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Earn to Learn Florida (ETLF), a 501(c)3 nonprofit whose mission is to empower income-challenged students to complete college, announced that Pratima Persaud has been named Chief Advancement Officer (CAO).  The CAO is responsible for all development, marketing, community, and public relations for the organization.

Earn to Learn FL is a revolutionary “savings to financial assistance” program utilizing matched savings, personal finance training, and success coaching.  Earn to Learn FL’s goal is for students to graduate on time, student debt-free, and career-ready.  Seed funds from a federal grant launched Earn to Learn FL.  The initiative has grown from an initial $100,000 grant to more than $1 million invested in educational attainment for hard-working but income-challenged students.  ETLFL began its work in Southwest Florida but has already expanded to the Central West part of the state.  The organization is prepared to grow to a $2.3M budget in the next three years as it expands throughout Florida.

“Pratima’s record of creating and executing successful multi-million dollar fundraising campaigns proves that she has the experience and skills needed to hit the ground running,” said Brenda Tate, founder, and CEO of Earn to Learn FL.  “Pratima’s leadership will help us grow our team and reach our goal of assisting students statewide.”

“Earn to Learn FL’s  mission is inspirational and resonates with me,” said Persaud.  “One of my favorite quotes is by Benjamin Perks: ‘What if the cure for cancer is trapped inside the mind of someone who can’t afford an education?’ These income-challenged students have so much promise, and our work will ensure that they are able to reach their potential.”

Persaud is a seasoned fundraising professional with more than 15 years of experience.   She most recently worked with the American Diabetes Association as the Florida Market Director.  She provided strategic leadership, creating and executing fundraising strategies to raise revenue from corporations and major gifts donors.   Her experience also includes working in fundraising capacities at the American Heart Association and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

Persaud earned her Master of Science in Healthcare Administration with a minor in Strategic Leadership from Valparaiso University in Indiana.  She earned her Bachelor of Science in Business Management from The University of South Florida in Tampa.  She also received her certification in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Workplace from The University of Florida.

Earn to Learn FL empowers low-to-moderate income students in Florida to earn college degrees and professional certifications with little or no debt through matched savings, personalized financial capability training, and success coaching. In addition, eligible students who establish a habit of saving for higher education can receive matching funds for financial assistance provided by Earn to Learn FL supporters committed to enhancing workforce development and the economic well-being of Florida communities. For more information, please visit EarntoLearnFL.org or email Brenda Tate at Brenda@EarntoLearnFL.org.

About Earn to Learn FL

Earn to Learn FL (ETLFL), formed in 2011, is a 501(c)3 nonprofit whose mission is to empower income-challenged students to complete college.

ETLFL has developed based on three core tenets:

1. Matched Savings for Education: Students and their families who income-qualify can deposit up to $500 into an ETLFL savings account each year. Their savings are then matched 8:1 by ETLFL. This brings the combined available funds for financial assistance paid directly to an academic institution up to $4,500 per academic year. The funds are used for tuition, books, fees, and other approved educational-related expenses.
2. Near Peer Coaching for Postsecondary Success: ETLFL trains and deploys AmeriCorps members to coach income-challenged students in postsecondary access, personal finance training, and career planning. Coaches support student preparation and success strategies to pursue higher education successfully.
3. Personal Finance Training: ETLFL provides a dynamic online personal finance training program to produce measurable and meaningful outcomes for students and coaches.

Earn to Learn Florida (ETLF), a 501(c)3 nonprofit whose mission is to empower income-challenged students to complete college, announced that Ashley Gastel has been named Chief Program Officer.

Earn to Learn FL is a revolutionary “savings to financial assistance” program utilizing matched savings, personal finance training, and success coaching. Earn to Learn FL‘s goal is for students to graduate on time, student debt-free, and career-ready. Seed funds from a federal grant launched Earn to Learn FL. The initiative has grown from an initial $100,000 grant to more than $1 million invested in educational attainment for hard-working but income-challenged students. The organization is prepared to grow to a $2.3M budget in the next three years as it expands throughout Florida.

“ETLFL began in Southwest Florida. We have already expanded to the central west part of the state and have the framework to expand state-wide,” said Brenda Tate, founder, and CEO of Earn to Learn FL. “Ashley’s experience and enterprising spirit make her the perfect choice to expand our staff and programming.”

“I am excited to work building our capacity to improve student outcomes,” said Gastel. “Every student should have the opportunity to earn a postsecondary degree or credential regardless of the obstacles. I can’t wait to create partnerships and programming that meet our students where they are in their journey. We can change countless lives through education. My team and I will work to implement innovations that help students get on a path to a degree or certification and stay on that path until graduation.”

