Founded in 1991, The Immokalee Foundation has committed itself to improving lives in Immokalee by directly operating programs serving Immokalee’s students from kindergarten to career.
OUR MISSION: The Immokalee Foundation’s mission is "Building Pathways to Success for the students of Immokalee." The Immokalee Foundation is devoted to improving the lives of Immokalee's children and future generations by emphasizing education, vocation and life skills through programs that provide students with opportunities to grow, learn, and advance to educational and professional heights they never dreamed possible. The end goal is for graduates to achieve economic independence and break the intergenerational cycle of poverty that is so pervasive in Immokalee.
IMMOKALEE AT A GLANCE: Approximately 25% of the nation’s citrus and more than one-third of the nation’s tomatoes are grown in Immokalee. The majority of parents and guardians of Immokalee’s children work long hours in the fields and packing houses of Immokalee. Despite their hard work, nearly 45% of Immokalee’s almost 25,000 residents live below the poverty line. Over 5,000 of these residents are school age children and their lives are deeply affected by poverty.
CAREER PATHWAYS INITIATIVE: The Immokalee Foundation seeks support for its new groundbreaking Career Pathways Initiative – High Demand Professional Careers in the New Economy. This Initiative is the result of in-depth study of data and collaboration with educators, educational institutions, employers, and students. This bold, new program begins early- at the 6th grade level- to ensure that our students attain the skills, knowledge and opportunities to secure high-demand, rewarding professional careers in Southwest Florida. Four pathways with the greatest job growth potential in Southwest Florida were identified, including: 1. healthcare; 2. education and social services; 3. engineering and construction management and; and 4. business management. These well-paying jobs are available to students who earn industry-recognized certificates and credentials, in addition to professions that require a college or university degree.
Our new brochure provides more details about this unique, strategic initiative.
OUR RESULTS:
•Each year we provide opportunities and programming to more than 1,300 students, serving to break the intergenerational cycle of poverty in their 1,100+ families
• 100% Immokalee Foundation’s students graduate from high school (compared to Immokalee’s 39% of adult residents, and Florida’s 88% rate)
• 100% Immokalee Foundation’s students enter college/post-secondary program
• 91% Immokalee Foundation students graduate post-secondary (compared to Immokalee’s 5% college graduation rate and Florida’s 28% rate).
Thank you for supporting The Immokalee Foundation and the children in Immokalee. You are truly making a difference in their lives!
