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District celebrates Soarin'4 milestone and announces funds for second SOAR lab
Summary
Leaders celebrated 14 years of Soarin'4 and said Representative Will Robinson, Senator Jim Boyd and the Bishop Parker Foundation provided appropriations/grant support totaling about $1 million to build a second SOAR lab.
The School District of Manatee County on July 21 celebrated 14 years of the Soarin'4 program and highlighted philanthropic and state support to expand the initiative.
District leaders credited Representative Will Robinson and Senator Jim Boyd with securing state appropriation and said the Bishop Parker Foundation committed a significant grant; district remarks noted nearly $1,000,000 in combined support toward building a second SOAR lab. School and foundation representatives, including donors Steve and Carolyn Roskamp and Jessica Muroff from the Community Foundation of Sarasota County, thanked volunteers and partners who support literacy and early learning programs.
The district noted community partners that support Soarin'4 programming, including MCNA Dental, MCR Health, Parenting Matters, the Ringling Museum, Manatee Food Bank, Boys and Girls Club and the Bishop Parker Museum. Leaders said they will open a second SOAR lab and continue to seek community and legislative support to sustain and grow the program.
Why it matters: district leaders tied Soarin'4 to early‑literacy gains (noting classroom readiness ratings) and to other summer programs that provide hands‑on experiences for young learners. Board members and staff asked staff to continue communications about such successes so families and the broader public understand district accomplishments.
The event included recognition of students and a short video about the storybook trail and a reading by author Jessica Long.
