100+ Tampa Bay Public School Students Earned $500 Each at the "Paid for Grades" 2019 - 2020 Graduation Ceremony

TAMPA BAY, Fla., June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Paid for Grades (PFG), the groundbreaking academic program that offers $500 each to Tampa Bay students who improve their reading literacy and maintain stellar attendance, held its 2019 - 2020 graduation ceremony "virtually" this year, via Zoom, on Thursday, June 11, 2020.

Over 100 local schoolchildren successfully completed the 2020 PFG program and received their $500 checks -- no strings attached -- along with their PFG diplomas. Over the past two academic school years, PFG's graduation numbers have increased by 270 percent.

This year's participating schools included Boca Ciega High School, Countryside High School, Dixie Hollins High School and Lakewood High School.

"I'm so incredibly proud of our 2020 graduates," said Monica Eaton-Cardone, the Tampa Bay business leader who created, organized and launched Paid for Grades in 2013. "These amazing, hardworking students had to overcome social disruptions, mass upheaval, economic despair and a global pandemic, and they still managed to complete the PFG curriculum in record numbers. It's such a remarkable achievement, and a true testament to the willpower and potential of our young men and women."

Paid for Grades is supported by the Pinellas Education Foundation, and receives zero taxpayer dollars. The program is privately funded by Monica Eaton-Cardone, Gary Cardone, and their Tampa-based FinTech company, Chargebacks911. PFG also provides additional funding for public school teachers who tutor students during off-hours. Now in its seventh year, PFG has donated over half-a-million dollars to Tampa Bay students, teachers and schools.

"Normally, we celebrate in-person with the students and their families at a special end-of-year graduation ceremony," explained Eaton-Cardone. "But because of the COVID-19 pandemic, we decided to hold a 'virtual' graduation instead. I'm disappointed we weren't able to cheer and celebrate together like we have in the past, but this was the next best thing. By far, 2020 was our biggest, most successful year, and we're looking forward to expanding PFG to even more Tampa Bay schools in the future. Paid for Grades has proven over and over again that it truly works wonders -- and now more than ever, there are so many kids who desperately need our help. It's just not right to let them fall permanently behind. By coming together as a community, we can give these students a chance to realize their potential and make their dreams come true."

In confidential, anonymous, year-end critiques, the PFG students lauded the benefits of the Paid for Grades program: One student said s/he "learned to deal with anxiety and stress." Another wrote, "I have learned new study habits and hacks." PFG "makes students push past their limits," explained a third student. And finally, a fourth PFG graduate said simply: "I loved the Paid for Grades program really because it made me realize that I can do better, so I pushed myself to be greater in life. I would totally recommend this for some of my friends..."

For video highlights of the "virtual" PFG graduation ceremony, plus year-end statistics, please see: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGHlHJe6I1Y&feature=youtu.be

SOURCE Paid for Grades