Frank Santos announces Tangelo Park scholarship program honors Harris Rosen's legacy

The Orange County Public Schools (OCPS) held a School Board Recognition Meeting on April 16, 2025, to honor significant contributions to the community and education. The meeting highlighted the impactful legacy of the Harris Rosen Foundation and recognized the Reed Charitable Foundation for their efforts in improving literacy among students.

The meeting commenced with Chair Jacobs acknowledging the Harris Rosen Foundation, founded by Harris Rosen over 20 years ago. The foundation's Tangelo Park program has been a model for cradle-to-career support, providing free preschool, family support, and college scholarships to high school graduates. Chair Jacobs emphasized the profound impact of Rosen's contributions, stating that the financial support provided by the foundation is immeasurable compared to the lives it has transformed.

Frank Santos, CEO of Rosen Hotels and Resorts, represented the foundation at the meeting. He announced a new three-year scholarship program aimed at continuing Harris Rosen's commitment to education. Santos expressed his goal to extend the program beyond three years, reinforcing the foundation's dedication to ensuring equal educational opportunities for all students.

Following this, Member Farant presented a recognition to the Reed Charitable Foundation, founded by Jen Knopf. The foundation focuses on enhancing reading skills among students, addressing the alarming statistic that over 50% of students in Florida are not reading at grade level. Farant praised the foundation's efforts in training teachers in effective reading strategies, which have proven invaluable in helping students overcome reading challenges.

Both foundations were celebrated for their philanthropic efforts and commitment to improving educational outcomes in the community. The meeting concluded with a call for continued partnerships and support for initiatives that uplift students and families in Orange County.