Governor Crist Proclaims November Communities In Schools Awareness Month as CIS Celebrates 25th Anniversary

Governor Charlie Crist has issued a Proclamation Declaring November as Communities In Schools Awareness Month. "Whereas reducing the trend of school dropouts requires increased awareness... and Whereas Communities In Schools is committed to providing every child with a caring adult, a safe place to learn and grow, a healthy start and a healthy future, a marketable skill to use upon graduation, and an opportunity to contribute to their peers and community..." (Click here to view full Proclamation). Thank you, Governor Crist for your support of the work Communities In Schools has done for Florida's children for the past 25 years.

In 1984, Communities In Schools (CIS) began in Florida in Palm Beach County with one program serving 75 students at Twin Lakes High School. In 1989, the state office was started with a grant from the Bell South Foundation. With that humble beginning–one school in one county–CIS grew to serve hundreds of thousands of students over the course of the past 25 years.

Today, as we celebrate 25 years of serving Florida's children and reflect on our history, we are profoundly aware that we have been truly blessed to have had a positive impact on the lives of the countless students who came to CIS. Our work could not have been accomplished without our dedicated Boards of Directors, our corporate partners, and our volunteers. We would also like to thank the superintendents, principals, teachers, Affiliate Executive Directors and site personnel who support us in the critically important work of helping children improve their academic achievement, stay in school, graduate and prepare for life. We send our sincere appreciation for the impact you have made on Florida's children through your work with students and your support of Communities In Schools.

On this 25th Anniversary, we are looking not only at the past, but to the future. We have a Vision for a Dropout Free Florida and we hope that we can continue to count on you with the increased needs our children are experiencing in these challenging times. For the children, we must continue to give our best efforts. We share every victory won in every child's life with you. You have our most sincere appreciation for all you have given and for all you have done and are doing to support Communities In Schools and our work with Florida's children.