Pace Rotary supports 3 organizations

Charlin Knight and Celene Sessions, from Pace High School's Young Entrepreneur Academy, flank Diane Masaitis of Pace Rotary. [Special to the Press Gazette]

PACE — The Pace Rotary Club welcomed representatives from several community organizations at its latest meeting.

KeithAnn Campbell, from Santa Rosa Kids House, said the organization provides therapy to help children and their families recover from child abuse. In addition to providing a safe environment for recovery, Kids House conducts outreach programs that raise awareness about the impact of child abuse and intervention programs that ensure the child’s best interests are always foremost.

Angie Brown, from Take Stock in Children, said the organization encourages low-income students to escape poverty through education. Participants are recruited in middle school; mentors monitor them throughout high school and college. The multi-year program, which emphasizes student responsibility and accountability, requires that they abstain from alcohol and drugs. Program graduates are guaranteed a college scholarship through the Florida Prepaid College Savings Plan. Upon entering college, each successful candidate receives a laptop computer. 

Celene Sessions and Charlin Knight, from Pace High School’s Young Entrepreneur Academy (YEA!) program spoke about the yearlong elective that allows students to brainstorm, pitch ideas to real investors, obtain funding, file paperwork and actually launch a business or social movement. 

Rotary members presented $1,000 to Santa Rosa Kids House; $1,000 to the Santa Rosa Education Foundation/Take Stock in Children; $750 to the Santa Rosa Education Foundation/Take Stock in Children computer fund; and $500 for YEA!’s efforts to create young business leaders. 

WHAT: Pace Rotary meetings

WHEN: 7 a.m. Thursdays

WHERE: Stonebrook Golf Club, 3200 Cobblestone Drive, Pace.

WANT TO GO?

This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Pace Rotary supports 3 organizations