Rep Jamie Grant of Tampa |
Florida
Representative Jamie Grant visited Republic National Distributing Company's
Tampa office this morning to personally thank company representatives for
providing $15 million worth of scholarships for low-income Florida students.
"The
significance and lasting impact of this contribution cannot be
overstated," said Rep. Grant. "By supporting the Step Up For Students
Scholarship Program, Republic National is investing in the future of our
children and our community by providing educational opportunities for Florida's
lower-income K-12 students."
Representatives
from Step Up For Students, a Tampa-based nonprofit that administers the Florida
Tax Credit Scholarship Program, joined Grant in thanking Republic National
Distributing Company (RNDC) executives for the contribution, which will fund
more than 2,750 full scholarships.
Step
Up For Students is funded by corporate donors, like RNDC, that receive a
dollar-for-dollar tax credit for their contributions to the program. The
program provides scholarships to qualified low-income families throughout
Florida, allowing recipients to choose between a scholarship to help with
private school tuition and fees, or a transportation scholarship to attend an
out-of-district public school.
Ron
Barcena, executive vice president of RNDC Florida, presented Step Up For
Students President Doug Tuthill with an oversized check representing the
company's $15 million pledge for the 2014-15 school year.
"RNDC
is thrilled to support a program that so positively affects the lives of
Florida children," said Barcena. "We know that a quality education is
the cornerstone for a successful future, and we couldn't be more pleased to
help provide a great foundation for so many students in need."
RNDC
joined Step Up For Students as a corporate partner in 2012 and has since
contributed a total of $45 million.
I find it to be a wonderful thing to see RDNC stepping up to the plate to help further the minds of young people that may not have had the chance to further their educations otherwise. I'm proud of them and I hope others in the spirits industry can follow suit and help as well. ;o)