BEE Learning Holds Breakfast and Impact Celebration
Bridges to Educational Excellence – BEE Learning Center – held its Breakfast and Impact Celebration on Thursday, August 27th at the center located at the Jaquelyn Paulk Campus, 2731 North Links Avenue. The event was an opportunity to celebrate those who helped bring this valuable educational resource back to the community.
Individuals and organizations who made an impact with the program were recognized during the breakfast. They included the Sarasota County Southside Rotary Club – Generosity in Action Award; Detweiler’s Farm Market – Force for Good Award; Jonnescia Ford – Employee of the Year; Shawn Bowman – Change Maker Award; Ellen M. Heath – Helping Hands Award; T.J. Broom, Everyday Hero Award; Sonya Bacon – Above and Beyond Award; and David Rubin – Champion of Giving Award.
“After more than 25 years of working with children, I still believe that every child deserves the opportunity to succeed academically,” said Jacquelyn Paulk, founder of BEE Learning Center. “Seeing so many people coming together in support of our students was very meaningful to me. Their generosity allows us to continue providing free academic support and encouragement to children who need it most,” she said. BEE grew out of the legacy of SOAR, a church-supported afterschool tutoring program. The program helps children build strong reading and math skills, working toward grade-level success by the fourth grade.
The fall after-school tutoring program has begun, serving students in kindergarten through third grade, Monday through Friday from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. Students receive help with reading, math, writing and homework, along with the individual attention they need to strengthen skills and make progress during the school year.
“The support we receive reminds us that this community understands the importance of helping children build strong reading and math skills early,” said Eula T. Bacon, the program’s Executive Founder.
“Our goal is to help students perform on grade level before fourth grade. The Breakfast & Impact Celebration showed what can happen when a community comes together around its children.”
