Rays, Education Foundation Pledge $1 Million in Scholarships

The Rays Baseball Foundation and Helios Education Foundation are partnering to provide $1 million in college scholarships for students participating in Take Stock in Children in Hillsborough, Pinellas, Sarasota, Manatee and Pasco counties.

According to a news release, called "Doubling Up for Education," the partnership is aimed at giving students the financial resources and mentoring support they need to be successful students at any Florida state college.

"The Rays are proud to join the Helios Education Foundation and Take Stock in Children in the creation of Doubling up for Education, said Tampa Bay Rays owner Stuart Sternberg, in a news release.

"The scholarships and mentoring support provided by this program will open new doors for students and families throughout Tampa Bay and provide long-lasting impacts within our community."

Each time a Rays player hits a double in a regular season game, Helios will donate $600 toward the initiative, and the Rays Baseball Foundation will match that gift. The partners expect a combined cash total of $200,000 each season toward college scholarships, bringing the total investment to $1 million over five years.

"We are in a race against the clock in education today," said Helios Education Foundation Chairman Vince Roig, in a news release. "We are living in a knowledge-based economy, and it's going to take all of us - parents, teachers, school systems, political leaders, businesses, everybody – staying engaged and investing in education, if we are to graduate our students college and career ready. We're excited to partner with the Rays Baseball Foundation and to support an organization like Take Stock in Children, which is committed to helping our students achieve postsecondary education success."

The Rays and Evan Longoria . For every home run Evan Longoria hits, the Rays third baseman will join Bright House Sports Network and the Rays to each donate $100.

Take Stock in Children provides a unique opportunity for low-income and at-risk students, many from minority families, to escape the cycle of poverty through education. The program offers students college scholarships, mentorship and hope for a better life. The program's comprehensive services start in middle school, continue through high school and include helping students transition to college, a news release said.

"On behalf of the five local programs that are receiving Take Stock in Children scholarships, I would like to sincerely thank the Rays Baseball Foundation and Helios Education Foundation for their generous support," said Terry Boehm, President, Pinellas Education Foundation in a news release. "It's because of partners like these that we are all able to support deserving students in Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas and Sarasota counties. Although each of our programs work within our own counties, we are all part of a bigger family - that being Take Stock in Children."