Gastel most recently worked as Associate Director of Take Stock in College, a nonprofit organization that assists students in Florida in preventing drop-out. Take Stock in College’s mission is to ensure low-income, first-generation, and underrepresented students attain a postsecondary degree or credential. Before working at Take Stock, she worked for the School District of Osceola County, creating the strategic plan to grow the county’s career dual enrollment programming at their technical college.

Gastel earned her Master of Education in Educational Leadership and Administration at The University of Central Florida, Orlando.   She earned her Bachelor of Arts in English with a minor in Education from Florida State University in Tallahassee.

Earn to Learn FL empowers low-to-moderate income students in Florida to earn college degrees and professional certifications with little or no debt through matched savings, personalized financial capability training, and success coaching. In addition, eligible students who establish a habit of saving for higher education can receive matching funds for financial assistance provided by Earn to Learn FL supporters committed to enhancing workforce development and the economic well-being of Florida communities. For more information, please visit EarntoLearnFL.org or email Brenda Tate at Brenda@EarntoLearnFL.org.

About Earn to Learn FL

Earn to Learn FL (ETLFL), formed in 2011, is a 501(c)3 nonprofit whose mission is to empower income-challenged students to complete college.

ETLFL has developed based on three core tenets:

1. Matched Savings for Education: Students and their families who income-qualify can deposit up to $500 into an ETLFL savings account each year. Their savings are then matched 8:1 by ETLFL. This brings the combined available funds for financial assistance paid directly to an academic institution up to $4,500 per academic year. The funds are used for tuition, books, fees, and other approved educational-related expenses.
2. Near Peer Coaching for Postsecondary Success: ETLFL trains and deploys AmeriCorps members to coach income-challenged students in postsecondary access, personal finance training, and career planning. Coaches support student preparation and success strategies to pursue higher education successfully.
3. Personal Finance Training: ETLFL provides a dynamic online personal finance training program to produce measurable and meaningful outcomes for students and coaches.

Partnership with FGCU Foundation and Florida Prepaid College Foundation to Celebrate FGCU’s 25 th Anniversary

Earn to Learn FL (ETLFL), a 501(c)3 nonprofit who envisions a world without barriers to higher education, announces partnership with Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) and Florida Prepaid College Foundation to celebrate FGCU’s 25 th Anniversary. The celebration will
culminate in $1,000,000 Earn to Learn FL Matched Savings for Education Scholarships for FGCU students.

In partnership with FGCU Foundation, ETLFL will raise the funds to purchase Florida Prepaid College Foundation one-year scholarships for FGCU students. In turn, Florida Prepaid College Foundation will match the generosity of Southwest Florida dollar for dollar to leverage the community’s investment of $500,000 into $1,000,000 for scholarships to be awarded to deserving students who will attend FGCU.  Angelo Serrano is an ETLFL scholarship recipient who will graduate from FGCU this spring. “ETLFL’s innovative approach ensures that students are financially prepared for college,” said Serrano. “I couldn’t have gotten through college without all of tools they provide.”

“Approximately 1.4 million of Florida’s working-age adults have earned some college credit but never completed with a credential, often incurred student loan debt, and remained unemployable,” said Brenda Tate, CEO of Earn to Learn FL. “We empower income challenged students in Florida to earn college degrees and professional certifications with little or no debt. We do this through matched savings scholarships, personal finance training, and peer coaching. It’s a formula for student success that works.”

“Florida Prepaid College Foundation offers opportunities to change the lives of deserving Florida students through scholarship programs,” said Cynthia F. O’Connell, Director of the Florida Prepaid College Foundation. “The majority of our programs double the value of scholarship funds by receiving a dollar-for-dollar match from the Foundation, allowing organizations like Earn to Learn FL to have a greater impact on the community.”
“Florida Gulf Coast University is pleased to partner with Earn to Learn FL on this important initiative.  Earn to Learn FL is committed to student success, and that is also one of the five pillars of FGCU’s strategic plan,” said Dr. Michael Martin, president of Florida Gulf Coast University.  “We have made significant strides over the past five years, and our partnership with Earn to Learn FL means more students will graduate with little or no debt and will enhance the workforce and economic well-being of our state.”

For more information, please visit EarntoLearnFL.org or email Brenda Tate at
Brenda@EarntoLearnFL.org.

About Earn to Learn FL
Earn to Learn FL (ETLFL), formed in 2011, is a 501(c)3 nonprofit whose mission is to empower income challenged students to successfully complete college.
ETLFL has developed based on three core tenets:
1. Matched Savings for Education: Students and their families who income-qualify are eligible to deposit up to $500 into an ETLFL savings account each year. Their savings are then matched 8:1 by ETLFL. This brings the combined available funds for financial assistance paid directly to an academic institution up to $4,500 per academic year. The funds are used for tuition, books, fees and other approved educational related expenses.
2. Near Peer Coaching for Postsecondary Success: ETLFL trains and deploys AmeriCorps members to coach income challenged students in the areas of postsecondary access, personal finance training, and career planning. Coaches support student preparation and success strategies to successfully pursue their higher education.
3. Personal Finance Training: ETLFL provides a dynamic online personal finance training program designed to produce measurable and meaningful outcomes for students and coaches.

