Released on = April 10, 2007, 6:23 am

Press Release Author = Take Stock in Children

Industry = Education

Press Release Summary = Governor Charlie Crist and state lawmakers joined more than
1,000 Take Stock in Children students, mentors, and sponsors at a celebration to
honor mentoring.

Held annually, Take Stock in Children's Rally in Tally recognizes its mentors and
demonstrates the impact of its scholarship and mentoring program to lawmakers in
Tallahassee. Students and mentors statewide travel to Tallahassee each year to meet
their local legislators and show their support for the organization that is changing
the lives of low-income children and working to break the cycle of academic failure
and poverty.


Press Release Body = Governor Charlie Crist and state lawmakers joined more than
1,000 Take Stock in Children students, mentors, and sponsors at a celebration to
honor mentoring.

Held annually, Take Stock in Children's Rally in Tally recognizes its mentors and
demonstrates the impact of its scholarship and mentoring program to lawmakers in
Tallahassee. Students and mentors statewide travel to Tallahassee each year to meet
their local legislators and show their support for the organization that is changing
the lives of low-income children and working to break the cycle of academic failure
and poverty.

Governor Crist recognized the more than 700 children in attendance for their
commitment and dedication to their education and honored the mentors for the
investment of time they make to help Florida's children grow into productive
citizens. The Governor presented the Champion of Children award to Starbucks Coffee
in recognition of their 2006 Holiday School Supply Drive. More than 40,000 supplies
were collected for Take Stock in Children students statewide.

Governor Crist presented AutoNation, Inc. with the Corporate Citizen Award. Mike
Maroone, CEO of AutoNation, accepted the award and said, "Take Stock in Children is
a leader in the efforts to provide Florida's most deserving children with the
opportunity to succeed in life beyond the circumstances they are born into." He
continued, "It is an honor to be a part of this life-changing program."

Other speakers included; Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink, Commissioner of
Education Jeanine Blomberg, and Speaker Designate Ray Sansom.

The Florida Lottery, a statewide sponsor of Take Stock in Children for ten years,
sponsors the Take Stock in Children Rally in Tally. The Florida Mentoring
Partnership has recognized the Florida Lottery for achieving outstanding
participation and leadership for mentoring. In addition to providing funding to
raise awareness of the statewide need for mentoring, the Lottery supports and
encourages its employees to give their time to assist children in learning.

Outback Steakhouse, a founding sponsor of Take Stock in Children, provided lunch for
the crowd of more than 1,000 people in record time. Paul Avery, President of
Outback Steakhouse, served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Take Stock in
Children for over two years.

Founded in 1995 in response to the need for a scholarship program that provided more
than just financial assistance to recipients, Take Stock in Children is an
award-winning program that provides scholarships, mentors, and hope for a better
future to Florida's most deserving children. A public-private partnership, this
school-based mentoring organization has positively affected the lives of more than
12,000 children. Scholarships are purchased through the Florida Prepaid College
Foundation, which provides matching funds to double the impact of scholarship
donations to Take Stock in Children. Take Stock in Children is the only statewide
scholarship program in Florida to provide trained, dedicated mentors representing
every segment of society who mentor their students weekly
from middle school through high school graduation. To learn more, visit
www.takestockinchildren.com.


Web Site = http://www.takestockinchildren.com

Contact Details = Take Stock in Children
1-888-322-HOPE