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The Immokalee Foundation

How Summer in

Immokalee Impacts

Southwest Florida

An Immokalee Foundation summer intern onsite at Physicians Regional Healthcare System.
by Noemi Y. Perez, President and CEO,
The Immokalee Foundation
hile many young people in Southwest Aligned with the Foundation’s four Career Pathways—Business
Florida spend the summer traveling, Management & Entrepreneurship, Education & Human Services,
W relaxing, and/or recharging, Engineering & Construction Management, and Healthcare—each
Immokalee Foundation students opt for a different camp offers highly customized instruction led by university faculty,
path. These enthusiastic young people continue featuring industry professionals.
their journey toward success through dynamic, Students participate in interactive workshops, collaborative projects,
engaging learning experiences that are not just fun, and field trips that bring their chosen fields to life.
but meaningful for all of Southwest Florida. Focus areas include STEM exploration, business development,
To begin, one summer highlight is the Foundation’s robust and career simulations. Activities include everything from building
internship program, which offers paid workplace experience for engineering projects to analyzing crime scenes to studying wildlife, and
eleventh- and twelfth-grade Foundation-supported students. even pitching business ideas in “Shark Tank”-style presentations.
In addition, there are unique educational summer camps at Offered at no cost to students thanks to donor support, the camps
Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) and Immokalee Technical remove financial barriers while providing transportation, meals, and
College (iTECH) for middle and high school students. enrichment experiences. Ultimately, these summer programs empower
There’s even a special “Boot Camp” for the Foundation’s new high Immokalee students to explore their passions, gain practical skills, and
school graduates, preparing them for their transition to college. take significant steps toward successful futures.
The Immokalee Foundation proudly offers a full continuum of Finally, there’s The Immokalee Foundation’s Summer Boot
support—starting with early literacy intervention in elementary Camp for rising first-year college students—an intensive, pre-college
school and extending through career exploration, immersive learning experience designed to ease the transition from high school to higher
experiences, and postsecondary education, ultimately leading to long- education. The High School Class of ’26 will build essential skills in
term career success. time management, financial literacy, and academic readiness while
With over 18,000 program participants since 1991, the Foundation gaining the confidence to navigate campus life.
has an impressive track record of contributing to the local professional Boot Camp fosters independence and resilience, ensuring students
labor force. No matter where you go in Southwest Florida over the feel prepared, supported, and empowered as they begin their college
summer, there’s a good chance you’ll interact with an Immokalee journey.
Foundation alum or student. The Immokalee Foundation’s summer activities create a powerful
Fifty-eight Immokalee Foundation high school students will ripple effect that extends far beyond the students served. Ultimately,
participate in paid internships to learn from industry experts in their these powerful programs do more than change individual lives—they
chosen Career Pathway at 26 locations throughout the region. fuel the local workforce and contribute to a stronger, more sustainable
Leading the way is Physicians Regional Healthcare System, which Southwest Florida community.
will host 13 Foundation interns. Other hosts include Arthrex, Barron About The Immokalee Foundation
Collier Companies, Collier County Sheriff’s Office, Healthcare For 34 years, The Immokalee Foundation has been preparing the next
Network, Diamond Construction, FC Naples, First Bank, JR Evans generation of leaders through a 100% focus on education, career readiness,
Engineering, and the Southwest Florida Research and Education and workforce development for students in Immokalee—from kindergarten
Center. through postsecondary education.
Next, there’s The Immokalee Foundation’s forward-facing spin on To learn more about The Immokalee Foundation, become a mentor, host
the concept of summer camps. Hosted in partnership with FGCU, the an intern, take a tour, volunteer as a career panel speaker or host, donate, or
Foundation’s five educational camps provide transformative, career- include the Foundation in your will, please call
focused experiences for middle and high school students. 239-430-9122 or visit www.immokaleefoundation.org
These multi-week programs immerse students in hands-on
learning designed to build academic skills, confidence, and real-world
awareness of future careers.
54 www.LifeInNaples.net