Earn to Learn FL™ (ETLFL), a 501(c)3 nonprofit who envisions a world without barriers to higher education, announces that it has received Candid’s (formerly GuideStar) coveted Platinum Seal of Transparency.

Candid is the world’s largest source of nonprofit data and this designation demonstrates that ETLFL is an organization focused on measuring  progress and results in order to provide current and potential funders accurate and detailed information. The designation is only awarded to charities illustrating the highest level of responsible fiscal management and commitment to accountability and transparency.

“We are so proud to earn this recognition from Candid,” said Brenda Tate, CEO of Earn to Learn FL.  “Our team works tirelessly to maintain a transparent and efficient organization while ensuring the highest possible portion of our budget goes to empowering income-challenged students in Florida to earn college degrees and professional certifications with little or no debt. We do this through matched savings scholarships, personal finance training, and peer coaching. It’s a formula for student success that works.”

For more information about Earn to Learn FL, please visit EarntoLearnFL.org or email Brenda Tate at Brenda@EarntoLearnFL.org.

About Earn to Learn FL

Earn to Learn FL (ETLFL), formed in 2011, is a 501(c)3 nonprofit whose mission is to empower income challenged students to successfully complete college.

ETLFL has developed based on three core tenets:

1.       Matched Savings for Education: Students and their families who income-qualify are eligible to deposit up to $500 into an ETLFL savings account each year. Their savings are then matched 8:1 by ETLFL. This brings the combined available funds for financial assistance paid directly to an academic institution up to $4,500 per academic year. The funds are used for tuition, books, fees and other approved educational related expenses.

2.       Near Peer Coaching for Postsecondary Success: ETLFL trains and deploys AmeriCorps members to coach income challenged students in the areas of postsecondary access, personal finance training, and career planning. Coaches support student preparation and success strategies to successfully pursue their higher education.

3.       Personal Finance Training: ETLFL provides a dynamic online personal finance training program designed to produce measurable and meaningful outcomes for students and coaches.

Earn to Learn Florida (ETLF), a 501(c)3 nonprofit whose mission is to empower income-challenged students to complete college, announced that Cheyenne Ram has been named Near Peer Coach program coordinator for the Tampa Bay region.

“Near Peer Success coaches support students as they transition from high school to a postsecondary education institution,” said Brenda Tate, CEO of Earn to Learn FL.  “Members focus on advising students, especially those from low-income backgrounds, through the complex steps toward college enrollment, including the admission and financial aid processes.”

“Cheyenne’s personal experience with mentors who supported her to complete her college education make her the perfect choice for this position,” said Tate.  “Her communication skills, professionalism, and positivity will be tremendous assets as she finds, recruits, trains, and supports our peers and students.”

AmeriCorps funds the Near Peer program in partnership with Volunteer Florida.  The program targets economically disadvantaged students in Hillsborough, Pinellas, Sarasota, Lee, and Collier Counties, with plans to expand to other counties.  The Near Peer program helps students pursue their dream of completing a postsecondary education with little or no debt.  Not only do the students benefit, but the peers find themselves growing as they share what they have learned through their own experiences.  Each Near Peer Coach receives a stipend of $9,900, plus a $3,000 scholarship for their continued education upon completion of 12 months of service.  This year ETLF will deploy 72 Near Peer coaches.

Ram attended The Boys and Girls Club in Sarasota while attending high school.  “I am a first-generation college graduate, and The Boys and Girls Club provided me the mentorships and opportunities that made college a reality,” said Ram.  “I am grateful for the support and resources I received, and that inspired me to serve with Earn to Learn FL.”

Ram’s experience includes working as a program supervisor for The Crisis Center of Tampa Bay.  Her responsibilities included recruiting, interviewing, and selecting intervention specialists, providing training, coaching, and feedback, setting programmatic objectives, defining roles, and prioritizing tasks for direct reports.  She earned a Bachelor of Science in Social Work and a Master’s Degree in Social Work from The University of South Florida.  She served at her local Boys and Girls Club during the last semester of her master’s program.

Earn to Learn FL empowers low-to-moderate income students in Florida to earn college degrees and professional certifications with little or no debt through matched savings, personalized financial capability training, and success coaching.  In addition, eligible students who establish a habit of saving for higher education can receive matching funds for financial assistance provided by Earn to Learn FL supporters committed to enhancing workforce development and the economic well-being of Florida communities.  For more information, please visit EarntoLearnFL.org or email Brenda Tate at Brenda@EarntoLearnFL.org.