NAPLES — The Immokalee Foundation is pleased to announce it has received a $50,000 grant from The Women’s Foundation of Collier County in support of its Career Pathways Middle School Program, with a specific focus on female students.
The Immokalee Foundation’s award-winning Career Pathways program offers a broad curriculum for Immokalee middle and high school students to place them on pathways to well-paying, in-demand careers in Southwest Florida in four employment sectors: Engineering & Construction Management, Education & Human Services, Healthcare, and Business Management & Entrepreneurship.
“We are so grateful to The Women’s Foundation for understanding the special challenges facing young girls, specifically during their middle school years. Add in the economic challenges associated with life in Immokalee, and these challenges increase exponentially,” said Noemi Y. Perez, President and CEO of The Immokalee Foundation. “These funds enable us to develop educational programming specific to the unique needs of our middle school female students — and in anticipation of the successful women they will one day become.”
Students and their parents first learn about career options in middle school. Once students choose a career path, the Foundation’s program team helps plan their high school years to ensure they obtain the needed education, training, and internships to prepare for postsecondary programs and future jobs.
This early introduction to potential careers in middle school provides students with a critical head start.
“Of the various educational nonprofits in Southwest Florida, most seem to focus on elementary, high school or postsecondary students—as do we. However, we are proud of the emphasis we also place on the highly impressionable middle school years. Through their support of not just our middle school program but the needs of our girls, The Women’s Foundation is helping us raise the bar on our female students’ collective potential.”
Established in 1996, The Women’s Foundation of Collier County is a field-of-interest fund administered by the Community Foundation of Collier County, whose mission is to be a catalyst for change in the lives of women and girls in Collier County through grantmaking, advocacy and education.
About The Immokalee Foundation: For more than 30 years, The Immokalee Foundation has been preparing the next generation of leaders through a 100% focus on education, career readiness, and professional development for students in Immokalee — from kindergarten to postsecondary education. To learn more about The Immokalee Foundation, become a mentor, signature events, volunteer as a career panel speaker or host, donate, or include the Foundation in your estate plans, please call 239-430-9122 or visit immokaleefoundation.org.
