Roots and Wings, a non-profit organization located in Delray Beach, was launched in 2016. Its mission 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 to the teachers who are working hard every day to influence and inspire children to learn. Our two programs are Project UpLift and The Above and Beyond Teacher and Staff Awards.
Project UpLift is our free, intensive, small group, after-school tutoring program, primarily targeted to struggling 2nd and 3rd grade readers attending Title One elementary schools in Boca Raton, Delray Beach and Boynton Beach. Students with similar reading challenges are grouped in small groups of 10 or less and is taught by certified teachers from the students’ home school. This fall the program will serve at least 540 students in 8 schools who are reading one or two grades below their grade level.
2021 statistics reveal that only 54% of third grade students attending Palm Beach County public schools passed the Florida Standards Assessment in Reading. Literacy is the key that opens the door to academic success. Project UpLift has a proven track record of improving the learning trajectory of struggling readers, strengthening their path to reading proficiency and their potential to achieve that success.
The Above and Beyond Teacher and Staff Awards offer celebratory recognition of the dedication and sacrifice of our public school educators and staff.. Teachers and staff are nominated by their peers and chosen by the principal and their administrative team. Fourteen winners from each school are chosen every academic year. The program is currently in 18 public schools in our three communities. Since its inception over 1,250 winners have been honored. Each winning teacher receives a “Dedicated Educator” canvas tote bag containing a framed Award certificate, $100 in cash and over $1200 in gift cards and certificates from area merchants.
Roots and Wings is a section 501(c)(3) charitable organization under the Internal Revenue Code. It is registered with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services under registration #CH54161.