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Noemi Perez with Oliver and other
Immokalee Readers Students

The Immokalee Foundation

The Butterfly Effect on Immokalee

When Oliver is invited to participate in the CCSO’s Public
Safety Career Academy in 11th and 12th grade, he gets to dive even
by Noemi Y. Perez, President and CEO deeper into the world of law enforcement.
ave you ever thought, “I’m just one Next, with all this extraordinary preparation and experience,
person—what difference can I make in Oliver becomes part of the 100% of Immokalee Foundation
Hthe world?” Coined by MIT professor students who graduate high school and have a postsecondary
Edward Lorenz, the “Butterfly Effect” is a theory plan to pursue an in-demand professional career. With the help
that the flap of a butterfly’s wings in Brazil can of scholarships and ongoing guidance and support from The
hypothetically set off a tornado in Texas due to a set Immokalee Foundation, Oliver can now pursue a criminal justice
of interconnected and reactive events. degree at a Florida university.
Although this theory was first applied to physics, one can’t help Fast forward, and Oliver is an FBI special agent responsible for
but wonder how it applies to giving. everything from national security and counterterrorism to criminal
Consider Oliver, one of more than 800 Immokalee Readers investigations and law enforcement. He has rescued hundreds from
students receiving critical literacy and language development falling victim to human trafficking. He was even given an honorary
support after school. medal for his courageous work, saving countless lives in the line of
Oliver dreams of one day becoming a police officer. Along with duty.
97% of other Immokalee Readers students, he is making gains in Oliver’s deep connection to Southwest Florida profoundly
his reading ability because of the extra support he receives through influenced his decision to return home. He now works alongside
our Immokalee Readers program. His progress is laying the Collier County Sheriff’s Office to make our community one of the
foundation for the rest of his educational journey and his life. safest places in the nation to live, work, and play.
Now, let’s look at a very realistic scenario for Oliver’s educational Now, imagine all the different career scenarios just waiting
and professional future—one made possible by The Immokalee to happen for the 1,300 students currently supported by The
Foundation. Immokalee Foundation. Immokalee is filled with highly motivated
Throughout middle school, Oliver embarks on a career “Olivers” who need you to flap your wings on their behalf.
exploration phase with The Immokalee Foundation. Thinking far Yes, success can happen because of one small act of giving. A
ahead, The Immokalee Foundation has already assigned Oliver a donation. Volunteerism. A caring smile. An encouraging handshake.
Florida prepaid scholarship for postsecondary support. It all counts.
Some career panels, workshops, and field trips involve our Be a part of the Butterfly Effect that forever changes
partnership with Collier County Sheriff's Office (CCSO). After the lives of Immokalee’s Children.
th
developing a career action plan in 8 grade, his trajectory is already About The Immokalee Foundation
set for his career in law enforcement. For more than 32 years, The Immokalee Foundation has been
Now in high school, Oliver follows our Education and preparing the next generation of leaders through a 100% focus on
Human Services Pathway—one of four Immokalee Foundation education, career readiness, and professional development for students
Career Pathways leading to well-paying jobs in high demand in in Immokalee—from kindergarten through postsecondary education.
Southwest Florida. Activities include financial literacy education, To learn more about The Immokalee Foundation, become a mentor,
postsecondary and college prep programs, mentorship, career expos volunteer as a career panel speaker or host, donate, or include the
and field trips, ACT prep courses, summer educational camps, Foundation in your estate plans, please call 239-430-9122 or visit
networking events, paid internships, and other highly specialized immokaleefoundation.org.
career programming.

50 Life in Naples | January 2024