Naples, FL—11/17/23—The Immokalee Foundation is pleased to announce it has received a $15,000 grant from the Collier Community Foundation. These funds will support the Foundation’s Immokalee Reader’s program.

For over 32 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.

As literacy is the basis of any successful long-term educational journey, The Immokalee Foundation established the Immokalee Readers Program in 2008 as an intensive after-school early intervention literacy tutoring program targeting students in grades K-5 who need extra support.

The program enables elementary students to engage in activities to help build language skills, including vocabulary, self-expression, and comprehension.

Available at all five elementary schools and one charter school in Immokalee, Immokalee Readers supported over 800 children last year alone. Plus, an astonishing 97% of the children served in 2022-23 made measurable progress in their reading skills.

“Collier Community Foundation is a gift to The Immokalee Foundation and our community,” said Noemi Y. Perez, president and CEO of The Immokalee Foundation. “Once again, they have stepped up to support our students, focusing their attention this time on perhaps our most vulnerable student population—those in elementary school who are laying the foundation for their educational progress throughout their childhood and ultimately their pathway to a successful career.”

"We are so pleased to help prepare our Collier County students for future success through this grant to Reader's Program," said Eileen Connolly-Keesler, president and CEO of the Collier Community Foundation. "We applaud The Immokalee Foundation's dedication to serving their community with this essential program and so many others they provide."

About The Immokalee Foundation: Since 1991, The Immokalee Foundation has provided 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, 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.  

About the Collier Community Foundation: The Collier Community Foundation™ is a tax-exempt, public, charitable organization established in 1985 to increase and focus on local private philanthropy. Today, the Collier Community Foundation manages more than 850 funds, works with hundreds of nonprofits, and has granted over $310 million to nonprofit organizations, community programs, and scholarships. Informed giving. Powerful results.™  Learn more at colliercf.org or call 239-649-5000.