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SCHULZE FAMILY FOUNDATION
GRANT HELPS

IMMOKALEE FOUNDATION STUDENTS

by Steven Kissinger
T hanks to a $100,000 grant from the Richard M.

Schulze Family Foundation, more youth in The
Immokalee Foundation’s programs now have
pathways to success.
The Immokalee Foundation is one of a select group
of nonprofit organizations recently honored with a grant
from the family foundation started by the founder of the
Best Buy chain of retail stores. To qualify for RMSFF
grants, programs must offer “rigorous and effective
learning experiences” through tutoring, after-school
programming or camps. The Immokalee Foundation
was fortunate to receive funds to benefit students of all
ages enrolled in its programs, from Immokalee Readers
to Career Development.
Immokalee Readers is an after-school program
designed to target the lowest-performing elementary
student readers by complementing the reading
instruction they receive during the regular school day.
The program matches high school-age tutors with the
MARY BETH GEIER, CENTER, OF THE RICHARD M. SCHULZE FAMILY FOUNDATION, PRESENTS A GRANT TO
elementary children to provide intensive and enjoyable THE IMMOKALEE FOUNDATION’S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, STEVEN KISSINGER, AND STEWARDSHIP AND
reading lessons. Currently, the program involves 545 DONOR RELATIONS DIRECTOR LAURA SIMMELINK.
students enrolled in Immokalee’s five elementary
schools, plus 110 trained high school tutors. All of the more than 145,000 people and operates more than 1,400 stores in the United
elementary students make measurable gains in reading States and 479 stores in Canada, China and Mexico.
proficiency after participating in Immokalee Readers. Although Schulze’s plans to attend college never materialized, he has
The Immokalee Foundation’s Career Development generously supported the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, the school where
programs expose students to choices for successful he enrolled before joining and engaging in full-time, active duty in the Air
futures, whether in college, the military or vocational National Guard.
school. They also learn important foundational skills, “The Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation is interested in students
such as effective communication, leadership and having access to high-quality education, which includes after-school tutoring
work ethic. and mentoring, as well as college and career development programs,” said Mary
Richard “Dick” Schulze, the chairman emeritus of Beth Geier, Lee and Collier counties region coordinator for the foundation.
Best Buy Co. Inc., started the foundation in 2004. In “Fortunately for the community, The Immokalee Foundation provides all of that
addition to education, RMSFF supports human and – and much more. Therefore, we are excited to partner with them, through this
social services efforts as well as programs and students grant, so they can continue to offer outstanding programs to the students and
studying health and medicine. While most of its grants families in Immokalee.”
support nonprofits that serve working- and middle- The Immokalee Foundation provides a range of education programs that
class families in Lee and Collier counties as well as seven focus on building pathways to success through college and post-secondary
Minnesota counties, some funding fuels programs that preparation and support, mentoring and tutoring, opportunities for broadening
are national in scope. Schulze was born and raised in St. experiences, and life skills development leading to economic independence. To
Paul, Minnesota, and now lives in Southwest Florida learn more about The Immokalee Foundation, including volunteering, becoming
with his wife, Maureen. a mentor, making a donation or any other information, call 239.430.9122 or visit
Schulze came from a modest background, building www.immokaleefoundation.org.
the company originally called The Sound of Music from
the ground floor, expanding to six stores in 1983 and Steven Kissinger, executive director of The Immokalee Foundation, can be reached
going public soon afterward. Today, Best Buy employs at steven.kissinger@immokaleefoundation.org.

54 Life in Naples | February 2017