Earlier this year, The Immokalee Foundation was named the beneficiary of the Terra Cotta Invitational Golf Tournament. Even though the tournament was canceled, Terra Cotta Golf Charities made a $30,000 donation to support the foundation’s groundbreaking program, Career Pathways: Empowering Students to Succeed.
Career Pathways is an innovative career-readiness program that introduces students to well-paying career opportunities in high-demand employment sectors. Additionally, Career Pathways guides students to industry-recognized certifications that provide entry into many of these careers.
Beginning in middle school, students participate in intensive six-week rotations to learn more about the in-demand careers in Southwest Florida identified as part of the Career Pathways program: Engineering & Construction Management, Education & Human Services, Health Care, and Business Management & Entrepreneurship. Middle school students – along with their parents – learn the types of professions available in each pathway, average salaries, and whether the career requires professional certifications and credentials or a two- or four-year college degree.
Career counselors then craft individual plans for each student’s high school educational and career-based curriculum to prepare them for success in their chosen pathway.
The Immokalee Foundation’s students have a 100 percent high school graduation rate and continue on to post-secondary certification programs or college, where 91 percent complete their programs.
“We are extremely grateful to Terra Cotta Golf Charities for their exceptional generosity,” said Steve Pryor, chair of The Immokalee Foundation’s Board of Directors. “Their gift is more than an investment in the youth of Immokalee – it’s also an act of love given the health crisis gripping the Immokalee community. Hats off to this great organization for leading the way when times are tough.”
Terra Cotta Charities Inc. is a 501(c)(3) charity that conducts the Terra Cotta Invitational Golf Tournament and invites the best amateur golfers in the world to participate at the Naples National Golf Club. Since its inception in 1996, the tournament has generated more than $600,000 with net proceeds donated to local charities benefitting children. The donations come primarily from Naples National Members and golf business sponsors. For more information, visit www.terracottainvitational.com.
Naples National Golf Club is the tournament sponsor. Designed by Dr. Michael Hurdzan and Dana Fry in 1992, the distinguished, member-owned club has maintained and cherished golf’s proudest traditions: purity in design, quality of membership, and love of the game.
The Immokalee Foundation provides a range of education programs that focus on building pathways to professional careers through support, mentoring and tutoring, and life skills development leading to economic independence. To learn more about The Immokalee Foundation, becoming a mentor, its signature events, volunteering as a career panel speaker or host, making a donation, including the foundation in your estate plans, or for additional information, call 239-430-9122 or visit https://immokaleefoundation.org.
John P. Cardillo, Terra Cotta Golf Charities president, presents Noemi Y. Perez, The Immokalee Foundation president and CEO, with a $30,000 donation
The Immokalee Foundation’s Career Pathways program educates students for in-demand careers opportunities in Southwest Florida
The Immokalee Foundation Career Pathways students during a career exploration trip with Pulte Homes
