Mission & History

Creating Endless Possibilities Through Education

Guadalupe Center’s mission is to break the cycle of poverty through education for the children of Immokalee.

Since 1984, Guadalupe Center has been achieving this mission and making a significant difference for students and families of Immokalee through three extraordinarily successful programs. These include Early Childhood Education, After-school Tutoring and Summer Enrichment, and Tutor Corps.

The Guadalupe Center Charter:

We are a purpose driven non-profit organization that exists to create possibilities through education for the students of Immokalee fostering personal and academic success leading to economic independence.

We provide high quality educational programs that empower independent thinkers and life-long learners who positively influence their diverse communities and others.

We are a safe, nurturing, trusting, happy and fun environment for students, families, donors, volunteers, and employees, allowing everyone the freedom to find, fulfill, and live their purpose.

We honor and respect all relationships by operating with honesty, integrity, transparency and open communication. We appreciate and recognize the generosity of the people and partners with whom we collaborate and enable us to fulfill our mission.

Invested in what is possible for our Guadalupe Center students and families, we are fearlessly and humbly committed to leading by example, cultivating today’s and tomorrow’s leaders.

Making History in Immokalee

Guadalupe Center began as a small soup kitchen at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church. However, volunteers quickly realized there was a greater need. In 1984, a newly formed Board of Trustees registered Guadalupe Center as a 501(c)(3). That’s when volunteers began tutoring non-English-speaking elementary age children in the soup kitchen with the help of local high school students. Over the next two decades, Guadalupe Center formed its three educational programs and began expanding its facilities. Today, we’re reaching more than 1,938 students per year! However, there is still a great unmet need with over 200 students on the waiting list for Early Childhood Education services.