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Education: The gift that empowers, creates prosperity

said Daniel Martinez, high
school director for Tutor Corps.
An exemplary student, John
is taking dual enrollment classes
that provide both high school and college credit, giving him a head
start on a bachelor’s degree. He scored in the 87th percentile on the
SAT, putting him well into the upper quartile on the college readiness
exam. He’s also participated in athletics at Immokalee High as a
member of the tennis team and consistently is among the top Tutor
Corps students in accrued tutoring hours.
The Next Step
John’s academic abilities have caught the eyes of several colleges
and universities. Over the coming months, he’ll be evaluating
admissions and scholarship offers before choosing a collegiate home.
For John and his peers in the Tutor Corps Program, the next six
by Dawn Montecalvo months are crucial as they turn the page to a new chapter of their
very inspiring journey starts with lives. John is ready. He hopes to make a name for himself in the world
hope. For John Auguste, a senior at of animation and digital art.
EImmokalee High School, the journey “With the help of Guadalupe Center, I know I can have a career
started when his family emigrated from Haiti and make my mother proud,” John said.
when John was just a 1-year-old. His mother, How Gifts Matter
Estilia – a single mom with six children – Dedicated teachers, caring mentors and hard-working staff are
recognized that a high-quality education in this only part of the equation at Guadalupe Center. Philanthropic support
country would offer John and his siblings the opportunity to turn fuels success. Guadalupe Center relies on support from generous
their dreams into reality. individuals and couples, businesses, foundations and volunteers to
Estilia enrolled John in Guadalupe Center’s nationally create transformational change for families in Immokalee.
accredited Early Childhood Education Program, which offers Supporters don’t just contribute monetary donations; they are
academic, social, behavioral and emotional support to prepare providing the gift of education that inspires, educates and empowers
students for kindergarten. Then, Estilia made sure John could students such as John. At every step of his educational journey,
continue his progress by registering him for the nonprofit’s After- academic programs supported by generous donors have brought his
school Tutoring & Summer Enrichment Program, which provides dream of becoming a successful animator closer to reality. He’s almost
reading and math assistance that reinforces lessons learned in there. His peers are almost there. They just need a little more help.
school. Supporters can donate to Guadalupe Center through a secure
In eighth grade John applied for admission to Guadalupe online platform at GuadalupeCenter.org/donate-now.
Center’s college-preparatory Tutor Corps Program, which offers About the Author
college and career readiness programs, ACT and SAT test prep, Dawn Montecalvo is president and CEO at Guadalupe Center,
mentorships, financial literacy and scholarship assistance, which provides high-quality educational programs for nearly 1,950
as well as wages for tutoring younger students. students annually in Immokalee.
“Over the years, John has developed a love for learning and
confidence in his abilities, and that’s given him hope for the future,”

Life in Naples | December 2023 47