The Monroe County Education Foundation (MCEF) has added Holly Raschein, former Florida state representative for the Florida Keys, to its board of directors. “We are very excited to welcome Holly to our foundation board,” said board president Bryan Green. During her eight-year tenure in the State House, Raschein served on and led several key committees. She also ardently supported education and the Florida non-profit education foundations that support teachers, students, and provide programs such as Take Stock in Children.
With a son in the Monroe County public school system, Raschein is “continually impressed by the professionalism, dedication, and passion of our amazing teachers and administrators. And I am thrilled to join the MCEF board and offer my support of the foundation’s mission and its flagship program, Take Stock in Children.”
Raschein has a bachelor’s degree from Florida State University and a master’s degree from Florida International University. After Hurricane Irma, Raschein served as project coordinator for both Mariners Hospital and Fishermen’s Community Hospital where she helped lead the coordination of a custom-made modular hospital. She also assisted with the building of the new, state-of-the-art hospital facility in Marathon that will provide life-saving healthcare services to the Middle and Lower Keys.
Take Stock in Children is a mentoring program in Monroe County that provides scholarship opportunities to eligible middle and high school students, is the flagship program of the foundation. “For 20 years, Take Stock in Children has changed lives in Monroe County with weekly mentoring, college and career readiness initiatives, and pathways to post-secondary degrees or industry certifications,” said Chuck Licis-Masson, MCEF executive director and Take Stock program coordinator.
Established in 1996, the foundation is a Florida not-for-profit organization dedicated to enhancing and improving the educational experiences of students within Monroe County. The foundation also provides leadership development opportunities and international travel experiences for qualified Monroe County students. Nearly 800 students from Monroe County have received Take Stock scholarships since the program was established. Over 90% of TSIC Monroe graduates earn a college degree or career certificate, which is four times the national
