Taggart Family Foundation announces partnership with Manatee County Schools

PALMETTO, Fla. — Manatee County Schools announced a new partnership Tuesday with the Taggart Family Foundation, started by Willie Taggart, who is now one of the coaches for the Baltimore Ravens.

Taggart grew up in Manatee County, and on Tuesday, he visited Lincoln Memorial Middle School where he attended, to announce not only the partnership, but how he plans on helping people in Palmetto.

Taggart says he knew he wanted to give back in a big way, starting with a before and after school academy focusing on teaching students leadership.

“This is something I can do for our community, and you can feel the excitement in here today, and that’s the goal, to bring some life back into Palmetto and give them something they can be proud of,” said Taggart.

He plans to build a community center, too, which will likely sit on the southwest side of Lincoln Middle. Taggart’s vision is a place for all people in Palmetto—from young to old.

“I want our kids to be able to learn things they don’t necessarily learn in school, you know, I want it to be a fun learning experience for them, too, but also have a workforce development for our young adults,” he said.

Chad Choate is the Chair of the School Board. He said Lincoln Middle is a Title I school, and it relied on the 21st Century Grant, which provides free before- and after-school programs for students who attend high-poverty, low-performing schools. The federal grant is currently frozen.

“This is kind of our answer to it,” said Choate. “This is definitely a way if the 21st Century funding stays frozen, hopefully it doesn’t and this is just supplemental on top of it, which would be fantastic for the kids here at Lincoln Middle School,” said Choate.

The Taggart Family Foundation before- and after-school program will start this school year. They’re still working out the details on the community center.