Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits (Southern Glazer’s) said it committed $150 million to Florida’s Step Up For Students Scholarship Program for the 2017-18 school year, once again topping its own historical donations of the past few years.
This year’s Southern Glazer’s contribution will fund more than 21,000 scholarships in the 2017-18 school year. Last year, Southern Glazer’s donated $125 million, providing more than 20,000 scholarships.
This is Southern Glazer’s eighth consecutive year of participating in the Step Up program, bringing the company’s total to an astounding $465 million since 2010.
Students from Monsignor Edward Pace High School participated in a celebration of the 20,000 scholarships. The event was held at Florida International University’s Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management. Of the 835 students at Pace High School, 376 benefit from the scholarship program.
The students helped prepare a four-course celebratory meal, giving them a hands-on experience in the FIU’s state-of-the-art Wine Spectator Restaurant Management Laboratory. Following the presentation, students toured the FIU campus to learn about future career opportunities in the field of hospitality.
“At Southern Glazer’s, we recognize the importance of a quality education and know that not all families have the same opportunities to provide the best learning environment for their children. We are honored to provide thousands of deserving Florida children with scholarships through our relationship with Step Up For Students,” said Wayne Chaplin, ceo. “We’ll continue to be a leader in our community and to open the doors of possibilities for families.”
“Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits continues to raise the bar in their commitment to our Florida communities, and particularly to Florida school children through their incredible contribution to the Step Up scholarship program. Through providing educational opportunities for lower-income families, they are making a difference throughout the state of Florida,” said Doug Tuthill, president of Step Up For Students. “On behalf of Step Up, and all the families benefiting from this extreme generosity, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts.”