Take Stock in Children of Manatee County celebrates success at annual prayer breakfast

BRADENTON -- When he was younger, Caleb Francois said learned five basic steps for him to become a lawyer.

Do well in school, go to college, get accepted into a good law program, pass the bar and practice law.

That's all well and fine, but Caleb knew there was a hurdle he wouldn't be able to cross alone.

"College tuition," he said to 350 people gathered Thursday at Renaissance on 9th for the ninth annual Take Stock in Children of Manatee County prayer breakfast.

As a Take Stock in Children scholarship winner, the tuition burden was lifted for Caleb and his family, to pursue his dream once he graduates from Southeast High School this spring. He's leaning toward attending the University of Florida, but he's still waiting on acceptance letters.

Caleb is just one Take Stock in Children success story. The nonprofit provides scholarships and mentors to students who have the grades to attend college but may not have the financial means or resources.

Students can join Take Stock as early as sixth grade. They sign a contract, promising to keep their grades

up and to stay away from drugs, alcohol and crime. In return, students are paired with a mentor they meet with weekly to help guide them through high school and college admissions. They are also awarded a scholarship when they complete the program.

The program has a 96 percent success rate, said Executive Director Diana Dill.

Every dollar raised for Take Stock is matched by the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship program.

The Bradenton Kiwanis Club promised to match any donations made at the breakfast, which would ultimately end up quadrupling a donor's contribution.

One of the first times he met Caleb, in 2012, retired Dr. Bob Enberg, a new Take Stock mentor, said he was taken aback by Caleb's drive. Caleb told him he wanted to sit on the Supreme Court.

"We have developed a friendship, one that I hope is lifelong," Enberg said.

Attendees also heard from Kenneth Feld, chairman and chief executive officer at Feld Entertainment. The company, which moved its headquarters to Ellenton in 2013, boasts events such as Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, Monster Jam, Disney on Ice and Marvel Universe Live.

Feld spoke about one of the big mentors in his life, his father.

"The biggest lessons I took away from him were listen and learn," Feld said.

Feld spoke about the importance of education and health. He showed attendees a short video about research Feld is helping conduct looking at the genetic makeup of elephants to discover why pachyderms don't get cancer. Officials are hoping for breakthroughs in research to help prevent children and adults from battling cancer. Thursday was World Cancer Day.

"Without good health to pursue that education and those dreams, life for children becomes even more difficult," he said. "We came here as a community to make a difference in the lives of the next generation of students, of our neighbors, of our future colleagues, and of our future innovators and leaders. Because we all know breakthroughs in science, medicine, the arts and every human endeavor come from the seeds that are planted and nurtured in the minds of our children in the classroom today."

Meghin Delaney, education reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7081. Follow her on Twitter @MeghinDelaney.

This story was originally published February 4, 2016 at 11:35 PM with the headline "Take Stock in Children of Manatee County celebrates success at annual prayer breakfast ."