NAPLES — The Collier Community Foundation has awarded a $30,000 grant to help support Guadalupe Center’s nationally accredited Early Childhood Education Program.

Guadalupe Center, which recently expanded its Early Childhood Education Program with the addition of two new campuses, provides more than 500 students with access to a safe, high-quality early learning program. The program serves students ages 6 weeks to 5 years old and focuses on building academic, social, emotional and behavioral skills needed for success in elementary school and beyond.

Guadalupe Center’s Early Childhood Education Program is the only early learning program in Collier County accredited through the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC); it also is accredited by the Accredited Professional Preschool Learning Environment (APPLE). The Florida Department of Children and Families recognizes Guadalupe Center as a Gold Seal Quality Care Program.

“A high-quality birth-to-five program is critical in providing a strong foundation for your youngest learners,” said Dawn Montecalvo, president of Guadalupe Center. “The grant from the Collier Community Foundation helps ensure that we can continue offering high-quality academic program that is affordable for all families in Immokalee.”

Through generous philanthropic support, families pay an average tuition of $40 per week through a sliding scale based on parents’ income.

The Collier Community Foundation awards annual grants through a competitive application and review process. Selected organizations receive grant dollars from the Community Impact Fund, which is comprised of donors who believe in the Community Foundation’s ability to identify the community’s most current needs and private financial support.