The Education Foundation of Collier County – Champions For Learning is thrilled to announce it has received a grant of $8,000 from the CLA Foundation. This grant is a testament to Champions For Learning’s outstanding work and will enable Champions For Learning to continue its mission of serving as a catalyst for educational success by investing in Collier’s students and educators.
“The CLA Foundation believes in the power of education, employment, and entrepreneurship to transform lives,” said Susan Carter, executive director of the CLA Foundation. “Our grants are designed to support organizations that embody these principles and strive to create lasting impacts within their communities. By funding initiatives that promote these three E’s, we’re helping to build a brighter future for all and further our commitment to be connected to the communities in which we live and work.”
The grant will be used to support Student Programs at Champions For Learning, including the Take Stock in Children, College and Career Preparation, and Entrepreneurship Programs. The Take Stock in Children Program is an academically focused mentoring program for high school students who come from households classified as low income, where volunteer mentors meet with students regularly during the school year to provide guidance, motivation, support, and role-modeling and help grow mentees’ life skills. The College and Career Preparation Program introduces 9th and 10th grade students to the various options that are available to them post-graduation, including technical career paths and a broad range of post-secondary education opportunities, and then incorporates more vigorous workshops and working lab sessions for 11th and 12th grade students to gain valuable experience in how to make informed life decisions regarding their educational and vocational pursuits. Champions For Learning supports Collier County Public School’s (CCPS) High School Entrepreneurship Program, which offers unique classes where students collaborate in teams to spark deeper learning, critical and creative thinking, and team and skill-building to develop a viable product or service. Champions For Learning recruits, trains, and retains volunteers, many of whom are either current or retired business professionals in the community, as mentors, coaches, and judges for the program.
“This grant makes a difference in the lives of students, both by supporting students who will be the first in their families to enroll in college and by supporting students in the Collier County Public Schools high school Entrepreneurship Program,” said Dr. Eric Williams, President and CEO of Champions For Learning. “We are so thankful to the CLA Foundation for investing in the educational success of our community.”
About CLA Foundation
The CLA Foundation is a private 501(c)(3) organization. This foundation supports a variety of initiatives aimed at improving education, employment, and entrepreneurship opportunities. The Foundation provides grants to support organizations as they advance their missions and make a tangible difference in their communities. The Foundation is exclusively funded by contributions from CLA family members and does not accept unsolicited grant proposals from external organizations.
For more information about the CLA Foundation, please visit Community Impact: CLA.