RCMA

402 W. Main Street, Immokalee, FL 34142 (239) 282-6540 | www.rcma.org

MISSION: RCMA opens doors to opportunities through quality child care and education from crib to high school and beyond.

We were founded in 1965 by people concerned about children spending their days in Florida’s agriculture fields with their parents while they worked. We continue to support migrant farmworkers, immigrant families and the rural poor in 21 Florida counties by providing safe, nurturing all-day childcare and quality education to more than 5,500 children annually.

Our holistic approach recognizes parents as their child’s first teacher and supports the entire family by building on family strengths with leadership opportunities, mental health, health, and nutrition education and services, parenting programs, immigration and citizenship guidance, and other empowering activities.

We operate 65 child development centers that feature individual assessments and development plans for each child and intensive support for children with special needs. Our Immokalee Community Academy and Wimauma Community Academy, both K-8 schools rated “B” by the Florida Department of Education, provide a continuum of education for children who attended our child development centers and other nearby families.

We plan to open Mulberry Community Academy in Polk County for the 2023-2024 school year followed by another school in Immokalee and then one in Homestead. The national Charter School Growth Fund invested $1.275 million in our expansion, and the State of Florida recognized us as just the sixth School of Hope operator since 2017, offering grants and low-cost loans for our additional charter school operations.

We offer a dual language, bicultural curriculum to all of our children, preparing them for success as leaders of their families, workplaces and communities.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS:

Isabel Garcia

Executive Director

GOALS

• To provide quality child care • To provide educational opportunities and improve the health and general welfare of children and their families • To increase public awareness of the lifestyles of migrant and seasonal farm workers and the rural poor • To provide children and their families with support services • To involve parents in the educational process and in public policy decisions affecting their children and families • To provide opportunities and encourage the professional development of staff hired from the communities we serve.

OFFICERS

Medora Krome

President

Michael T. Bayer Linda Miles-Adams Sandra L. Hightower Joaquin Perez Barbara Mainster Rollason Jaime Weisinger Richard W. Pringle

Secretary

Larry Salustro

Treasurer

FUNDRAISING EVENTS/ OPPORTUNITIES

RCMA benefits from the silent auction (held online and inperson) during the Pixie Rock music festival headlined by ZZ Top being held Nov. 12 at Wish Farms in Plant City. Learn more at wishfarms.com.

Christmas cards drawn by talented students in the Academies of RCMA are available as single-design and exclusive packs. Learn more at rcma.org/cards.

The 23rd annual Lipman Family Farms Golf Classic will be held in May 2023 at Naples Heritage Golf and Country Club. Learn more at rcma.org/golf.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Volunteers at our 65 child development centers and 2 schools help some of Florida’s most vulnerable families gain caring, empathy-driven access to quality child care, education, and other resources. Read to our pre-k children. Tutor our K-8 students. Welcome RCMA families and community members at our health fairs and other outreach events. Cheer on our award-winning sports teams or play in our annual golf tournament. Knowledge of Spanish is helpful but not required to volunteer.

ABOUT US:

Year established: 1965 Annual revenue: $98 million Total number of employees: 1,600

GEOGRAPHIC SERVICE AREA(S):

21 Florida counties from south Florida to near Orlando

TOP FUNDING SOURCES:

Head Start Florida Department of Education – Division of Early Learning and FEFP NCEF United Way UnidosUS USDA Food Program

MEMBERS

Susanne A. Bizerra Aeden J. Dowling Donna Gaffney A.J. Hinson Gloria Kendrick Steven Kirk Wilma Robles-Melendez Mirta Negrini Sonia Tighe Ansberto Vallejo PARENT BOARD MEMBERS

Claudia Landeros

President

Carrie Johnson

Vice President

Emig De La Cruz Fannie Fair

Secretary

Kanta Allen

Treasurer

Erik Martinez Zurisadai Garcia

Parliamentarian

Felecia McClendon

Honorary Member