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The Immokalee Foundation Provides

Critical Tools for Postsecondary

Education Success

by Noemi Y. Perez
rom ensuring literacy for elementary-aged students in our winter clothing, plane tickets, study abroad sponsorships or test
Immokalee Readers program to supporting our graduates in preparation.”
F their postsecondary programs, The Immokalee Foundation The Foundation also helps support students through other
works hard to ensure our students have the tools they need to daunting tasks such as filling out the Free Application for Federal
be successful. Regardless of his or her financial Student Aid (FAFSA) forms and applying
situation, our goal is to provide each student the for additional scholarships outside of the
opportunity to pursue a postsecondary education Foundation and Take Stock in Children. Our
Many young people throughout the United programming staff hosts workshops after
States must take out a loan to cover the cost of school and on weekends to help students
attending college. Among the nation’s graduating through all the necessary pieces of applying to
class of 2019, 69% of college students took out postsecondary programs.
student loans, and they graduated with an average “The Immokalee Foundation provided
debt of $29,900. me with the guidance I needed to achieve my dreams,” said Alan
Considering that 50% of the children in Immokalee live at or Cuevas Villagomez, an Immokalee Foundation graduate and
below the poverty line, our mission is to provide the opportunity 3rd year medical student at the University of Pittsburgh. “The
for a debt-free education while setting our students up for Foundation’s scholarship program gave me the amazing opportunity
economic independence. to attend college and medical school, completely debt-free.”
“Our goal is to make education accessible,” said Paulina With the financial support of The Immokalee Foundation
Magaña, Postsecondary Services Manager for The Immokalee behind them, our students have found great success. One hundred
Foundation. “Whether a student wants to attend a college, percent of our students have a postsecondary plan for a professional
university, or an advanced postsecondary certification program, we career and ninety-two percent of our students graduate with an
support them and give them access to scholarships that will advanced post-secondary certificate or degree. By giving our
take the financial stress off their shoulders.” students the opportunity to succeed without the weight
An Immokalee Foundation student can receive of financial worry on their shoulders, they truly
a scholarship in one of two ways. Through our shine.
partnership with Take Stock in Children To help support The Immokalee Foundation,
(TSIC), we collectively break the cycle of or their career success scholarships, visit
poverty for at-risk, low-income, academically ImmokaleeFoundation.org/Donate
qualified students by providing postsecondary About The Immokalee Foundation
educational opportunities. Any Foundation For more than 30 years, The Immokalee
student who qualifies and successfully Foundation has maintained a 100% focus on
meets all requirements of the TSIC program education and professional development for
receives a Florida Prepaid Tuition scholarship students in Immokalee—from kindergarten
with guaranteed tuition coverage for their to postsecondary education. Through support,
postsecondary program of choice. mentoring, tutoring, and life skills development, The
Additionally, we provide a number of Foundation- Immokalee Foundation provides pathways to success for
Alan Cuevas
sponsored scholarships—made possible by the generosity those who may not otherwise have had the opportunity to
Villagomez, a 3rd
of The Immokalee Foundation’s donors—to help cover succeed.
year medical student
tuition and other postsecondary related expenses. at the University of
“We are here to support our students throughout Pittsburgh, was able For additional information, call 239-430-9122 or
their entire postsecondary journey,” said Yeimi Espinoza, to attend college visit immokaleefoundation.org.
The Immokalee Foundation’s Take Stock in Children and medical school Noemi Y. Perez, president and CEO of
completely debt-free
Program Manager. “Beyond covering expenses for room The Immokalee Foundation, can be reached at
thanks to
and board with our typical scholarships, we also provide noemi.perez@immokaleefoundation.org.
The Immokalee
supplemental scholarships to help cover any additional Foundation’s
expenses that may arise throughout their program. scholarship
This can include assistance on textbooks, technology, programs.

52 Life in Naples | January 2022