Delray Students First, an organization that focuses on helping economically disadvantaged students enter and complete college, is changing its name and its geographic focus. Originally created to serve students in Delray Beach’s Village Academy and later Atlantic High School, the nonprofit organization will be expanding its college preparation program to Boca Raton High School [...]

Tre'Quan Smith wasn't on the football team as a sophomore in high school, but he was still on the sideline during games. For that, he can thank Mark Sauer, who became his unofficial godfather in high school. Smith played football as a freshman at Village Academy in Delray Beach, Florida, and though his coaches [...]

When Marc Sauer arrived in Delray Beach in 2007, he didn't know one person.  Today, as Chairman & Founder of Delray Students First, he is the driving force behind connecting at-risk students with educational and economic opportunities to reach their potential. THEN: A business executive who earned his MBA at Columbia University, Mark Sauer led [...]

We are thrilled to announce that we were recently awarded a grant in the amount of $22,000 from The Jim Moran Foundation to bring Math and Science ACT/SAT tutoring to the students of Village Academy School.  We are truly grateful for the support of the Foundation and their confidence in our work and mission.

Impact 100 recently hosted its “Palm Beach County Grand Awards Ceremony.” Susan Duane and Karen Sweetapple, co-presidents of Impact 100 Palm Beach County, presented checks totaling $532,000 to seven nonprofit groups in southern Palm Beach County. This year, 532 women each made a $1,000 donation to become an annual member of the grant-making organization. [...]

Mark Sauer is as focused and as passionate a person as you are likely to ever find. After a career that took him to the highest height of sports and business - including stints as President of the Pittsburgh Pirates and President of the St. Louis Blues -- Sauer retired to Delray Beach.  Read [...]

Delray Students First is a small after-school support program that reaps big results. Nine teens have earned full-ride scholarships to the college of their choice with its help. In the free program, students get one-on-one mentoring. They can take dual high school/college enrollment classes at Palm Beach State College. Test preparation and tutoring for the [...]