The program started off with a 55th Birthday Blessing by Rev. Terry Mallory, Pastor of first Missionary Baptist Church & Pathways’ community partner with the Bension Center in Immokalee. Pathways’ Early Education Center Family wanted to show their thanks to everyone for joining them with their 55th Birthday Celebration and to kick off a season of celebrating and serving the Immokalee community.

Pathways’ graciously wants the support of the community, many clubs, organizations, and The Immokalee Chamber of Commerce. All of our communities can help with building the critical foundation for early learning and change the path for hundreds of families for another fifty plus years. Pathways Center, under the directions of Beth Hatch, Executive Director and Brandon Dowdy, Development Director had the most beautifully decorated center for all attendees for the occasion. The Day Care kids made the affair very special for everyone but especially for the arrival of Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart.

Congressman Balart was treated to a private center tour guided by the day care students, the students had little restaurant style aprons on that said, “Future Leaders on it.”

There were lots of speakers, Mario Diaz-Balart, our Congressman, Sarah Zaiser from Naples Children and Education Foundation, Winter Wine Festival, Beth Hatch and Brandon Dowdy.

Congressman Mario Balart assisted with revealing the new sign with the help of the Pathways’ Future Leaders

The center had a special thank you to a devoted volunteer from Naples who loved the children of Immokalee with a generous Donation to further the enlargement of the center. Director Hatch stated they had a waiting list of 400 applicants needing their services.

The Grand Finale was the singing of Happy Birthday and Mario cutting the Birthday Cake.