Education and Lottery System in Florida - Essay Example

Running Head: Education and Lottery System in Florida Education and Lottery System in Florida The Florida Lottery is a run lottery in Florida, USA. The aim of this Lottery system is to support the educational system in Florida through revenues being derived from the various games available either through their gaming centers or online. As indicated in their official website, the Florida Lottery’s mission is to “maximize revenues for the enhancement of public education” in Florida (Florida Lottery 2009). It operates solely for the purpose of raising funds for its causes and at the same time, prides itself for being a successful business enterprise as well. Just last year, the Florida Lottery was able to again surpass the billion-dollar mark in a single year. This means that the Lottery was able to contribute more to the funding of its projects. Further, according to the lottery website, the amount of contribution since start up has reached more or less $ 19 Billion. Funds were used mainly to mobilize various scholarship programs, including the Florida Mentoring Partnership. A portion is also being used for school construction and similar causes. At present, Florida Lottery supports the Bright Futures Scholarship Program by allocating a portion of its revenues to fund 42, 000 scholarships (Florida Lottery. 2009). The Bright Futures Scholarship Program was created to help high school students pursue postsecondary educational and career goals. The target is to help deserving high school students to go to college to earn a degree. So many students have benefited from this program, thanks to the support derived from the earnings from the Florida Lottery System. The Bright Futures Scholarship is the Lottery’s top priority of service, and receives the larger part of the Lottery’s revenues. Bright Future Scholarships occupy more than 90% of the Student Financial Aid category, which incidentally, is the primary segment funded in the appropriation process. This program is 100% supported by Florida Lottery and provides three levels of scholarships for high school seniors who pass the qualification process (Educational Enhancement Trust Fund 2005 Appropriations. 2009). This program has contributed immensely in achieving an increase in the number of college degree holders in the state. Qualified students that need funding to be able to go through college enjoy the benefits of this program, and several testimonials have also been featured in the lottery’s official website. On the other hand, for primary education students, the Florida Lottery is also involved in supporting construction projects that aim to build educational institutions for kids. The Florida Lottery supports the Classroom First and Classrooms for Kids programs, which aim to provide shelter for education to the target recipients. A huge part of its earnings goes to the purpose of putting up educational infrastructure for Florida’s youth. This is one advocate of the Lottery System that has benefited the younger market segment. The Florida Lottery has other causes to support. It also promotes mentoring programs whereby volunteers/ lottery employees are asked to spend time tutoring children of various ages. This organization believes in the value of true mentoring and recognizes the benefits that this could give to the children involved. As such, part of its advocacies is not only to give financial support to the various causes, but also to get the employees involved in personal nurturing of the students. The organization likewise supports family literacy by promoting programs that includes reading, mathematics, life and parenting skills. Related programs also help students earn their GEDs and for children to have positive attitude towards education. With all these, the Florida Lottery plays a vital role in social welfare and development of the state of Florida. It does not only provide jobs to residents. More importantly, it creates an opportunity for all those involved to partake in the organization’s causes through the volunteer programs that it implements side by side with promoting a good business. Being profit-oriented does not make the organization solely focused on earning money alone Instead, its motivation is to maximize all resources so that it could give back to the community through the scholarship programs and construction activities it implements for the benefit of general education. Such causes motivate the management to find more creative ways of making the lottery gain prominence among its target market. New games are being launched periodically, that keeps the interest of its patrons, therefore making the organization earn more to consequently give more. The organization also provides more ways of joining the games, which is via the gaming stores and through the very popular official website. To sustain all these causes, the Florida government strictly implements that 50% of the revenues of Florida Lottery operations go to the various programs being supported by the organization. 50% on the other hand, goes to the operational expenses of the Lottery program. On top of the benefits that the lottery programs gives to the education sector of the state of Florida, it also contributes immensely to the state’s overall economic situation. Besides giving jobs to locals, it provides an opportunity for entrepreneurs and retailers to develop their own businesses through retailing and carrying the lottery’s various game offerings. The lottery has approximately 11,000 retailers enjoying commissions, cashing bonuses, incentive bonuses and increased sales (The Florida Lottery: Contributing to the Economy through Commerce and Education. 2009). This signifies that the lottery also supports business endeavors among enterprising locals, not only giving jobs but a means of livelihood as well. This advocacy complements its main thrust, which is to provide support in terms of education and similar causes. In summary, the Florida Lottery remains a helpful contributor towards the realization of a better education for the students and youth of Florida. The lottery’s slogan “Remember when you play, we all win” remains true. There are a large number of professionals – doctors, nurses, lawyers, etc who would not be able to realize their dreams and reach their full potential without the help of the lottery system. The Bright Futures Scholarship Program has fueled so many individual’s dreams towards reality, and has successfully pursued academic fulfillment for those who need assistance. The marketing success of the lottery means creating more opportunities to those that benefit from the revenue of this effort. Reference List Educational Enhancement Trust Fund 2005 Appropriations. 2009. Retrieved April 29, 2009 from http://www.palmbeach.k12.fl.us/Finman/FINANCIALDIVISIONS/Budget/PDF/LotteryBrochureFY05.pdf Florida Lottery 2009. Retrieved April 29, 2009 from http://www.flalottery.com/inet/businessMain.do The Florida Lottery: Contributing to the Economy through Commerce and Education. 2009. Retrieved April 29, 2009 from http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-99619399.html Read More