Help Manatee County's Take Stock in Children gain scholarship money

With the support of our community, Take Stock in Children awards scholarships to deserving students in Manatee middle and high schools. Our schools are going for the gold to earn a scholarship for a student from their school.

On Sunday, March 6, many students, parents, community members, and educators will be at Lakewood Ranch Main Street for the seventh annual 10k/5k/Fun Run. Each school signing up 300 actual or virtual runners will earn a scholarship for one of their own.

You, too, can contribute by signing up to run or by registering as a virtual runner on our website. Virtual runners will count toward your chosen school's total, and you don't even need to break a sweat.

Every person reading this connects with one of our schools in some way. You have a child, a neighbor's child, a grandchild, a niece or nephew, a school team or group you support or heard about or you drive by a school during your day.

Scholarships awarded are dependent only on the amount of money Take Stock can raise, and funds stay in our community. To qualify, applications are reviewed by at least three people from the community using a rubric, the top 50 are interviewed and the students are selected.

Each scholar signs a contract to remain drug free, be on his/her best behavior, maintain at least a 2.5 GPA and meet with a mentor once a week. The mentoring makes our 96 percent high school graduation rate possible. Consider mentoring.

Our community benefits from the scholarships, mentors and hope offered by Take Stock in Children Manatee -- a proven life-changing program.

The race is March 6! Visit takestock10k.com

As you register, the last question is to select a school. Manatee students will be glad you did and so will you.

Elaine Graham

Bradenton

This story was originally published March 2, 2016 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Help Manatee County's Take Stock in Children gain scholarship money ."