Page 60 - August 2016 Life In Naples Magazine

SIBLINGS INVOLVED IN TIF

BECOME BROTHERS AND SISTERS

IN SUCCESS

by Steven Kissinger STEVEN KISSINGER,WIDLINE DUVERT, SANDRA ANDRES, XOCHILT ZARAGOZA, NOEMI PEREZ

A s we celebrate our 25th anniversary
at The Immokalee Foundation, we
look back with gratitude that, so
often, the youth involved in our programs
inspire their siblings to see brighter futures
through our programs.

Perhaps no family illustrates this
more than five of the Zaragoza siblings.
Amadeo became involved with the
Future Builders of America vocational
education program in 2007. His sister
Anita was accepted to the Take Stock
in Children scholarship program while
attending middle school in 2006;
she is now a student at Florida Gulf
Coast University with her sights set on
attending medical school. And then came
Veronica and younger sister Xochilt, both
accepted in 2012. Xochilt graduated from
high school in June and is heading off to
the University of Central Florida to work
on a bachelor’s degree in political science.

ANA ABARCA,TIF ALUMNA, ADDRESSES NEW Meanwhile, Veronica will finish a degree in elementary education at FGCU in the fall and says
INDUCTEES AT TIF'S TSIC INDUCTION CEREMONY her dream is to earn a master’s degree.

“I want to go back to my community and make a difference in students’ education,”Veronica
said. In fact, as a Career Development program specialist working with TIF high school juniors
and seniors, she already has a head start. And fifth, but certainly not least, is Vianey, who was
accepted into the Career Development program last fall.

Veronica explains her siblings’ involvement this way: “When my younger sisters and I saw
that my older brother and sister became involved with the foundation, it motivated us to join
the program as well. Everyone from my town has two choices: We can stay and work for low
wages or continue our education after high school. Since I was a young child, I really could not
do much to help my parents. All they really wanted was for my sisters, my brother and me to
focus on our education.”

“My sister Veronica was able to see my progress through these past few years,” said Xochilt.
“She was like a mentor. I don’t know what I would have done without her.”

Ruben Lucio forged a similar path for his younger sibling, Benjamin. “As I came into TIF,
I was already known because of my brother,” said Benjamin. The brothers ended up helping
each other. “It also helped with networking as my brother and I knew different people and
opportunities within the program that we could share with each other,” he added.

Ruben graduated from Florida SouthWestern State College two years ago and began
a teaching career by giving back the same way Veronica wants to: Lucio became a migrant
resource teacher in Immokalee. This year, he will be a history classroom teacher and coach

60 Life in Naples | August • September • October 2016