Tampa, FL – (November 12, 2013) – Amscot Financial, a leading provider of convenient, consumer-oriented financial services, recently gave mini-grants to 19 non-profit service organizations in the Florida communities it serves. Mini-grants went to:
- Boys & Girls Club of Manatee County, Bradenton. Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee County has a lineup of tested and proven programs that address today’s most pressing youth issues, teaching young people the skills they need to succeed in life. For more information, please visit: http://www.bgcmanatee.org.
- Project Promise, Tampa. The goals of Project Promise are to Improve educational services for at-risk youth so they have the opportunity to meet challenging state academic achievement standards; provide children with services to successfully transition from institutionalization to further schooling or employment; prevent at-risk youth from dropping out of school, and to provide dropouts, children and youth returning from locally operated juvenile correctional facilities with a support system to ensure their continued education. For more information, please visit: http://promise.mysdhc.org.
- Arche Legacy, Inc., Hudson. The mission of Arche Legacy is to help disadvantaged teens and young adults transition from their current environment into social independence. The Pasco-based organization seeks to offer support, resource assistance, career guidance, training for life skills, jobs and other useful information. For more information, please visit: http://www.archelegacy.org.
- Hernando County Community Anti-Drug Coalition, Spring Hill. The HCCADC, in partnership with Hernando County Schools, is implementing a “Friday Night Done Right” Campaign. The campaign focuses on things teens would prefer to do on a Friday Night rather than drink or do drugs. In the winter of 2012, the coalition completed research that found that only 3 percent of middle school students and 8 percent of high school students “typically” drink alcohol when socializing. However, students perceive much higher rates of drinking among their peers. The HCCADC will work to change misconceptions about alcohol and other drug use and promote positive messages in the schools and community. For more information, please visit: http://www.hernandoantidrug.org/home.html.
- E.S.T.H.E.R. Single Mothers Outreach, Inc., Longwood. E.S.T.H.E.R. is a non-profit organization dedicated to the spiritual, emotional and physical needs of single mothers and their children by encouraging healthy relationships while providing a safe harbor for healing and restoration. For more information, please visit: http://www.esthersmo.com.
- Youth Build of Central Florida, Inc., Orlando. The mission of Youth Build of Central Florida is to unleash the intelligence and positive energy of low-income youth to rebuild their communities and their lives. The organization seeks to join with others to help build a movement toward a more just society in which respect, love, responsibility, and cooperation are the dominant unifying values, and sufficient opportunities are available for all people in all communities to fulfill their own potential and contribute to the well-being of others. For more information, please visit: http://www.youthbuildofcentralflorida.org.
- Blossom Montessori School for the Deaf, Clearwater. Blossom is one of only two Montessori schools in the nation created specifically to teach children who are deaf or hard of hearing. Combining the philosophy and programming of Montessori with expertise in deaf education creates the perfect environment for the school’s students. Each child is treated as an individual and the school strives to do everything it takes to advance every child to his or her maximum potential. For more information, please visit: http://www.blossomschool.org.
- Stand Among Friends, Boca Raton. Stand Among Friends is a nonprofit organization that helps people with disabilities prepare for, seek and secure active employment. The organization guides clients through the employment search, from developing essential professional skills, providing the tools to begin a job search, discovering the right opportunity, landing the interview, securing the job and offering support after they begin working. For more information, please visit: http://www.standamongfriends.org.
- National Kidney Foundation, Orlando. The NKF of Florida is one of 48 affiliates of the National Kidney Foundation, a not-for-profit, tax-exempt, national voluntary health agency. Its activities are governed by a volunteer board of trustees. All programs and services are made possible through the contributions of a generous public. The mission of the NKF of Florida is to prevent kidney and urinary tract diseases, improve the health and well-being of individuals and families affected by these diseases, and increase the availability of all organs for transplantation. The NKF of Florida is a vital resource for kidney patients and their families - helping them learn how to cope with the physical and psychological aspects of the disease and providing them with hope for the future. For more information, please visit: http://www.kidneyfla.org.
- The Children’s Home, Tampa. The Children's Home is a place where children learn to smile and families learn to flourish! Over the course of a year, the organization touches the lives of more than 15,000 children and adults. Founder Carrie Hammerly first began tending to orphaned and abandoned children in Tampa in 1892. More than 121 years later, The Children's Home continues to open the door and care for children who are without a permanent home or family to call their own. For more information, please visit: http://www.thechildrenshome.org.
- Tampa Bay Academy of Hope, Tampa. Founded in 1996, the Tampa Bay Academy of Hope has assisted more than 2,500 youth and their families with leadership training, counseling, referrals, mentoring, job placement, and scholarship development. TBAH serves youth between the ages of 8 and 18, adults, and families who live in socioeconomically depressed communities. Youth receive coaching, mentoring, tutoring, life. literacy, and leadership skills through the different youth programs including, Read to Achieve, the Youth C5 programs, and the NOW programs. Areas of concentration include: school attendance, school behavior, academic achievement, positive youth development, self-esteem, and leadership. For more information, please visit: http://www.tampahope.org.
- Koss Music & Cultural Arts Institute, Land O Lakes. This organization offers music education, mentoring and positive behavioral encouragement to underprivileged and disadvantaged youth. Participants get individualized attention to support and encourage their musical talent. For more information, please visit: http://www.kossmusic.org.
- Seminole County Police Athletic League, Sanford. Seminole County PAL is a not-for-profit 501(c3) organization that focuses on providing safe recreational activities for youth while building positive relationships between youth and law enforcement. For more information, please visit: http://seminolecountypal.org/index.html.
- Compass Education Center, Brandon. Compass Education Center is a year-round academic and enrichment program with an emphasis on science, technology, engineering, math (STEM) for students in 5th through 12th grade. The objective of the program is to increase the number of under-served and under-represented students pursuing STEM-related fields. The program combines high expectations with high support in order to encourage students to challenge themselves academically while participating in programs that build 21st century readiness skills. For more information, please visit: http://www.compasseducationcenter.org.
- Paul B. Stephens Jr. School, Clearwater. Paul B. Stephens School was built specifically for students with special needs. The schools strives to provide each student with an opportunity that allows them to develop to their individual highest level of independence. Having a school designed with that in mind has made a distinct difference. The spacious halls, automatic doors and numerous other items allow greater independence and learning for even the most involved students. For more information, please visit: http://www.stephens.pinellas.k12.fl.us.
- The Inspire Foundation, Spring Hill. The Inspire Foundation's mission is to provide instruments, supplies, teachers, and a curriculum for children with special needs to ensure that every child has the opportunity to explore their own talent and interest in music and the arts. For more information, please visit: http://www.theinspirefoundationfl.org.
- South Dade Weed and Seed, Inc., Miami. This non-profit organization serves the community by providing educational and mentoring programs for the South Dade community. For more information, please visit: http://www.sdwsinc.org.
- P&P Helping Hand Foundation, Frostproof. This organization seeks to foster an environment where students entering or continuing college have a place to come for mentoring, guidance and financial assistance. Students will find a liaison to get through all the paperwork of undergraduate, graduate and professional studies. At-risk youth can enter and find a place of safety and the confidence needed to beat the odds. For more information, please visit: http://pphelpinghand.com.
- Revival Ministries International, Tampa. The ministry is conducting holiday outreach programs in Central Florida.