As the Super Bowl approaches, millions of fans prepare to witness the culmination of grit, determination, and teamwork. On that field, quarterbacks rely on coaches, linemen depend on their teammates, and every player leans on the strategies and encouragement of their mentors to achieve greatness.
At Take Stock in Children Palm Beach, we see the same principles play out—not in stadiums, but in classrooms, school courtyards, and online. Our mentors are the unseen champions, guiding students as they march down their own field toward the ultimate goal: a post-secondary credential and a brighter future.
The Game Plan
When a student joins our program, they’re often facing the toughest opponent life can throw at them—poverty. The odds are stacked. Statistically, only 29% of low-income students earn a bachelor’s degree within eight years of high school graduation. Yet with Take Stock in Children, those numbers tell a different story.
Take Stock in Children Palm Beach students have a 100% high school graduation rate, and over 74% earn a postsecondary credential—far exceeding national averages. This is possible because we’ve built a system with no drop-off in support from middle school through college.
Just like a coach sticks with their team from pre-season to the championship game, our mentors and staff ensure our students are never left on their own.
Mentors: The Playmakers
Imagine being a 13-year-old struggling to find hope for your future. Then, someone steps in—someone who shows up every week, asks about your goals, listens to your challenges, and helps you create a game plan for your life.
Take Jorge, for example, a former student in our program. Raised in a single-parent home, Jorge often felt invisible. His mentor, Brian, didn’t just show up—he taught him to believe in himself. He helped him apply to colleges, draft scholarship essays and, most importantly, stay focused when life got hard. Today, Jorge is an engineer and a mentor himself.
Mentors aren’t just cheerleaders—they’re strategists. They help students navigate challenges, celebrate small victories, and stay in the game when the going gets tough.
The Championship Mindset
At Take Stock in Children Palm Beach, we measure success differently. Success is a student who couch surfs at different homes now walking across a stage to receive their diploma. It’s a future police officer, teacher, or business leader who once felt like they didn’t belong.
And none of this happens without a team. Our program offers students scholarships, mentors, and a staff that walks alongside them for 8–10 years—longer than an NFL player’s career.
This unwavering commitment is what makes our program unique. From the moment a student enters our program in middle school to the day they walk across the stage with a college diploma, they have someone in their corner. We don’t leave them when the game gets hard; we rally, we push, and we keep fighting alongside them.
If you’d like to become a mentor or learn more about supporting Take Stock in Children Palm Beach, click here https://takestockpalmbeach.org/mentor-application/