Catholic Charities, Diocese of Venice Inc. (CCDOV) has been awarded a $25,000 grant from the Community Foundation of Sarasota County to support its Casa San Juan Bosco 2Gen Educational Program, expanding access to critical educational resources for families in rural DeSoto County.
The Casa San Juan Bosco program addresses the intergenerational barriers to education faced by low-income, primarily Spanish-speaking families, many of whom are agricultural, migrant, or seasonal workers. Through a two-generation (2Gen) approach, the program provides coordinated learning opportunities for both children and their parents – strengthening literacy, workforce readiness, and long-term family stability.
“Catholic Charities is honored to extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Community Foundation of Sarasota County for their generous grant,” said Christopher M. Root, CEO of Catholic Charities, Diocese of Venice. “The vital funding will support our 2Gen Educational Program, furthering our mission to provide critical support to children and families in DeSoto County.”
Grant funding will support the addition of a part-time Educational Assistant and provide access to Renaissance educational software, a data-driven platform that delivers individualized learning pathways in reading and math. With this additional staffing support, the program will expand its capacity to serve children, increasing enrollment from 22 to 32 participants, while ensuring services remain free and accessible to families.
Children in the program benefit from afterschool tutoring and summer literacy enrichment, while parents participate in English language classes, workforce development, and life skills training. By equipping both generations with the tools to succeed, the program helps break cycles of poverty and builds a foundation for long-term success.
Looking ahead, CCDOV aims to further strengthen the program by improving emotional resilience and academic engagement among participants, expanding therapeutic and family support services, and demonstrating outcomes that can be replicated in other underserved communities.
Funding for this program was provided by the Community Foundation of Sarasota County through the Community Impact Grant.
