FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 1, 2025
LARGO, FLA – Pinellas Education Foundation is proud to announce that it has been awarded a $10,000 grant from the Community Foundation of Sarasota County to support post-secondary education opportunities for Pinellas County high school seniors. This generous funding will provide five deserving students with a $2,000 scholarship, helping them take the next step in their academic and career journeys.
Access to scholarships and financial aid is a critical factor in ensuring that students can pursue higher education and reach their full potential. Scholarships help bridge financial gaps, making college and career training programs more accessible and reducing financial barriers that often prevent students from furthering their education.
“Financial barriers remain one of the biggest obstacles preventing students from pursuing higher education after high school. Scholarships can truly be life-changing, providing access to opportunities that may have once seemed out of reach,” said Kim Jowell, Chief Executive Officer of Pinellas Education Foundation. “We are grateful to the Community Foundation of Sarasota for their generous support in ensuring deserving students have the financial resources needed to achieve their educational and career aspirations.”
Pinellas Education Foundation and the Community Foundation of Sarasota share a commitment to fostering student success and supporting young people as they prepare for their futures. Through partnerships like this, students have the resources necessary to achieve academic excellence and career readiness.
About the Community Foundation of Sarasota County:
The Community Foundation of Sarasota County is a public charity founded in 1979 by the Southwest Florida Estate Planning Council as a resource for caring individuals and the causes they support, enabling them to make a charitable impact on the community. With assets of $544 million in more than 1,590 charitable funds, the Community Foundation awarded grants and scholarships totaling $56 million dollars last year in the areas of education, the arts, health and human services, civic engagement, animal welfare and the environment. Since its founding, the Community Foundation has been able to grant more than $500 million to area nonprofit organizations in our community thanks to the generosity of charitable individuals, families, and businesses. For more information, visit www.CFSarasota.org or call (941) 955-3000.
About Pinellas Education Foundation:
Established in 1986, Pinellas Education Foundation is a nationally recognized, dynamic nonprofit organization committed to transforming students’ lives, empowering them to achieve their full potential, and providing teachers with the resources they need to excel in the classroom. Through innovative initiatives, a strategic partnership with Pinellas County Schools, and collaboration with community partners, we work tirelessly to accelerate educational achievement for all students. With a comprehensive approach to education, our programs cover the bookends of learning, beginning with an emphasis on literacy all the way through college and career readiness. Improving outcomes, especially for students with the greatest achievement gaps, is pivotal to our work. Our commitment to quality education spans the entire spectrum, and we are constantly evolving to address the ever-changing needs of students and teachers. To learn more, visit pinellaseducation.org.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Kate Smith
Chief Communications Officer
Pinellas Education Foundation
Office: 727-588-4816, Ext. 2128
