The Immokalee Foundation’s Charity Classic Celebration event co-chairs Janet and Jerry Belle hosted a reception at their home to introduce some of the local community to The Immokalee Foundation in advance of the three-day Charity Classic gala and golf tournament.
More than 50 guests, including foundation board members, supporters and local business leaders, heard remarks by board chairman Steve Pryor, President and CEO Noemi Y. Perez, and Jerry Belle, a board member who is also a mentor for an Immokalee High School student.
Pryor spoke about the focus of this year’s gala event, The Immokalee Foundation’s recently launched career model, “Career Pathways: Empowering Students to Succeed.”
Donations to the Charity Classic support the career-based programs and college scholarships available through The Immokalee Foundation. The Charity Classic Celebration included the dynamic Fund A Dream™ auction, a live bidding experience during which donors contribute to support various foundation programs that support Immokalee’s children in specific and tangible ways.
Based on extensive research of in-demand professions in Southwest Florida, the comprehensive new curriculum will help students – beginning in middle school – to follow educational and experiential pathways to their chosen careers. The four pathways include Engineering and Construction Management, Business Management, Education and Human Services, and Health Care. The model recognizes that many well-paying jobs are available to students who earn industry-recognized certifications and credentials, in addition to professions that require two- and four-year college degrees.
The two-day Charity Classic Pro-Am featured some of Naples’ most philanthropic amateur golfers and two dozen members of the PGA tour.
At the exclusive Pairings Party at Bay Colony Golf Club, groups of foursomes learned which two PGA professional golfers would join them for nine holes each during the following day’s tournament on the links at Old Collier Golf Club.
The Presenting Sponsor, Kelly Tractor, was proud to support The Immokalee Foundation’s educational programs that help the youth of Immokalee gain financial independence. Additional sponsors included BCB Homes, Success Circle Sponsor; BMO Wealth Management, Collier Enterprises, entech, IBERIABANK and Synovus, Pathways Circle Sponsors; and Florida Weekly, Gulfshore Life/D’Latinos magazines and Naples Daily News, Media Sponsors.
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, its signature events, volunteering as a career panel speaker or host, becoming a mentor, making a donation, including the foundation in your estate plans, or for additional information, call 239-430-9122 or visit www.immokaleefoundation.org.
