As a leader on and off the court, Shane Battier firmly believes that the future of our youth rests in higher education.
The Battier Take Charge Foundation, established by Shane and his wife Heidi, is dedicated to providing resources for the development and education of underserved youth and teens.
With initial focus in Miami, Houston and Detroit, the Battiers’ charge is to encourage and inspire a new generation of potential leaders through educational opportunities and the cultivation of effective leadership skills.
The Battier Take Charge Scholarship Program awards four-year $20,000 college scholarships to deserving young leaders from the greater Miami, Houston and Detroit areas. In partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Miami, KIPP Academy in Houston and Horizons-Upward Bound in Heidi and Shane’s home state of Michigan, Shane and Heidi provide at-risk students an opportunity to improve and impact their destiny through the power of a secondary education.
Our GUIDE Program informs high school students about educational opportunities, and gives them the tools and support they need to excel through high school and into college. Upon completion of our program, every GUIDE scholar earns a Florida Prepaid College Scholarship. Our first class of 22 GUIDE Scholars are Seniors at Miami Central High School and will graduate in May.
Shane and Heidi Battier surprise 23 students at Miami Central High School with full 4-year college scholarships.
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The Take Charge team and 19 of our Scholars from across the country, at our most recent Scholars Retreat in May 2017.
Take Charge Scholars are invited to participate in four days of personal and professional development activities. The retreats allow us to get to know our scholars better, while providing them with additional support and resources to achieve their goals. Our programming centers around workshops with mentors, college professors, and life coaches. We facilitate lively discussions with business professionals and outstanding leaders from numerous fields. Our Scholars are given an opportunity to have their stories heard, questions answered, and dreams encouraged. All current scholarship recipients, as well as those who have already completed their degrees, are encouraged to attend. The Take Charge summer retreat is a valuable component of the holistic development of our scholars.
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Our GUIDE Scholars, their mentors, and the Take Charge team at a Back to School lunch at Miami Central. As part of our program, we host lunches, dinners, seminars and workshops around the city to give our students a chance to bond with heir mentors and our team, and where we provide them with the information and assistance needed to progress on the path to Graduation and onto college.
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One invaluable aspect of our Programs are the academic grants we offer our students, to take advantage of educational opportunities beyond their college campuses. We have funded trips to study abroad, student exchanges in the US, international internships and much more. We want our Scholars to see the world, to discover first-hand how they can make an impact.
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One benefit we offer our GUIDE students is extra test preparation courses for the SAT and ACT exams. We work closely with our students and their school to identify resources that will best help them reach their potential. We are fortunate to find amazing partners and mentors who take a vested interest in our students.
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We stress to our Scholars that once you are a part of the Take Charge Foundation, you are part of our family. We find opportunities, like at our annual retreat, to form long-lasting and meaningful bonds with these incredible students. We also encourage them to be in contact with and rely on one another and the Take Charge team. Jackie and Ivan, who both study in San Francisco, recently played host and tour guide for David, while he completed an internship in the Bay Area last summer.
Programs
Battier Take Charge Scholars Program
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The Take Charge Scholars Program, started in 2008, selects outstanding future leaders from Miami, Houston and Detroit, and gives them the opportunity to improve and impact their destiny through the power of a college education. 33 Scholars have been selected to date, with 4 joining the Program at the start of the 2018-2019 academic year. Each Scholar receives a $20,000 scholarship ($5,000 each year for 4 years), and access to significant resources and benefits. We provide personalized support and guidance throughout each Scholar’s college journey and beyond.
GUIDE Program
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The GUIDE Program, launched in 2016, works with driven high-school students to inform them about educational opportunities and motivate them to pursue a college degree. We give them the tools and support they need to excel through high school and onto college campuses. GUIDE students are paired with trained mentors, and are provided with a College Success Coach, SAT and ACT test preparation courses and college-readiness seminars, along with countless other resources. Upon successful completion of our two-year program, GUIDE Scholars are awarded a full, four-year Florida Prepaid College Scholarship. GUIDE is currently enhancing the lives of 23 students at Miami Central High School, with plans for expansion.
Student Support
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The Battier Take Charge Foundation has a vested, personal interest in each student involved in our academic programs. We are fully committed to enhancing their lives in whatever ways we can, through educational and personal development opportunities. We host Scholars Retreats every other summer, where all Scholars both past and present are invited to join us in Michigan for four days of workshops, relationship building, and the opportunity to learn from a vast network of
professionals and community leaders committed to our cause. We offer academic grants to empower scholars to pursue educational opportunities beyond their college campuses, funding experiences like study abroad programs, national student exchanges, and professional examination review courses. We have helped secure housing, provided transportation, and counseled students in times of transition between campuses and majors. Whatever the need, our students know that Take Charge is committed to their success.