STATE OF FLORIDA

Office of the Governor

 

THE CAPITOL

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA 32399-0001

JEB

BUSH

     

  

GOVERNOR

     

 

 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

  

CONTACT:

ELIZABETH HIRST

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2002

(850) 488-5394

  

  

  

 

GOVERNOR BUSH AWARDS MENTORING GRANTS AND ANNOUNCES NEW

MENTOR OF EXCELLENCE AWARD

~~Carnival Cruise Lines Will Award Five Vacation Cruise Packages~~

 

TALLAHASSEE-

Governor Jeb Bush today awarded more than $900,000 in mentoring

grants to programs around the state. The funds will be used to create new mentoring programs

and assist in the continuation of already existing programs. The Governor made the

announcement today at Raa Middle School in Tallahassee, following his weekly mentoring hour

with his eighth-grade mentee.

  

“I am so pleased to be awarding these mentoring grants today to these worthy

organizations which are dedicated to helping Florida’s youth,” Governor Bush said. “Their

commitment to ensuring that every child has an opportunity to learn is highly commendable.”

 

The Governor’s Mentoring Initiative grants are designed to provide incentives to schools

and organizations to increase both the quality of mentoring programs and the number of mentors

in Florida’s public schools. Projects include:

School -Based Initiative -

21 school districts and nonprofit groups around the state will

receive grant funding of up to $5,000 per project to partner with schools to provide

mentoring services.

  

Preference was given to “D” or “F” schools and elementary school

applications that targeted third grade strategies for academic improvement.

Rural District Initiative-

Seven rural counties throughout the state will receive grant

funding of up to $20,000 for mentoring programs in their local districts. Funded districts

include Madison, Okeechobee, Glades, Gadsden CIS, Florida Read and Lead of Jackson

County, Florida Read and Lead in Calhoun and Florida Read and Lead in Holmes. This

initiative was designed to assist school districts with enrollment populations of less than

25,000 students. Preference was given to applications that addressed unmet needs at

schools with performance grades of “C”, “D” or “F”.

Chambers of Commerce Initiative-

Four Chambers of Commerce throughout the state

were awarded funding to partner with their member businesses and local schools to

implement mentoring programs in low performing schools. Funded chambers of

commerce include Jacksonville, Madison, Miami and Auburndale.

 

 

   

(more)

 

 

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MENTORING GRANTS/MENTOR OF EXCELLENCE AWARDS-

Page Two

 

Additionally, several leadership projects were funded including the Teen Trendsetter

Reading Mentor Program

 

to assist the 30 selected Teen Trendsetters throughout the state in

purchasing materials for their mentoring programs; the Florida Association for Partners in

Education, to conduct statewide training for volunteer coordinators in the five Florida regions;

Frontline Outreach, Incorporated to reach out to the faith-based community in an effort to recruit

mentors; and Florida State University to conduct a statewide evaluation of mentoring programs in

Florida.

 

Governor Bush also announced today the new Governor’s Mentoring Initiative “Mentor

of Excellence” awards which will be awarded to

 

a school-based mentor who has demonstrated

service above and beyond the norm within the protocol of their mentoring program. This may

include overcoming barriers to mentoring on behalf of themselves or their student, mentoring

multiple students, serving a program for an extended period of time or assisting a student in

making outstanding achievement in academics, attendance or behavior.

 

“Florida’s commitment to mentoring is clear. Over the last four years we have seen

tremendous involvement from government, community organizations and our partners in the

private sector,” said Governor Bush. “I truly believe the value of having a caring adult in the life

of a child cannot be understated. That is why our goal over the next four years remains the same -

to continue to encourage Floridians to serve as mentors.”

 

The Governor’s Mentoring Initiative has also partnered with Carnival Cruise Lines to

offer five vacation cruise packages to the recipients of the new Governor’s Mentoring Initiative

Award of Excellence. One Mentor of Excellence will be selected from each of the five regions in

the state of Florida. Winners will receive a three, four or five day cruise vacation for two onboard

a Carnival Cruise Line ship and stay in the presidential suite.

 

Nomination forms for the Governor’s Mentoring Initiative Award of Excellence may be

obtained by logging on to www.flamentoring.org <http://www.flamentoring.org> or by

contacting the Governor’s Mentoring Initiative office at (850) 410-0696. The deadline for all

nomination forms to be submitted is January 24, 2003, by no later than 5:00 p.m. (EST).

Nomination forms may be emailed to cristal.cole@myflorida.com

<mailto:cristal.cole@myflorida.com>, faxed to (850) 487-1866 or mailed to:

 

The Governor’s Mentoring Initiative

909 The Capitol

Tallahassee, FL 32399-0001

 

Governor Bush announced the Governor’s Mentoring Initiative in August 1999, in an

effort to help Florida’s students excel in school. The Governor’s initial goal was to recruit

200,000 Floridians across the state to become mentors to Florida’s youth. Last year, over

115,000 Floridians served as mentors in Florida’s schools.

  

For more information about the

Governor’s Mentoring Initiative or to sign up to become a mentor, visit the Governor’s

Mentoring Initiative website at www.flamentoring.org <http://www.flamentoring.org> or call 1-

800-825-3786.

 

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