Causes: Children & Youth, Children & Youth Services, Education, Educational Services

Mission: The mission of Roots and Wings is to improve the quality of education in our extended south Florida community by supporting students who most need help in learning to read and providing encouragement for the teachers who are working hard every day to influence and inspire children to learn.

Programs: Currently we are engaged in two primary activities: The Above and Beyond Awards; and Project Uplift. The Above and Beyond Awards honor teachers and staff in public primary and secondary education. Principals and panels at the involved schools choose the winners. Roots and Wings provides a financial reward as well as gifts provided by the community. We present these awards either in front of the teacher’s students or in front of the faculty during faculty meetings. Members of the community are always encouraged to attend and support. Project Uplift focuses on improving reading and reading comprehension skills. We currently financially underwrite an after-school program at eight elementary schools in south Palm Beach County helping second and third graders with their reading skills in preparation for the FSA test that is administered at the end of the third grade. We also offer financial help at many other public elementary schools. We have provided the funds to purchase both LLI and Guided Reading kits. We also have initiated our “Inspiration” project which brings important members of the community to speak to students on relevant subjects to them. Our first speaker was Jackson Destine, winner of Wendy’s High School Athlete of the Year Award and Delray Beach native, who spoke to elementary and middle school students about the importance of believing in themselves and understanding that the road to success requires hard work and determination.