The Immokalee Foundation has been awarded a $40,000 grant from the Women’s Foundation of Collier County to support middle school girls participating in the Foundation’s Career Pathways Program, helping them build the academic, personal, and professional skills needed for future success.
The grant marks the fifth consecutive year the Women’s Foundation of Collier County has invested in educational and career building opportunities for middle school girls at The Immokalee Foundation.
For many students in Immokalee, economic hardship, language barriers, and limited access to educational resources can create significant obstacles to career advancement. Through this funding, middle school girls will participate in transformative educational and career-development experiences, including a summer STEM camp at Florida Gulf Coast University, individualized literacy support, career panels, educational field trips, leadership workshops, and other enrichment opportunities designed to prepare them for successful future careers.
The Women’s Foundation of Collier County awards annual grants through a competitive application and review process. Funding is made possible by donors who believe in the Women’s Foundation and its ability to identify and grant to the most pressing needs of women and girls in Collier County.
The Immokalee Foundation provides a continuum of educational and career-building support for students needed to enter the professional workforce fully prepared and achieve financial independence.
Students begin with literacy intervention in elementary school and continue through career exploration in middle school, career immersion in high school, and guidance and financial support through postsecondary education. This comprehensive support leads to measurable results: 100% graduate high school, 96% of postsecondary students complete an advanced postsecondary certification or college degree, and 95% of alumni work in their field of study.
“Research shows that a student’s academic performance in 8th grade has a greater impact on their college and career readiness at high school graduation than any experience gained later in high school,” said Noemi Y. Perez, President and CEO of The Immokalee Foundation. “We are grateful for this generous investment from the Women’s Foundation of Collier County as it ensures our middle school girls are building a solid foundation for future career opportunities.”
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About The Immokalee Foundation:
For almost 35 years, The Immokalee Foundation has been preparing the next generation of leaders through a 100% focus on education, career readiness, and workforce development for students in Immokalee—from kindergarten through postsecondary education. To learn more about The Immokalee Foundation, become a mentor, host an intern, take a tour, volunteer as a career panel speaker or host, donate, or include the Foundation in your will, please call 239-430-9122 or visit immokaleefoundation.org.
About the Women’s Foundation of Collier County:
The Women’s Foundation of Collier County (WFCC), established in 1996, is a field-of-interest fund administered by the Collier Community Foundation. Its mission is to be a catalyst for change in the lives of women and girls in Collier County through grantmaking, advocacy, and education. WFCC has granted over $2,000,000 to local women’s programs and organizations. Learn more at wfcollier.org.
