The Mission

Guide these students to and through the door of a great school. Ensure they stay, flourish and graduate by assisting them with preparation, materials and life skills. Provide the support for success their middle- and upper-income peers already enjoy.

It’s not about leveling the playing field.

It’s about moving some of the country’s best and brightest forward. We match high-achieving, low-income students to educations that truly fulfill their potential. We help real talent translate into real world accomplishment.

When these students succeed, the community benefits.

Our reasoning is simple. Excellence is far too valuable to overlook. Or undereducate.

    Board of Directors

Asim Chauhan

Serial entrepreneur. A pioneer in software, technology outsourcing and digital media. Mentors high school students and is a board member on the Education Foundation of Sarasota County.

Cathy Layton

Driving force in Sarasota civic, philanthropic and commercial life. Service across multiple local entities including foundations, the Sarasota County Planning Commission and the Sarasota Bayfront Planning Organization.

Hector Tejeda

Former career advisor at Wharton. Current director of Educational Initiatives with UnidosNow.  A Harvard graduate who understands how elevated education elevates all of us.

Team

Jane Tishman Robbins

Educational Services, Strategic Initiatives and Operations

Cornell and Harvard Law School graduate. Practiced intellectual property law. Currently practices intellectual advancement equality. A proficient and prolific guide in college search, application and financial aid for low-income students since 2001.

Lea Graf

Finance, Accounting and Administration

Specialist in small business and nonprofit accounting, tax planning and compliance. A CPA, Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor and financial wizard who ensures this nonprofit is able to profit so many.

Status and designation.

Leaven, Inc. was incorporated in 2016 as a Florida nonprofit organization and has been designated a tax-exempt charitable organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Service code. Donations to Leaven are tax-deductible. Leaven’s federal taxpayer identification number is 61-1809501.

Download Leaven’s IRS Letter of Determination

Download Leaven’s confirmation of Florida’s permission to solicit contributions