S - The Immokalee Foundation

Hi, I’m Noemi Perez, President and CEO of The Immokalee Foundation.

It’s my great honor to share another inspiring season of our Summer Programs, an exciting time when our students take great strides towards success while preparing for the future of their dreams.

For our students, summer isn’t just a break from school. It’s a bridge between classroom learning and real-world experience. It’s where tomorrow’s leaders continue building the skills they need to succeed in their education, career, and life.
This summer, students gained invaluable insights through professional mentorship, and participated in immersive, hands-on learning across all four of our Career Pathways.

But why is this so important?

Because summer learning matters. It helps prevent the “summer slide”—and instead accelerates academic and professional growth. At a time when 75% of employers report difficulty finding qualified candidates, our students are gaining the tools, knowledge, and confidence that set them apart. They’re not only prepared to succeed, they’re prepared to lead. They are the future workforce of Southwest Florida: capable, resilient, and ready to contribute.

Let’s take a closer look at just some of the incredible experiences our students had this summer, starting with our four-week middle school STEM camp at FGCU.

Now in its seventh year, this camp lets students explore many fields that include engineering, healthcare, aerospace, education and more all guided by FGCU professors, industry professionals, and staff.

Our middle schoolers learned to code flight patterns for drones, built and raced solar powered vehicles, learned about mass and velocity by designing and racing miniature cars, and learned aerodynamics by building and launching their own water propelled rockets.
They also explored environmental science, where they took a deep dive into local vegetation, native wildlife, and water filtration that keep our ecology thriving.

While this experience was packed with fun, it also marks an essential phase in their career exploration journey with The Immokalee Foundation.

Our rising ninth graders participated in immersive, career-focused camps aligned with their selected pathways: Healthcare, Education & Human Services, Engineering & Construction Management, and Business Management & Entrepreneurship.

We proudly partner with FGCU’s Whitaker Center, Marieb College of Health and Human Services, College of Arts and Sciences, College of Education, U.A. Whitaker College of Engineering, the Water School, and School of Entrepreneurship to make these experiences possible.
In our four-week Healthcare camp, students rotated through some of the fastest growing healthcare majors at FGCU from nursing, occupational therapy, anatomy and physiology, exercise science, anesthesiology, nutrition, and pediatric & obstetrics.
They conducted organ dissections, practiced surgical techniques, and learned to provide advanced patient care using cutting-edge equipment.

Education & Human Services students explored career paths in early childhood development, school counseling, and journalism diving into media ethics, AI, copyright, and more. At FGCU’s ROCK Center, they also built essential interpersonal skills like empathy and compassion.

Under the guidance of FGCU teachers and mentors, our Business Management & Entrepreneurship Pathway camp students spent 80 hours formulating a new business product or idea. This included learning the fundamentals of manufacturing, logistics, marketing, and business sustainability. They concluded the camp with a Shark Tank-themed event where they pitched their idea in front of an esteemed panel of judges.
At our Engineering & Construction Management camp hosted at iTech, students gained hands-on experience with professional-grade tools and equipment while exploring career paths in construction and design.

Meanwhile, 49 high school juniors and seniors took part in paid internships with local business partners, spending 4–5 days a week gaining real-world experience from industry experts in their chosen fields. One student learned how to nurture and care for injured animals at The Humane Society of Naples, while another learned the fundamentals of building a sea wall along our treasured coastline with Greg Orick Marine Construction.

Another student gained critical insight into the HVAC industry and learned about the intricate mechanics of HVAC equipment at Conditioned Air, as others prepared for successful careers in the healthcare field by shadowing professionals in various specialties at Physicians Regional.

Our Learning Lab students continued to learn about the construction industry and the Trades by building high quality homes at our Career Pathways Learning Lab under the supervision of BCB Homes.

None of this would be possible without the commitment of our education and business partners, our dedicated staff, and the generous supporters who believe in our mission. I could not be more grateful for each of you.

Together, we are proving what’s possible when a community comes together to invest in its youth. Our students are not just preparing for the future—they’re creating it.

Thank you for being part of this incredible journey.

Whistleblower Policy

The Immokalee Foundation requires directors, officers and employees to observe high standards of business and personal ethics in the conduct of their duties and responsibilities. As employees and representatives of The Immokalee Foundation we must practice honesty and integrity in fulfilling our responsibilities and comply with all applicable laws and regulations.

Reporting Responsibility
This Whistleblower Policy is intended to encourage and enable employees and others to raise serious concerns internally so that The Immokalee Foundation can address and correct inappropriate conduct and actions. It is the responsibility of all board members, officers, employees and volunteers to report concerns about violations of The Immokalee Foundation’s code of ethics or suspected violations of law or regulations that govern The Immokalee Foundation’s operations.

No Retaliation
It is contrary to the values of The Immokalee Foundation for anyone to retaliate against any board member, officer, employee or volunteer who in good faith reports an ethics violation, or a suspected violation of law, such as a complaint of discrimination, or suspected fraud, or suspected violation of any regulation governing the operations of The Immokalee Foundation. An employee who retaliates against someone who has reported a violation in good faith is subject to discipline up to and including termination of employment.

Reporting Procedure
The Immokalee Foundation has an open door policy and suggests that employees share their questions, concerns, suggestions or complaints with their supervisor. If you are not comfortable speaking with your supervisor or you are not satisfied with your supervisor’s response, you are encouraged to speak with [insert here another title, such as Executive Director, or a board member, if the organization is very small and involving the board would be appropriate]. Supervisors and managers are required to report complaints or concerns about suspected ethical and legal violations in writing to the Immokalee Foundation’s Human Resource’s Director who has the responsibility to investigate all reported complaints. Employees with concerns or complaints may also submit their concerns in writing directly to their supervisor or the Executive Director or the organization’s Compliance Officer.

Compliance Officer
The Immokalee Foundation’s Human Resource’s Director is responsible for ensuring that all complaints about unethical or illegal conduct are investigated and resolved. The Compliance Officer will advise the Executive Director and/or the Board of Directors of all complaints and their resolution and will report at least annually to the Chair of the Finance Committee on compliance activity relating to accounting or alleged financial improprieties.

Accounting and Auditing Matters
The Immokalee Foundation’s Human Resource’s Director shall immediately notify the Chair of the Finance Committee or Executive Director of any concerns or complaint regarding corporate accounting practices, internal controls or auditing and work with the committee until the matter is resolved.

Acting in Good Faith
Anyone filing a written complaint concerning a violation or suspected violation must be acting in good faith and have reasonable grounds for believing the information disclosed indicates a violation. Any allegations that prove not to be substantiated and which prove to have been made maliciously or knowingly to be false will be viewed as a serious disciplinary offense.

Confidentiality
Violations or suspected violations may be submitted on a confidential basis by the complainant. Reports of violations or suspected violations will be kept confidential to the extent possible, consistent with the need to conduct an adequate investigation.

Handling of Reported Violations
The Immokalee Foundation’s Human Resource’s Director will notify the person who submitted a complaint and acknowledge receipt of the reported violation or suspected violation. All reports will be promptly investigated and appropriate corrective action will be taken if warranted by the investigation.