The Real Cost of Prisons Weblog

GEO's contribution will help provide scholarships and mentoring services to more than 60 students in the state of Florida over the next five years. "Children of Prisoners: Children of Promise" is a public-private partnership of the Florida Governor's Mentoring Initiative, Take Stock in Children, the Florida Department of Corrections, and Prison Fellowship Ministries. The middle and high school students, who are selected to participate in the program, make a pledge to remain drug- and crime-free, maintain good grades and attendance, and meet with a mentor on a weekly basis. Upon fulfillment of their pledge, these students will receive a full college tuition scholarship.

George C. Zoley, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of GEO, said, "We are delighted to be a new partner in this very valuable effort to help children of incarcerated parents across the state of Florida. For over twenty years, we have been setting higher standards in the delivery of our services and have been providing new hope for those in our care through innovative rehabilitation programs. With this contribution, we extend our commitment to provide new hope to the children of incarcerated parents.

"By pledging to help these children gain access to a college education and by providing them with mentors and role model figures, we will go a long way in ensuring that they enjoy a bright and prosperous future," Zoley added.

Take Stock in Children is an award-winning non-profit organization dedicated to providing scholarships, mentors and hope to Florida's underprivileged youth. The program offers a comprehensive plan of success for selected students -- who must sign a contract to stay in school, maintain good grades and meet once a week with a mentor. In turn, Take Stock in Children provides each student with a four-year tuition scholarship to college. It is a solution to overcoming child poverty, academic failure and youth crime. Since 1996, Take Stock in Children has impacted the lives of more than 10,000 deserving students in the state of Florida.

GEO is a world leader in the delivery of correctional and detention management, health and mental health, and other diversified services to federal, state, and local government agencies around the globe. GEO offers a turnkey approach that includes design, construction, financing, and operations. GEO represents government clients in the United States, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, and Canada managing 42 facilities with a total design capacity of approximately 37,000 beds.