The Education Foundation of Sarasota County recently received a $15,000 grant from Bank of America to help fund programs that provide Sarasota County students with greater access to individualized resources and opportunities that help them prepare a plan for their lives after high school. The Education Foundation’s Student Success Program vision is to provide all students with the expert college and career advising, mentoring, and access to building relationships that will help them identify and successfully pursue education, career, and life goals after high school.

Jennifer Vigne, Education Foundation president and CEO, noted that the 1:378 ratio of school counselors to high school students in district schools makes it challenging for students, especially underserved students, to access the individualized advising that is vital in helping young people formulate life plans.

“Our aim is to expand our active outreach of low-income, minority, and first-generation college students in order to create life-changing educational opportunities and connections that will help bridge the gap and equip more students with the tools and resources they need to succeed. Bank of America’s grant will help us directly address this challenge in numerous ways, chiefly in helping us focus on the unique needs of underserved youth and provide direct support to help them develop a plan and access community relationships and resources that make a difference,” Vigne said.

The expanded initiative will be based at LaunchPad4U, the foundation’s innovative community resource site that also offers college-career advising, mentoring for at-risk students, and other focused student support services.