Special to Lake Okeechobee News
Naples, FL—06/24/25—The Immokalee Foundation is pleased to announce it has received a $40,000 grant from the Women's Foundation of Collier County. These funds are earmarked to support middle school girls participating in the Foundation's after-school Career Pathways education and workforce development program.
The Women's Foundation of Collier County awards annual grants through a competitive application and review process. Funding is made possible by donors who believe in the Women's Foundation and its ability to identify and grant to the most pressing needs of women and girls in Collier County.
This is the 4th consecutive year the Women's Foundation has supported the career trajectory of The Immokalee Foundation's 6th, 7th and 8th-grade girls.
The Immokalee Foundation's award-winning Career Pathways program offers a broad curriculum for Immokalee middle and high school students to place them on pathways to well-paying, in-demand careers in Southwest Florida in four employment sectors: Engineering & Construction Management, Education & Human Services, Healthcare, and Business Management & Entrepreneurship.
"The Women's Foundation of Collier County's ongoing support has already had a huge impact on our ability to proactively prepare even more young people—specifically young women—for Southwest Florida's growing workforce," said Noemi Y. Perez, president and CEO of The Immokalee Foundation. "Foundation students and their parents first learn about career options in middle school. The Career Pathways program introduces career choices to middle school girls at a very impressionable time in their lives."
The Immokalee Foundation's students come from families with minimal options, making this program necessary for them to escape intergenerational poverty. Career Pathways empowers Immokalee's best and brightest young girls to imagine a different future and make the right decisions to achieve it.
"It's inspiring to see the impact of both the Foundation's efforts and the community's investment as the young girls gain the tools and confidence to pursue their dreams," said Althea Irving, Women's Foundation of Collier County Board Chair. “Together, we are building a brighter future—one fearless young woman at a time."
About The Immokalee Foundation: For over 33 years, The Immokalee Foundation has been preparing the next generation of leaders through a 100% focus on education, career readiness, and workforce development for students in Immokalee—from kindergarten through postsecondary education. To learn more about The Immokalee Foundation, become a mentor, host an intern, take a tour, volunteer as a career panel speaker or host, donate, or include the Foundation in your will, please call 239-430-9122 or visit immokaleefoundation.org.
About the Women's Foundation of Collier County: The Women's Foundation of Collier County (WFCC), established in 1996, is a field-of-interest fund administered by the Collier Community Foundation. Its mission is to be a catalyst for change in the lives of women and girls in Collier County through grantmaking, advocacy, and education. WFCC has granted over $2,000,000 to local women's programs and organizations. Learn more at wfcollier.org.
