NAPLES — United Way of Collier and the Keys awarded Guadalupe Center a $30,000 grant to help level the playing field for elementary school students in Immokalee.

The funding supports Guadalupe Center’s After-school Tutoring & Summer Enrichment Program, which provides additional academic support after the regular school day ends and during summer months for students who need support with reading, math and science. The program annually serves 1,060 Immokalee students in kindergarten, first and second grades.

“Students learn at different paces, and some children need a little more time to fully grasp and comprehend what their teachers cover during the school day,” said Dawn Montecalvo, president and CEO of Guadalupe Center. “Our out-of-school programs have a tremendous rate of success, and thanks to organizations like the United Way, we can continue making sure students perform at or above grade level expectations.”

United Way’s grant will help cover instructional costs for the After-school Tutoring & Summer Enrichment Program, including wages for high school students in Guadalupe Center’s college-preparatory Tutor Corps Program who assist credentialed teachers in delivering academic instruction.

The United Way of Collier and the Keys focuses its philanthropic efforts on programs that improve education, financial stability and health while addressing basic needs. The organization places a special focus on ALICE – residents who are Asset Limited, Income Constrained and Employed.