Teen Trendsetters Program Grants

Teen Trendsetters Program Grants

Status: Active program with ongoing grants and support

Geographic Scope: United States (particularly strong in Florida, Texas, and other states)

Focus Areas:

Reading mentoring programs

Pairing teen mentors with elementary students (grades 1-3)

Supporting students reading 6+ months behind grade level

Building home libraries for participating students

Developing teen leadership and volunteer skills

Program Description:
Teen Trendsetters pairs high school volunteers with struggling readers in early elementary grades (1st, 2nd, 3rd) who are reading approximately six months or more behind grade level. Mentors receive training and meet regularly with mentees for one-on-one sessions using specialized curriculum.

Program Structure:

One-on-one reading mentoring

Regular meetings between teen mentors and elementary students

Curriculum designed to improve children's reading skills

Home library component: 18 books provided to each mentee

Parent involvement contracts requiring reinforcement at home

Teen leadership and volunteer hour tracking

Program Results (2017-2018):

Reading skills increased 1.14 grade levels in seven months

39% more growth than expected for average student

Teen mentors: 44% reported improved own reading skills

Teen mentors reported improved leadership, communication, teamwork skills

96% teen mentor graduation rate

80%+ of teen seniors anticipated college attendance

ROI (Return on Investment):

Total economic/fiscal benefits for one year: $90,572,948

For every $1 invested in Teen Trendsetters, taxpayers see $7.83 ROI in avoided social program costs

Program Reach (Since 2002):

70+ programs in Florida

22 programs in Polk and Miami-Dade counties (funded by State Farm grant)

24 programs across Texas

Over 48,000 students served

Over 500,000 volunteer/contact hours

Over 365,000 books distributed to at-home libraries

Recent Funding Examples:

State Farm Good Neighbor Citizenship Grant (2019): Supported 22 programs in Polk and Miami-Dade counties

State Farm total support since 2004: Nearly $950,000

Eligibility:

High school students willing to volunteer

Elementary students (1st-3rd grade) reading 6+ months behind

Schools and districts with literacy challenges

Community-based organizations

Contact:

Lauren Sproull, Vice President of Communications: 850.562.5300 or Lauren.Sproull@barbarabush.org

Address: P.O. Box 14141, College Station, TX 77841-4141

Phone: (979) 862-2251

Email: bush.foundation@bush41.org