The Immokalee Community School, a charter school operated by the Redlands Christian Migrant Association, has completed a $1.2 million expansion, which added four new classrooms, a spacious dance studio, teachers’ lounge, staff offices and more.

Donors, civic leaders and school volunteers recently attended an open house to celebrate completion of the project, which increased capacity to 225 students and added a sixth grade.

“The longer students remain with us, the better their academic performance. This is why the expansion was so critical,” explained Maria Jimenez, RCMA’s Director of Charter Schools.

The Naples Children and Education Foundation made the expansion possible by awarding RCMA a $500,000 “challenge grant” in March 2005.

The “challenge” was to raise a matching $500,000 by March 2006, and RCMA beat the deadline by two months.

Later, the Foundation donated another $122,000 to cover hurricane-related cost increases.

“We couldn’t have done this without the help of the Naples Children and Education Foundation and

generous donations from Florida agribusiness, corporate donors, foundations and concerned citizens throughout Florida,” Ms. Jimenez said.

The Class of 2007 includes numerous graduates who began their education as pre-schoolers at RCMA centers. One of those success stories is Nicolas

Perilla, this year’s valedictorian at Sebring High School.

Nicolas and his family moved to the United States from Colombia in 1994 without speaking any English. Nicolas was 4 when he entered RCMA’s Avon Park Child Development Center. He quickly learned English and was a straight-A student throughout his public school career.

Not only that, Nicolas’ older brother and older sister also graduated at the top of their Sebring High classes. Congratulations, Nicolas and all the members of the Class of 2007!

Nicolas PerillaPhoto courtesy of Highlands Today

Students at RCMA's Immokalee Community School perform for guests at the recent open house.

SUCCESS STORY

“The longer students remain with us, the better their academic performance. This is why the expansion was so critical,”

- Maria Jimenez, Director of Charter Schools

25250 RCMA news env:newsletter 6/12/07 10:01 AM Page 1

RCMA’s e ighth annua l go l f tournament raised a record $85,474 to provide services for children of migrant farm workers and rural, low-income families at RCMA centers across Florida. The tournament was May 5 at the Lely Golf Resort in Naples.

“We owe a huge debt of gratitude to our 50 sponsors and 133 golfers,” said RCMA Executive Director Barbara Mainster. “We can generate $16 in grant funding for every dollar raised. In essence, the 2007 golf tournament will make an impact of over $1.3 million!”

RCMA extends special thanks to tournament co-sponsors All-Brand Food Distribution and Kaplan Early Learning Co., which each donated $10,000. Olde Florida Benefits was the diamond sponsor with a $7,500 donation.

Platinum sponsors ($5,000) were Florida Community Bank and Marsh. Bill Laimbeer of Marco Island, a member of RCMA’s Board, was the honorary sponsor with a $3,000 donation.

Gold sponsors ($2,500) were the Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association, Lodge Construction, National City Private Client Group, Southwest Florida Workforce Development Board and Tropicana Products.

Silver sponsors ($1,500) were Bank of America, BlueCross BlueShield of Florida (Sarasota), BlueCross BlueShield of Florida (Fort Myers), Gargiulo, Inc., and Ocariz, Gitlin & Zomerfeld, LLP.

Bronze sponsors ($1,250) were Danka Office Solutions,

Duda Farm Fresh Foods, Lykes Brothers, Inc. and Planet Reach.Corporate sponsors ($1,000) were Abacus, ADP,

Consolidated Citrus Limited Partnership, Corporate Express (Tampa), Corporate Express (Miami), Everglades Community Association, Florida Tomato Committee, FreshPoint Southwest Florida, Frontier Adjusters, Leslie Reunion, Mark’s RV Sales, Nobles-Collier, Rentokil, Seminole Indian Casino (Immokalee), Tomato Man and Wausau.

To add your name to the mailing list for the 2008 event, email Judy Brill at judy@rcma.org.

The winners of RCMA’s annual golf tournament (from left): Jerry Newlin, Grant Erickson, Mike Wynn & Jim Beesting, representing the Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association. Thanks to an

outpouring of philanthropy in Vero Beach, the Redlands Christian Migrant Association recently purchased a house on 1.3 acres that will become the new Children’s House Child Development Center for approximately 50 migrant children in the Wabasso area.

Built in 1961, the 3,600-square foot house, at 7625 85th St., will be transformed into four classrooms for infants through 5 year olds. RCMA paid $329,000 cash for the property. Principal donations from the Bryson Family Foundation, Paul and Stella Covill and the Shoemate Foundation made the purchase possible. “This is absolutely

phenomenal support. We were anticipating a year or more of fund-raising to accomplish what the Brysons, Covills and Shoemates did in short order,” said RCMA Executive Director Barbara Mainster. “On behalf of the staff, teachers and especially the migrant parents, I take great pleasure in extending my deepest gratitude to Vaughn and Nancy Bryson, Paul and Stella Covill and Richard and Nancy Shoemate.”

