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Left to Right:
Aracely V.,
Dr. Patricia Schwarz, PT, DPT, CEAS,
and Dimitri Schwarz
from Results Care in Immokalee.

The Immokalee Foundation
Caring About Health

For over 30 years, The Immokalee Foundation has been 100% focused on education and professional development.
by Noemi Y. Perez, President and CEO

f all the things many of us appreciate about Southwest Student Fabian E. chose to follow the Foundation’s Healthcare
Florida, access to excellent healthcare is high on the list. Pathway because of his passion for helping those who are suffering.
OOur area healthcare providers continue to work diligently “When I was young, I experienced multiple trips to the hospital due
to expand as well as enhance their capabilities to keep up with to broken bones and heart problems. I will always remember how it
Collier County’s growing demand for healthcare products and felt to be surrounded by caring doctors and nurses,” Estrada recalls.
services. “My love for science and math has also fed my desire to become a
Due to the recent population explosion, healthcare facility biomedical engineer.”
expansion will provide little benefit without qualified staff to work Due to his parents’ seasonal work in agriculture, he was born
with patients. And at The Immokalee Foundation, we’re doing our in Fletcher, North Carolina and spent all his life moving back and
part to help. forth between North Carolina and Florida.
For over 30 years, The Immokalee Foundation has been 100% “I was accepted into The Immokalee Foundation in my sixth-
focused on education and professional development. This year grade year. My parents already had experience with the organization
alone, over 1,300 students will benefit from our programs, from since my older brother was a participant,” he explains. “My parents
kindergarten through postsecondary education. came from Mexico with minimal education and therefore, they
Our alumni are already working throughout Southwest Florida couldn’t provide much guidance when it came to education, yet
as physicians, nurses, physical therapists, and technicians—and always encouraged us to strive for more. Coming from a low-
we’re committed to adding to the talent pool in the years ahead. income town, participating in The Immokalee Foundation’s
Our innovative Career Pathways Program is a comprehensive programs is one of the few opportunities we have available. And
educational approach that breaks new ground in preparing we’re grateful.”
students for professional careers. In addition to Healthcare, our Please, join us in preparing the next generation of
pathways include Business Management & Entrepreneurship, skilled healthcare professionals. For more information, visit
Education & Human Services, and Engineering & Construction Immokaleefoundation.org or call 239-430-9122. You can also
Management. support us through our Amazon Wish List, available online at
Each year, our Career Pathways students are introduced to Healthcare.ImmokaleeFoundation.org.
in demand career opportunities through guest speakers, career-
building summer camps, hands-on activities, field trips, internships About The Immokalee Foundation
and more. For more than 30 years, The Immokalee Foundation has maintained
When Foundation student Aracely V. joined The Immokalee a 100% focus on education and professional development for students
Foundation’s Healthcare Pathway, she wanted to become a in Immokalee—from kindergarten to postsecondary education. Through
neonatal nurse. However, because of her internship with Results support, mentoring, tutoring, and life skills development,
Care in Immokalee, she decided to pursue a career as an ultrasound The Immokalee Foundation provides pathways to success for those
technologist. who may not otherwise have had the opportunity to succeed.
Aracely’s experience as an intern enabled her to learn how to For additional information visit immokaleefoundation.org.
use the equipment, such as the cervical and back tractions. It was
through this life-changing experience that she found a love for
working with medical machines and patients—together.
50 Life in Naples | May, June, July 2022