community who pass on the legacy of success to future generations.

“For more than 30 years now, our Achievers program has helped to set up area students for scholastic and life success,” said Brena Slater, president and CEO of Safe Children Coalition. “This program helps students to be better students, to gain a better understanding of which careers they might wish to pursue, to gain greater self-confidence, and become more involved in their community. We are grateful to the Trustees of the Bank of America Client Foundation for helping some of our Achievers to achieve the benefit of higher education.”

In 1961, Sarasota, Florida, Bank and Trust Company (now Bank of America) formed the Bank of America Client Foundation to support charitable endeavors in the local area. The Foundation typically makes grants to Sarasota organizations with a successful track record in the areas of the arts, community, natural science, historic preservation, education, and human services.

For more information about the Achievers program, call program director Jone Williams at 941-487-6600. For more on Safe Children Coalition, go to sccfl.org.