Introducing Ready for School

Ready for School is about potential

Since our founding in 1962, Raymond James has been committed to giving back to the communities where we live and work. We do this by investing our time, talents and dollars in charitable causes that make a meaningful impact.

Students and families sit at the heart of how we give back. Building on our firm’s longstanding commitment to education is just one way our advisors and associates play a part in motivating students, supporting families and helping our communities prosper. 

Ready for School is a new extension of our community impact efforts: A program designed to help students prepare for brighter futures.

THE READY FOR SCHOOL MISSION: To invest time, resources and expertise into helping students achieve their unique goals inside the classroom, outside the classroom and beyond.

In service of that mission, Ready for School takes a holistic approach to student success, nurturing kids across a variety of needs.

“Raymond James has always been about promoting the well-being of those around us,” said Chair and CEO Paul Reilly. “Ready for School puts the tools for success within reach, helping today’s students become tomorrow’s success stories.”

Inside the classroom

Within the classroom, we’re focused on creating educational experiences designed to help students meet important benchmarks.

Our goals include increasing the number of students who are independent readers by the third grade and increasing the number of kids who are proficient in algebra by the ninth grade.

Why those specific benchmarks? Because we found that around half of third graders in Tampa Bay pass a grade level reading test and, statistically, students with a sound grasp of algebra by ninth grade are significantly more likely to graduate high school, enroll in and graduate college, then later go on to well-paid careers. 

Inside the classroom, Ready for School supports 3DE Schools by Junior Achievement of Tampa Bay, LiFT Academy, Pinellas Education Foundation, Sing Out and READ and Teach for America Tampa Bay.

Outside the classroom

Before- and after-school programs, mentorship, summer learning and extracurricular initiatives help to engage children outside of school hours. Using evidence-based practices, supplemental learning opportunities give kids a space to stay engaged beyond the regular school year.

A prevalent challenge outside the classroom is that enrichment opportunities are often dependent on family income. As a result, academic achievement often trails among low-income students. Young people involved in organized activities outside of school are significantly less likely to engage in risky behavior. 

We are proud to support three organizations that have demonstrated success in these areas: Boys & Girls Clubs of the Suncoast, Friends of the Children and the Tampa Metropolitan Area YMCA.

Beyond the classroom

Beyond the classroom focuses on preparing students for success by providing access to their basic needs, including nutrition, clothing and mental health support with safe spaces and critical resources. 

In the U.S., 34 million people are food insecure, 9 million of whom are children. That, and 100% of U.S. counties have residents facing some form of food insecurity. In recognition of this, Ready for School is focused on supporting school-based and food pantry programs to help ensure more students are nourished both on and off campus. 

Hero to a Child, St. Pete Free Clinic and Starting Right, Now are trusted organizations providing vital resources to the community's most vulnerable populations of students.

Standing by our commitment

Raymond James has pledged a three-year, $2.5+ million annual commitment to the first cohort of Ready for School recipients. The 11 different organizations awarded grants include:

• Boys & Girls Clubs of the Suncoast
• Friends of the Children
• Hero to a Child
• Junior Achievement of Tampa Bay: 3DE Schools
• LiFT Academy
• Pinellas Education Foundation
• Sing Out and Read
• St. Pete Free Clinic
• Starting Right, Now
• Tampa Metropolitan Area YMCA
• Teach for America Central Florida

“Ready for School is all about potential,” said Paul Shoukry, President and CFO, RJF and incoming CEO. “It’s inspiring to see how the program continues to create the right conditions ensuring kids are free to explore their talents and push the limits of what’s possible.” 

Ready for more?

In line with our commitment to giving back to communities in which we live and work, the Ready for School grant program helps remove obstacles for students and pave the way for a better future. Learn more about Ready for School.