MAYOR LAUNCHES CORPORATE PARTNERSHIP INITIATIVE WITH SCHOOLS
St. Petersburg, Fla. (Feb. 14, 2003) - As St. Petersburg Mayor
Rick Baker gathered city and school officials, students, teachers and
mentors for a Mayor's Mentors & More Celebration today at Bay Point
Middle School, he introduced corporate leaders who pledged their
corporate support to nine middle schools in St. Petersburg.
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Also at the celebration, local philanthropists John and Rosemary
Galbraith presented a check to Mayor Baker to fund 100 new Doorway
Scholarships for sixth grade students. A Doorways Scholarship, which is
the flagship program of the Pinellas County Education Foundation,
provides a full-tuition four-year college or post-secondary technical
school education, along with a closely-monitored guidance program to
help ensure the student successfully completes high school. Last year,
the Galbraiths pledged to sponsor 100 scholarships for each of the next
three years. Today's $168,892 check presentation was the second annual
donation. To thank the Galbraiths for their generous donation, the mayor
proclaimed Feb. 14 as John and Rosemary Galbraith Appreciation Day.
When Mayor Baker was elected nearly two years ago, the Baker
Plan committed support for St. Petersburg's public schools. Today's
announcement of corporate sponsors for St. Petersburg schools will
continue to advance the goals of the Mayor's Mentors & More initiative.
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St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Baker watches as Mike Galinski, CEO of A1 Teletronics' parent company, America II, and Lealman Intermediate School Principal Glenn Bailey pledge their commitment to the "Mayor's Mentors & More" Initiative.
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During the ceremony, corporate leaders joined school principals
and the mayor in signing a pledge certificate, committing to lend
resources, mentors and other support to nine St. Petersburg schools:
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Raytheon Vice President Barbara Johnson said her company
supports Azalea Middle School with 18 mentors and pledged assistance to
raise money to purchase computers and sponsor a special program for
students interested in engineering;
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Eckerd College President Donald Eastman vowed to continue
its support at Bay Point Middle School. Last year, the college provided
3,328 hours of service by students, faculty and staff doing one day
projects, tutoring and mentoring. This summer, it will provide
transportation for a special program for incoming sixth grade students;
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Michael Galinski, CEO of America II Corp., committed to
expand the mentoring program at Lealman Intermediate School, and donated
a check for $5,000 to upgrade computers at the school;
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Verizon Southeast Region President - Public Policy and
External Affairs Alan Ciamporcero will continue to provide mentors at
John Hopkins Middle School. Last year, singer Al Jarreau, Verizon's
National Literacy Champion, presented a $10,000 grant from Tampa Bay
Reads to equip the school's media center with computers and reading
software;
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At Meadlowlawn Middle School, Peter Jones, President of
Franklin Templeton Investments, will continue to provide more than 55
mentors and has contributed amenities to the new school. Franklin
Templeton has been a long time contributor to the Pinellas County
Education Foundation. The company also partners with Raymond James and
Associates, Inc. by providing financial services programs at the Stavros
Institute's Finance Park;
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Catalina Marketing Corporation's Executive Director of
Community Relations Bill Protz supports Riviera Middle School. Fifteen
percent of the company's employees currently mentor or tutor. The
company has donated computers, participated with clean-up and
landscaping projects, and renovated the teacher's lounge. Some of these
projects have been team building experiences for company employees;
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Mercantile Bank's Market President Robert Blakley committed
to developing a meaningful partnership with Southside Fundamental. A
mentor himself, Mr. Blakley will use his personal experiences as a
mentor in developing a volunteer coordinator position and encourage
company-wide support for the Doorwa
ys Scholarship Program;
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When the new Thurgood Marshall Middle School opens in
August, it will enjoy a strong partnership with TV shopping network HSN.
Bob Rosenblatt, president of HSN U.S., has committed a variety of unique
employee resources, from Web site and logo development to classroom set
up to lunch time mentoring; and
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Progress Energy Vice President (Coastal Region) Michael
Lewis committed to its partners with Tyrone Middle School. Progress
Energy has a long history of supporting the Pinellas County Education
Foundation and sponsoring Enterprise Village and Finance Park.
Each corporate partner received a letter of thanks from Governor
Jeb Bush, who said, "by joining with local governments and corporate
partners . . . we are working together to reform our education system
and have a positive impact on the future of our youth."
"The partnerships announced today mark the beginning of a new
spirit of caring, commitment and achievement for education in St.
Petersburg. I look forward to sharing the future positive results of
these partnership with you next year at this annual celebration."
Click here for the "Mayor's Mentors & More" page of the City of St. Petersburg website
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