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Immokalee Foundation alum
David A. Turrubiartez Jr.
and his sons in front of their new
Career Pathways Learning Lab home

The Immokalee Foundation

Builds Careers, Homes and Full-Circle Moments

Today, David resides in a brand-new home built by Ivan and
other Foundation students representing the next generation
of Southwest Florida's professional workforce. However, after
by Noemi Y. Perez, President and CEO unexpectedly losing his wife in 2022, David lives there as a widower
avid A. Turrubiartez Jr. is certainly not alongside his 7 year old and 9 year old sons.
Southwest Florida's only new homebuyer "The Immokalee Foundation is a beacon of hope. As many of
Din the last few months. Still, his scenario is Immokalee's young people have never seen outside Collier County,
unique. David's new home is house #7 out of a total the Foundation enables us to understand our potential within and
of 18 planned homes being built by The Immokalee outside our zip code," he said. "The Foundation showed me—and
Foundation. continues to show others like me—what we're truly capable of
Since 1991, The Immokalee Foundation has been doing."
preparing the next generation of leaders through a 100% focus An operations manager at United Rentals, David is an active
on education, career readiness, and professional development for community member and coaches football and soccer. That's not
students in Immokalee—from kindergarten through postsecondary necessarily unusual, except that David is also paralyzed from the
education. waist down, the result of a cavernoma on his spine when he was
The Immokalee Foundation's innovative home construction only 26 years old.
project, the Career Pathways Learning Lab, enables students Resilience and determination are traits most Foundation
following the Foundation's Engineering & Construction students develop over time, and David is no exception. "I don't
Management and Business Management & Entrepreneurship need anyone to feel sorry for me. Everyone has their own trials and
Pathways to work with industry professionals and learn about land tribulations; everyone has their own story. I just want me and my
development, home construction, marketing and sales. family to be treated with respect. I'm grateful to every Foundation
Working with BCB Homes, Immokalee Technical College student who helped me provide my boys with this wonderful new
(iTECH), and Collier Enterprises, The Foundation developed a home in the town I love."
high school curriculum to prepare students to enter the engineering We are so proud that, through our Career Pathways Learning
and construction management professions. This curriculum focuses Lab, everyone wins—our students, their future employers, and a
on after-school and summer programs incorporating experiential community greatly in need of the expertise these young people will
learning and paid internships leading to industry recognized bring to the community in the years ahead.
credentials. We're honored to be a part of David and Ivan's
All the homes are sold at market value, providing middle- extraordinary stories of determination, gratitude and
income families with high-quality real estate options in Immokalee. growing success.
"The Learning Lab has taught me how to work as a team—and
About The Immokalee Foundation
about consistency and focus," said Foundation student Ivan. "This
About The Immokalee Foundation: For more than 32 years,
experience has been amazing. It's great to help build a house for
The Immokalee Foundation has provided new pathways to success and
someone, knowing they can live in a safe place where they are
financial independence through robust programming that prepares
comfortable and happy. I love it —I love it so much."
students for well-paying, in-demand professional careers in Business
Next up: Ivan plans to pursue a career in electrical engineering.
Management & Entrepreneurship, Education & Human Services,
The fact that new homeowner David is also an Immokalee
Engineering & Construction Management and Healthcare. To learn
Foundation alum is just a part of what makes his home so special.
more about The Immokalee Foundation, become a mentor, volunteer as
a career panel speaker or host, donate, or include the Foundation in your
estate plans, please call 239-430-9122 or visit immokaleefoundation.org
50 Life in Naples | February 2024