SUCCESS STORY

25250 RCMA news env:newsletter
6/12/07
10:01 AM
Page 1
SUCCESS
STORY
The Class of
2007 includes
numerous
graduates who
began their
education as
pre-schoolers
at RCMA
Nicolas Perilla
centers. One of
Photo courtesy of
those success
Highlands Today
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!
Students at RCMA's Immokalee Community School perform for guests at the recent open house.
The Naples Children and Education
The Immokalee Community School,
Foundation made the expansion possible
a charter school operated by the
by awarding RCMA a $500,000
Redlands Christian Migrant Association,
“challenge grant” in March 2005.
has completed a $1.2 million expansion,
The “challenge” was to
which added four new
raise a matching $500,000
classrooms, a spacious
March 2006, and
dance studio, teachers’
“The longer students by
RCMA
beat the deadline
lounge, staff offices and
remain with us, the
by two months.
more.
better their academic
Later, the Foundation
Donors, civic leaders
performance. This is why donated another
and school volunteers
$122,000 to cover
recently attended an open the expansion was so
critical,”
hurricane-related cost
house to celebrate
increases.
completion of the project,
Maria
Jimenez,
“We couldn’t have
which increased capacity to
Director of Charter Schools done this without the help
225 students and added a
of the Naples Children and
sixth grade.
Education Foundation and
“The longer students
generous donations from Florida
remain with us, the better their academic
agribusiness, corporate donors,
performance. This is why the expansion
foundations and concerned citizens
was so critical,” explained Maria Jimenez,
throughout Florida,” Ms. Jimenez said.
RCMA’s Director of Charter Schools.
25250 RCMA news env:newsletter
6/12/07
10:01 AM
Page 2
RCMA’s eighth annual golf
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
The winners of RCMA’s annual golf tournament (from left): Jerry Newlin, Grant Erickson,
Florida Benefits was the diamond sponsor
Mike Wynn & Jim Beesting, representing the Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association.
with a $7,500 donation.
Platinum sponsors ($5,000) were
Florida Community Bank and Marsh. Bill
Duda Farm Fresh Foods, Lykes Brothers, Inc. and Planet Reach.
Laimbeer of Marco Island, a member of RCMA’s Board, was
the honorary sponsor with a $3,000 donation.
Corporate sponsors ($1,000) were Abacus, ADP,
Gold sponsors ($2,500) were the Florida Fruit & Vegetable
Consolidated Citrus Limited Partnership, Corporate Express
(Tampa), Corporate Express (Miami), Everglades Community
Association, Lodge Construction, National City Private Client
Association, Florida Tomato Committee, FreshPoint Southwest
Group, Southwest Florida Workforce Development Board and
Florida, Frontier Adjusters, Leslie Reunion, Mark’s RV Sales,
Tropicana Products.
Nobles-Collier, Rentokil, Seminole Indian Casino (Immokalee),
Silver sponsors ($1,500) were Bank of America, BlueCross
Tomato Man and Wausau.
BlueShield of Florida (Sarasota), BlueCross BlueShield of Florida
To add your name to the mailing list for the 2008 event,
(Fort Myers), Gargiulo, Inc., and Ocariz, Gitlin & Zomerfeld,
email Judy Brill at judy@rcma.org.
LLP.
Bronze sponsors ($1,250) were Danka Office Solutions,
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 afterschool program.
“The children, staff, parents and teachers are all so
proud!” Ms. Gracia said.
This 46-year-old house will be transformed into a child care center.
He contributed
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.
Please remember
RCMA in estate planning to
ensure that farmworker
children have the tools they
need to succeed when they
reach kindergarten.
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 childdevelopment 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.
25250 RCMA news env:newsletter
6/12/07
10:01 AM
Page 2
RCMA’s eighth annual golf
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
The winners of RCMA’s annual golf tournament (from left): Jerry Newlin, Grant Erickson,
Florida Benefits was the diamond sponsor
Mike Wynn & Jim Beesting, representing the Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association.
with a $7,500 donation.
Platinum sponsors ($5,000) were
Florida Community Bank and Marsh. Bill
Duda Farm Fresh Foods, Lykes Brothers, Inc. and Planet Reach.
Laimbeer of Marco Island, a member of RCMA’s Board, was
the honorary sponsor with a $3,000 donation.
Corporate sponsors ($1,000) were Abacus, ADP,
Gold sponsors ($2,500) were the Florida Fruit & Vegetable
Consolidated Citrus Limited Partnership, Corporate Express
(Tampa), Corporate Express (Miami), Everglades Community
Association, Lodge Construction, National City Private Client
Association, Florida Tomato Committee, FreshPoint Southwest
Group, Southwest Florida Workforce Development Board and
Florida, Frontier Adjusters, Leslie Reunion, Mark’s RV Sales,
Tropicana Products.
Nobles-Collier, Rentokil, Seminole Indian Casino (Immokalee),
Silver sponsors ($1,500) were Bank of America, BlueCross
Tomato Man and Wausau.
BlueShield of Florida (Sarasota), BlueCross BlueShield of Florida
To add your name to the mailing list for the 2008 event,
(Fort Myers), Gargiulo, Inc., and Ocariz, Gitlin & Zomerfeld,
email Judy Brill at judy@rcma.org.
LLP.
Bronze sponsors ($1,250) were Danka Office Solutions,
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 afterschool program.
“The children, staff, parents and teachers are all so
proud!” Ms. Gracia said.
This 46-year-old house will be transformed into a child care center.
He contributed
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.
Please remember
RCMA in estate planning to
ensure that farmworker
children have the tools they
need to succeed when they
reach kindergarten.
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 childdevelopment 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.
25250 RCMA news env:newsletter
6/12/07
10:01 AM
Page 1
SUCCESS
STORY
The Class of
2007 includes
numerous
graduates who
began their
education as
pre-schoolers
at RCMA
Nicolas Perilla
centers. One of
Photo courtesy of
those success
Highlands Today
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!
Students at RCMA's Immokalee Community School perform for guests at the recent open house.
The Naples Children and Education
The Immokalee Community School,
Foundation made the expansion possible
a charter school operated by the
by awarding RCMA a $500,000
Redlands Christian Migrant Association,
“challenge grant” in March 2005.
has completed a $1.2 million expansion,
The “challenge” was to
which added four new
raise a matching $500,000
classrooms, a spacious
March 2006, and
dance studio, teachers’
“The longer students by
RCMA
beat the deadline
lounge, staff offices and
remain with us, the
by two months.
more.
better their academic
Later, the Foundation
Donors, civic leaders
performance. This is why donated another
and school volunteers
$122,000 to cover
recently attended an open the expansion was so
critical,”
hurricane-related cost
house to celebrate
increases.
completion of the project,
Maria
Jimenez,
“We couldn’t have
which increased capacity to
Director of Charter Schools done this without the help
225 students and added a
of the Naples Children and
sixth grade.
Education Foundation and
“The longer students
generous donations from Florida
remain with us, the better their academic
agribusiness, corporate donors,
performance. This is why the expansion
foundations and concerned citizens
was so critical,” explained Maria Jimenez,
throughout Florida,” Ms. Jimenez said.
RCMA’s Director of Charter Schools.