The Immokalee Foundation Receives Grant from Collier Community Foundation

The Immokalee Foundation is pleased to announce it has received a generous $50,000 grant from Collier Community Foundation. These funds are earmarked to support the Foundation's nationally recognized Career Pathways career development initiative.  

The Career Pathways program prepares students for high-demand, well-paying professions by providing internships, mentors, industry-recognized credentials, academic support, and university, college, or technical school scholarships. Foundation students come from families with minimal options, making this program necessary for them to escape intergenerational poverty and make meaningful contributions to the region's workforce and economy.  

Career Pathways empowers Immokalee's youth to imagine a different future and make the right decisions to achieve it. The award-winning program offers a broad curriculum for Immokalee middle and high school students to place them on pathways to well-paying, in-demand careers in Southwest Florida in four employment sectors: Engineering & Construction Management, Education & Human Services, Healthcare, and Business Management & Entrepreneurship.  

The Immokalee Foundation is Southwest Florida's first and only organization offering a full continuum of support with impressive outcomes— starting with early literacy intervention in elementary school and extending through career exploration, immersive learning experiences, and postsecondary education, ultimately leading to long-term career success.  

"The Immokalee Foundation's educational programs positively impact Immokalee's families—and subsequently Southwest Florida—by giving our students a pathway to life-changing careers," explained Noemi Y. Perez, Immokalee Foundation President and CEO. "Career Pathways programming aligns with SouthwestFlorida's workforce's needs by preparing our students to assume key roles in critically needed professions. We are profoundly grateful for Collier Community Foundation's longstanding support. Our alumni's financial independence creates a ripple effect that improves the lives of their families and community." 

Collier Community Foundation's President and CEO Eileen Connolly-Keesler added. "The Immokalee Foundation is creating meaningful pathways to opportunity by preparing students for careers that are essential to Southwest Florida's future. This grant reflects our shared commitment to workforce development and educational access—helping young people gain the skills and credentials needed to succeed in high-demand fields."