In celebration of their 30th year serving the children of Immokalee, The Immokalee Foundation collaborated with 30 local restaurants to ‘Dine for a Cause.’ The ‘30 for 30’ event lasted the course of five days with participating restaurants donating a portion of their proceeds to benefit the Foundation and contribute towards their programs.
All of the 30 participating restaurants donated between 10-35% of their profits during their participation in the event. In total, the event raised over $17,000.
“I’m humbled by the generosity of our community,” said Mari Rubenstein, Director of Philanthropy at The Immokalee Foundation. “Despite the hardships faced by the hospitality industry during COVID, our local restaurants rallied and came together to raise over $17,000 for The Immokalee Foundation. Our students will benefit greatly from the event and we learned the powerful lesson that we are stronger when we work together. Thank you to everyone who participated and we look forward to partnering again in 2022.”
Three60 Market’s Rebecca Maddox (left) poses with Rebecca Thompson (right), Director of Events and Annual Giving at The Immokalee Foundation.
Participating restaurants were spread throughout Lee and Collier County including The Claw Bar—who donated nearly $2,500. Other local favorites included Baleen, The Cave Bistro & Wine Bar, and more representing a variety of cuisine – from burgers and barbecue, pizza and pasta, French and other international flavors to casual and fine dining options.
“This was such a great way to celebrate our 30th anniversary working to transform the community of Immokalee.” said Noemi Y. Perez, President and CEO of The Immokalee Foundation. “We are so pleased with the turnout we received and the support from our local restaurants and community.”
The partnership between the restaurants and The Immokalee Foundation also spurred opportunities for additional collaboration. Chef Andy Hyde from Hyde N Chic in Naples plans to create a culinary scholarship program through The Immokalee Foundation at the culinary accelerator in Immokalee.
“Action speaks louder than words,” said Hyde, who knows firsthand the struggles children can face in achieving their potential. “Anything I can do for the community, I will. It’s very important for me to support The Immokalee Foundation and show children the value of living in the greatest country in the world. I was a scrawny little kid growing up in Africa. I’m living proof of what can happen when you work hard and take advantage of every opportunity.”
Funds generated by the event will help continue to develop groundbreaking career development programs that help Immokalee students find their passions and pursue pathways to success in Engineering & Construction Management, Healthcare, Education & Human Services, and Business Management & Entrepreneurship.
For more information about how you can be involved with The Immokalee Foundation, visit ImmokaleeFoundation.org.
For more than 30 years, The Immokalee Foundation has maintained a 100% focus on education and professional development for students in Immokalee—from kindergarten to postsecondary education. Through support, mentoring, tutoring, and life skills development, The Immokalee Foundation provides pathways to success for those who may not otherwise have had the opportunity to succeed. For additional information, call 239-430-9122 or visit immokaleefoundation.org.
