Mentor and Student Highlights | Take Stock in Children Manatee
Mentor: Peg Delegato
Students: Skylar, Marlene, Stephanie
Peg Delegato’s belief in the power of respect was shaped early in life. Growing up in Detroit, she began volunteering with Focus HOPE, an organization committed to overcoming racism and poverty through practical action. That experience sparked the lifelong conviction that every person deserves dignity, respect, and the opportunity to succeed.
When she moved to Bradenton in 1989, she planned to retire. But plans changed, and she went back to school, earning degrees from Manatee Community College and USF Sarasota-Manatee. Along the way, she committed to help others achieve their dreams of education. She volunteered in local elementary schools, tutored young readers, and taught Sunday preschool classes for Hispanic families.
Her path eventually led her to Take Stock in Children, and Peg immediately recognized a mission that mirrored her own: removing barriers so students can see their true potential. Over the past eleven years, she has mentored eleven students through TSIC Manatee.
“Mentoring has been the most rewarding experience of my life,” Peg says. “I truly believe that when you respect the innate dignity of every individual, no matter how they look, where they come from, or what challenges they face, you have a responsibility to help remove the barriers standing in their way.”
Back in her earlier college days, she encountered Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. The idea that people must have their basic needs met before they can reach their full potential stuck with her. “Take Stock in Children helps lay that foundation,” she adds, “and I’m proud to be part of helping students build from there.”
Today, Peg meets regularly with three young women who are stepping confidently into the next stages of their lives. Skylar, now a senior at Bayshore High School, has grown into a determined leader who balances academics, work, and college planning with a thoughtful approach Peg deeply admires. Their lunch conversations have become a space for encouragement and growth.
At the State College of Florida Collegiate School, Marlene and Stephanie are thriving academically while preparing for what comes next. Marlene is considering careers in accounting or politics, and Stephanie is exploring opportunities in healthcare. Peg supports them in academics, but she also covers the kinds of life skills not necessarily taught in school, like budgeting, communication, and decision-making.
“Success comes when students believe they are capable,” Peg says. “Sometimes they just need someone to walk beside them until they can see it for themselves.”
For Peg, mentorship is about patience and playing the long game. Some students open up quickly; others take more time. She recalls one student who said little during early meetings but later sent heartfelt updates about her achievements. One former mentee, a young woman who emigrated from Haiti, still calls Peg “Grandma” to her own children. Whether offering advice about buying a home or celebrating career milestones, Peg remains a steady presence in her life.
Beyond her direct mentoring, Peg has worked to grow the program’s reach in Manatee County. She recruits new mentors, shares Take Stock’s mission in the community, and encourages others to invest in students’ futures. Her passion for service extends even beyond education, as she’s also involved with the NAACP, Our Daily Bread, and her efforts supporting families in Haiti.
Peg could have chosen a quiet retirement. Instead, she chose to show up, to keep living out the values that shaped her from the start. Her students may move on to new places and big goals, but they’ll always remember the woman named Peg who saw their worth and walked beside them.
