The NaplesNEXT Ideas Festival has presented Guadalupe Center, beneficiary of the inaugural 2019 event, with a $10,000 grant to enhance educational programs for students in Immokalee.

The inaugural NaplesNEXT held in March 2019 drew hundreds of guests to rub shoulders with more than 50 thinkers and influencers who took to the stage to share their expertise across a diverse set of topics, including the environment, health and medicine, philanthropy, innovation and beyond. Four chief justices, three former White House chiefs of staff, legendary philanthropists, best-selling authors and esteemed editors of national publications were among the lineup.

Guadalupe Center, a nonprofit organization with a mission of breaking the cycle of poverty through education for the children of Immokalee, was one of the 2019 beneficiaries through a FoundationNEXT fund established through the Community Foundation of Collier County.

“We are incredibly grateful that NaplesNEXT chose to partner with Guadalupe Center and understands the potential impact that a strong education can have on the lives of children and their families,” said Dawn Montecalvo, president of Guadalupe Center. “This grant will allow us to continue creating endless possibilities for the students of Immokalee.”

Guadalupe Center serves more than 1,300 students through its three primary programs, each of which produces outstanding results. More than 95% of students who complete the Early Childhood Education Program enter school having met or exceeded Florida’s kindergarten readiness standards. An astounding 100% of students in the After-school Tutoring Program show academic gains in reading and math, while 100% of Tutor Corps seniors graduate high school and are admitted into college.

Stacey Vollman Warwick, executive director of NaplesNEXT and senior vice president of Intersport, recently toured Guadalupe Center to see firsthand how the nonprofit is enhancing education for students in Immokalee.

“This is the impact that we envisioned for NaplesNEXT. The important work being done by the Guadalupe Center shows that big ideas can lead to a better future, and we are proud to share that mission with the Guadalupe Center,” said Warwick. “As part of our commitment to making a difference in Collier County, we are adding a State of the Community Summit to the NaplesNEXT 2020 schedule and will discuss the important impact that educational programs like the one at Guadalupe Center have on child wellbeing here in Florida and around the country.”

The NaplesNEXT Ideas Festival recently announced a partnership with the Naples Children & Education Foundation (NCEF), founders of the Naples Winter Wine Festival, that will bring together distinguished members and elected leaders of Collier County, state and local representatives, and national experts to discuss their viewpoints on the current and future state of the landscape of child wellbeing at the second annual NaplesNEXT. Guadalupe Center is a longtime beneficiary of NCEF’s Naples Winter Wine Festival.

Register now to attend NaplesNEXT 2020 at the Naples Grande Beach Resort in Naples on March 2-3 by visiting NaplesNEXT.com. A portion of each registration fee is tax deductible and will benefit the Naples Children & Education Foundation and other designated nonprofit beneficiaries through a FoundationNEXT fund established through the Community Foundation of Collier County.