RCMA serves approximately 400 children at four child-development centers in Indian River County, among over 7,000-plus children served statewide by RCMA. The new center will replace the original Children’s House,

which closed last June. Meanwhile, approximately 50 displaced children are being cared for in mobile units at Fellsmere Farms.

Fund-raising continues for the renovation costs, which are expected to reach $200,000. RCMA has applied to several local foundations for assistance, and the RCMA Indian River Advisory Committee, chaired by Mrs. Covill, has also been steadily raising funds.

Volunteers and donors are always welcome; to help, contact Elida Gomez, RCMA’s Indian River coordinator, at (772) 571-9015.

RCMA is funded by local, state and federal grants, as well as the generosity of businesses, individuals, the United Way and other organizations.

H e c o n t r i b u t e d generously in life and, in passing, left a legacy to children of migrant farm workers in Indian River County.

A longtime grower of world-famous Indian River citrus, Mr. Richard Graves cared deeply for the workers who picked the fruit and their families.

Upon his passing last November, his wife, Mrs. Mary Graves, asked that in lieu of flowers, friends and family donate to RCMA in Mr. Graves’ name. RCMA has received nearly $25,000 in tributes, all of which will go toward renovations of the new Children’s House building.

P l e a s e r e m e m b e r RCMA in estate planning to ensure that farmworker children have the tools they need to succeed when they reach kindergarten.

This 46-year-old house will be transformed into a child care center.

Despite being new to chess, six children who attend RCMA’s after-school program in Wimauma finished as the runner-up team at a recent chess tournament at Brandon Regional Library.

“The incredible part is they beat more experienced and more advanced players from several private schools,” said Josie Gracia, who oversees RCMA after-school programs in Southeast Hillsborough. “There’s no stopping them now. We started a chess club at every program, and we’ll be preparing for other, bigger tournaments.”

Though the students had only practiced for one week before the tournament, their hard work paid off on May 6th when they took home the second-place trophy.The children were coached by Wimauma

Elementary School Principal Roy Moral, teacher Andrew Lack and RCMA’s Andrea Nareja, coordinator of the Wimauma after-

school program.“The children, staff, parents and teachers are all so

proud!” Ms. Gracia said.

25250 RCMA news env:newsletter 6/12/07 10:01 AM Page 2

RCMA’s e ighth annua l go l f tournament raised a record $85,474 to provide services for children of migrant farm workers and rural, low-income families at RCMA centers across Florida. The tournament was May 5 at the Lely Golf Resort in Naples.

“We owe a huge debt of gratitude to our 50 sponsors and 133 golfers,” said RCMA Executive Director Barbara Mainster. “We can generate $16 in grant funding for every dollar raised. In essence, the 2007 golf tournament will make an impact of over $1.3 million!”

RCMA extends special thanks to tournament co-sponsors All-Brand Food Distribution and Kaplan Early Learning Co., which each donated $10,000. Olde Florida Benefits was the diamond sponsor with a $7,500 donation.

Platinum sponsors ($5,000) were Florida Community Bank and Marsh. Bill Laimbeer of Marco Island, a member of RCMA’s Board, was the honorary sponsor with a $3,000 donation.

Gold sponsors ($2,500) were the Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association, Lodge Construction, National City Private Client Group, Southwest Florida Workforce Development Board and Tropicana Products.

Silver sponsors ($1,500) were Bank of America, BlueCross BlueShield of Florida (Sarasota), BlueCross BlueShield of Florida (Fort Myers), Gargiulo, Inc., and Ocariz, Gitlin & Zomerfeld, LLP.

Bronze sponsors ($1,250) were Danka Office Solutions,

Duda Farm Fresh Foods, Lykes Brothers, Inc. and Planet Reach.Corporate sponsors ($1,000) were Abacus, ADP,

Consolidated Citrus Limited Partnership, Corporate Express (Tampa), Corporate Express (Miami), Everglades Community Association, Florida Tomato Committee, FreshPoint Southwest Florida, Frontier Adjusters, Leslie Reunion, Mark’s RV Sales, Nobles-Collier, Rentokil, Seminole Indian Casino (Immokalee), Tomato Man and Wausau.

To add your name to the mailing list for the 2008 event, email Judy Brill at judy@rcma.org.

The winners of RCMA’s annual golf tournament (from left): Jerry Newlin, Grant Erickson, Mike Wynn & Jim Beesting, representing the Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association. Thanks to an

outpouring of philanthropy in Vero Beach, the Redlands Christian Migrant Association recently purchased a house on 1.3 acres that will become the new Children’s House Child Development Center for approximately 50 migrant children in the Wabasso area.

