About the Fund
After 18 years of teaching in elementary classrooms, Ted Hoskinson has seen how early literacy affects the entire lifespan. He says the data indicates that 74 percent of kids who can’t pass the third grade reading test aren’t going to graduate high school either.
“Third grade is a real marker,” Hoskinson said. “In Palm Beach County, currently only 54 percent of third graders passed the state’s standard reading test. Not only can we do better, we must!”
Hoskinson started his own nonprofit Roots and Wings Inc., in part, as a tribute to his wife, Anne, who passed unexpectedly in 2016. Their dream was to start a nonprofit that would help children in need get the basics required for them to dream of what could be — and then achieve it. They’d even earmarked funding for it in their will.
Ready to commit the inaugural gift, he knew he needed a charitable vehicle with great credibility within the community and impeccable credentials. He called his professional advisor, Jack Lansing, a vice president for wealth management with UBS Financial Services Inc., for help.
“The Foundation stands out as a philanthropic partner for three reasons: its permanence in the community, its safety as an asset manager, and its connectivity with the community,” said Lansing, who has been partnering with the Community Foundation for over 20 years. “For Roots and Wings, we ultimately landed on an endowment model that would fulfill Ted and Anne’s original vision to make a difference long-term.”
In early 2022, Hoskinson and Lansing came to the “agreement signing party” at the Foundation’s headquarters; the Roots and Wings Bridge to Hope Education Fund has been growing ever since.
“I’m grateful to get this off the ground because early reading and comprehension is — and forever will be — critical to everyone’s life,” said Hoskinson.
