S ince opening International Diamond Center’s doors nearly 30 years ago, Keith Leclerc’s ambitions have always gone far beyond the diamond business. “The Lord has blessed my family and our company,” he says, “and we will always live by the motto, to whom much is given, much is expected.” This spirit inspired Keith and his family to give back to all of the communities that IDC’s stores serve, in a consistent and authentic manner. Hence, Keith is very proud to introduce The Fifth C foundation. The purpose of the foundation is to create an intimate expression of the Leclerc’s family values and an extension of their traditions of philanthropy. The foundation is centered around philanthropic giving and a passion for helping others. The primary focuses leading the foundation’s vision include veterans of war, childhood education, and pediatric oncology. Many of the nonprofits we have supported over the years include Boys &Girls Clubs, UF Shand’s Children’s Hospital, Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, FARA Energy Ball, Save the Kids Foundation, Children’s Dream Found, Dali Museum, Academy Prep Center for Education, Clearwater Marine Aquarium, Ronald McDonald House Charities, Operation Healing Forces, New Life Solutions, March of Dimes, Make a Wish Foundation, and many more.
Many Academy Prep students go on to be first-generation college students and graduates while receiving ongoing support from the Center. “We work very closely with our graduates, with their families, with the schools where we send our grads for the next four years of high school, with them on through college, and, in quite a few cases, with them well beyond that,” Tamayo says. Upon graduating from high school, nearly 80 percent of Academy Prep students go on to attend colleges like the University of South Florida, Florida State University, the University of Florida (including its law school), the University of Miami, Northwestern University, Columbia University, George Washington University, the United States Air Force Academy, and many others in Florida and throughout the nation. Academy Prep runs three Centers: in St. Petersburg (founded 1997), Tampa (founded 2003), and Lakeland, which opened its doors in 2019. Lincoln Tamayo, founding head of school in Tampa, now serves as Lakeland’s founding head of school as well as chief operating officer of the Academy Prep Foundation, which oversees the three Centers. Tamayo is confident that Lakeland’s students will excel similarly to students at the St. Petersburg and Tampa Centers. “We’re getting ready to launch our first graduating class [in Lakeland] in May,” says Tamayo. “And we’re sending them to some of the top-flight prep schools locally and around the country, including Woodberry Forest in Virginia.” While Academy Prep is but one organization with three schools, Tamayo believes there should be thousands more schools just like theirs around the country — that millions of our youth, especially in inner-cities, deserve high- quality education opportunities that hold them to higher standards. “One of the truest ways to honor our inalienable right to pursue happiness is through the opportunity that a demanding education provides, Tamayo says. “At Academy Prep, we take this responsibility seriously for the future benefit of the children we serve.” “Brian and I have come to know each other well over the past few years,” adds Tamayo. “We have together served the Academy Prep St. Petersburg campus; we had the Academy Prep Lakeland choir perform for the grand opening of IDC’s Lakeland store, which in turn now partners with us in support of our Lakeland students; and we have collaborated with the Tampa Police Department on ways to combat sex trafficking in the Tampa area. I’m very grateful for the opportunity to work with a committed citizen like Brian to help make our communities far better places to live and to fend for our fellow man.”
Keith Leclerc - President Margaret Leclerc - Vice-President BOARD MEMBERS:
Brian Stamey - Secretary Brian Leclerc - Tresurer
Ashley Stamey Danae Leclerc Danielle Masters Chad Masters Helen Barrott - Executive Director
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