MAYOR LAUNCHES CORPORATE PARTNERSHIP INITIATIVE WITH SCHOOLS

St. Petersburg, Fla. (Feb. 14, 2003) - As St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Baker gathered city and school officials, students, teachers and mentors for a Mayor's Mentors & More Celebration today at Bay Point Middle School, he introduced corporate leaders who pledged their corporate support to nine middle schools in St. Petersburg.

Also at the celebration, local philanthropists John and Rosemary Galbraith presented a check to Mayor Baker to fund 100 new Doorway Scholarships for sixth grade students. A Doorways Scholarship, which is the flagship program of the Pinellas County Education Foundation, provides a full-tuition four-year college or post-secondary technical school education, along with a closely-monitored guidance program to help ensure the student successfully completes high school. Last year, the Galbraiths pledged to sponsor 100 scholarships for each of the next three years. Today's $168,892 check presentation was the second annual donation. To thank the Galbraiths for their generous donation, the mayor proclaimed Feb. 14 as John and Rosemary Galbraith Appreciation Day. When Mayor Baker was elected nearly two years ago, the Baker Plan committed support for St. Petersburg's public schools. Today's announcement of corporate sponsors for St. Petersburg schools will continue to advance the goals of the Mayor's Mentors & More initiative. During the ceremony, corporate leaders joined school principals and the mayor in signing a pledge certificate, committing to lend resources, mentors and other support to nine St. Petersburg schools:

St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Baker watches as America II CEO Mike Galinski and Lealman Intermediate School Principal Glenn Bailey pledge their commitment to the "Mayor's Mentors & More" Initiative.

• Raytheon Vice President Barbara Johnson said her company supports Azalea Middle School with 18 mentors and pledged assistance to raise money to purchase computers and sponsor a special program for students interested in engineering;
• Eckerd College President Donald Eastman vowed to continue its support at Bay Point Middle School. Last year, the college provided 3,328 hours of service by students, faculty and staff doing one day projects, tutoring and mentoring. This summer, it will provide transportation for a special program for incoming sixth grade students;
• Michael Galinski, CEO of America II Corp., committed to expand the mentoring program at Lealman Intermediate School, and donated a check for $5,000 to upgrade computers at the school;
• Verizon Southeast Region President - Public Policy and External Affairs Alan Ciamporcero will continue to provide mentors at John Hopkins Middle School. Last year, singer Al Jarreau, Verizon's National Literacy Champion, presented a $10,000 grant from Tampa Bay Reads to equip the school's media center with computers and reading software;
• At Meadlowlawn Middle School, Peter Jones, President of Franklin Templeton Investments, will continue to provide more than 55 mentors and has contributed amenities to the new school. Franklin Templeton has been a long time contributor to the Pinellas County Education Foundation. The company also partners with Raymond James and Associates, Inc. by providing financial services programs at the Stavros Institute's Finance Park;
• Catalina Marketing Corporation's Executive Director of Community Relations Bill Protz supports Riviera Middle School. Fifteen percent of the company's employees currently mentor or tutor. The company has donated computers, participated with clean-up and landscaping projects, and renovated the teacher's lounge. Some of these projects have been team building experiences for company employees;
• Mercantile Bank's Market President Robert Blakley committed to developing a meaningful partnership with Southside Fundamental. A mentor himself, Mr. Blakley will use his personal experiences as a mentor in developing a volunteer coordinator position and encourage company-wide support for the Doorwa ys Scholarship Program;
• When the new Thurgood Marshall Middle School opens in August, it will enjoy a strong partnership with TV shopping network HSN. Bob Rosenblatt, president of HSN U.S., has committed a variety of unique employee resources, from Web site and logo development to classroom set up to lunch time mentoring; and
• Progress Energy Vice President (Coastal Region) Michael Lewis committed to its partners with Tyrone Middle School. Progress Energy has a long history of supporting the Pinellas County Education Foundation and sponsoring Enterprise Village and Finance Park.

Each corporate partner received a letter of thanks from Governor Jeb Bush, who said, "by joining with local governments and corporate partners . . . we are working together to reform our education system and have a positive impact on the future of our youth."

"The partnerships announced today mark the beginning of a new spirit of caring, commitment and achievement for education in St. Petersburg. I look forward to sharing the future positive results of these partnership with you next year at this annual celebration."

Click here for the "Mayor's Mentors & More" page of the City of St. Petersburg website