NAPLES — For ten years in a row, The Immokalee Foundation has been the recipient of Take Stock in Children’s Gold Level of Excellence Award. In addition, for the third consecutive year, the Foundation has received the highly coveted Luminary Award, having earned a perfect balance scorecard of 100 points based on Take Stock in Children’s (TSIC) key performance indicators.

TSIC is a nonprofit mentoring, college success, and scholarship organization dedicated to transforming Florida, one student at a time. Working statewide throughout Florida, their mission is to break the cycle of poverty for low-income and academically qualified students by providing opportunities for degree attainment through postsecondary education.

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.

“This award from Take Stock in Children means everything to us because everyone involved with The Immokalee Foundation shares in the achievement — our students and their parents, our staff, our supporters, donors, sponsors, mentors, and volunteers — everyone,” said Noemi Y. Perez, President and CEO of The Immokalee Foundation. “It’s said that ‘teamwork makes the dream work.’ Truer words have never been spoken.”

TSIC provides qualifying Immokalee Foundation students with a Florida Prepaid tuition scholarship upon high school graduation and successful program completion. These students are also matched with a committed, passionate mentor-volunteer to guide them toward their future goals.

The organization also provides opportunities for individual student achievement to be recognized. The Immokalee Foundation Class of 2020’s Gisselle Nava was awarded a $40,000 scholarship from TSIC’s Leaders for Life fellowship program. She was the first student from The Immokalee Foundation to earn the award. Joel Guerrero followed in her footsteps in 2022, becoming The Foundation’s second Leaders of Life fellow.

And today, Foundation student and Florida SouthWestern State College freshman Crystal Flores is ready to make her mark. “The Immokalee Foundation has gifted me with so many opportunities, one being my acceptance into the Take Stock in Children program. The Immokalee Foundation has supported me in my career financially and academically. They have helped make it possible for me to work towards my goal of becoming a Biomedical Engineer in prosthetics.”

The Immokalee Foundation’s Take Stock in Children Program Manager, Yeimi Espinoza, adds: “We are so honored to have received this recognition for the past ten years. I greatly appreciate my fully committed and passionate mentors for our students; they are the backbone of our continuous success!”

About The Immokalee Foundation: The Foundation provides new pathways to success and financial independence through robust programming that prepares students for well-paying, in-demand professional careers in Business Management & Entrepreneurship, Education & Human Services, Engineering & Construction Management and Healthcare. 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.