Built in 1961, the 3,600-square foot house, at 7625 85th St., will be transformed into four classrooms for infants through 5 year olds. RCMA paid $329,000 cash for the property. Principal donations from the Bryson Family Foundation, Paul and Stella Covill and the Shoemate Foundation made the purchase possible. “This is absolutely

phenomenal support. We were anticipating a year or more of fund-raising to accomplish what the Brysons, Covills and Shoemates did in short order,” said RCMA Executive Director Barbara Mainster. “On behalf of the staff, teachers and especially the migrant parents, I take great pleasure in extending my deepest gratitude to Vaughn and Nancy Bryson, Paul and Stella Covill and Richard and Nancy Shoemate.”

RCMA serves approximately 400 children at four child-development centers in Indian River County, among over 7,000-plus children served statewide by RCMA. The new center will replace the original Children’s House,

which closed last June. Meanwhile, approximately 50 displaced children are being cared for in mobile units at Fellsmere Farms.

Fund-raising continues for the renovation costs, which are expected to reach $200,000. RCMA has applied to several local foundations for assistance, and the RCMA Indian River Advisory Committee, chaired by Mrs. Covill, has also been steadily raising funds.

Volunteers and donors are always welcome; to help, contact Elida Gomez, RCMA’s Indian River coordinator, at (772) 571-9015.

RCMA is funded by local, state and federal grants, as well as the generosity of businesses, individuals, the United Way and other organizations.

H e c o n t r i b u t e d generously in life and, in passing, left a legacy to children of migrant farm workers in Indian River County.

A longtime grower of world-famous Indian River citrus, Mr. Richard Graves cared deeply for the workers who picked the fruit and their families.

Upon his passing last November, his wife, Mrs. Mary Graves, asked that in lieu of flowers, friends and family donate to RCMA in Mr. Graves’ name. RCMA has received nearly $25,000 in tributes, all of which will go toward renovations of the new Children’s House building.

P l e a s e r e m e m b e r RCMA in estate planning to ensure that farmworker children have the tools they need to succeed when they reach kindergarten.

This 46-year-old house will be transformed into a child care center.

Despite being new to chess, six children who attend RCMA’s after-school program in Wimauma finished as the runner-up team at a recent chess tournament at Brandon Regional Library.

“The incredible part is they beat more experienced and more advanced players from several private schools,” said Josie Gracia, who oversees RCMA after-school programs in Southeast Hillsborough. “There’s no stopping them now. We started a chess club at every program, and we’ll be preparing for other, bigger tournaments.”

Though the students had only practiced for one week before the tournament, their hard work paid off on May 6th when they took home the second-place trophy.The children were coached by Wimauma

Elementary School Principal Roy Moral, teacher Andrew Lack and RCMA’s Andrea Nareja, coordinator of the Wimauma after-

school program.“The children, staff, parents and teachers are all so

proud!” Ms. Gracia said.

25250 RCMA news env:newsletter 6/12/07 10:01 AM Page 2

The Immokalee Community School, a charter school operated by the Redlands Christian Migrant Association, has completed a $1.2 million expansion, which added four new classrooms, a spacious dance studio, teachers’ lounge, staff offices and more.

Donors, civic leaders and school volunteers recently attended an open house to celebrate completion of the project, which increased capacity to 225 students and added a sixth grade.

“The longer students remain with us, the better their academic performance. This is why the expansion was so critical,” explained Maria Jimenez, RCMA’s Director of Charter Schools.

The Naples Children and Education Foundation made the expansion possible by awarding RCMA a $500,000 “challenge grant” in March 2005.

The “challenge” was to raise a matching $500,000 by March 2006, and RCMA beat the deadline by two months.

Later, the Foundation donated another $122,000 to cover hurricane-related cost increases.

“We couldn’t have done this without the help of the Naples Children and Education Foundation and

generous donations from Florida agribusiness, corporate donors, foundations and concerned citizens throughout Florida,” Ms. Jimenez said.

The Class of 2007 includes numerous graduates who began their education as pre-schoolers at RCMA centers. One of those success stories is Nicolas

Perilla, this year’s valedictorian at Sebring High School.

Nicolas and his family moved to the United States from Colombia in 1994 without speaking any English. Nicolas was 4 when he entered RCMA’s Avon Park Child Development Center. He quickly learned English and was a straight-A student throughout his public school career.

Not only that, Nicolas’ older brother and older sister also graduated at the top of their Sebring High classes. Congratulations, Nicolas and all the members of the Class of 2007!

Nicolas PerillaPhoto courtesy of Highlands Today

Students at RCMA's Immokalee Community School perform for guests at the recent open house.

SUCCESS STORY

“The longer students remain with us, the better their academic performance. This is why the expansion was so critical,”

- Maria Jimenez, Director of Charter Schools

25250 RCMA news env:newsletter 6/12/07 10:01 AM Page 1