IMMOKALEE AND FLORIDA CITY (Feb. 16, 2022) – RCMA has received a $12,500 matching grant from the Ocean Reef Community Foundation in Key Largo for upgrades to the educational playground area at its Everglades II Child Development Center in Florida City.
An additional $7,000 was provided through a donor advised fund held by the foundation and $5,500 was provided by the Frederick A. DeLuca Foundation in Fort Lauderdale.
Established 56 years ago, RCMA is Florida’s largest nonprofit provider of early childhood education, serving 5,500 children in 21 counties annually through more than 60 child development centers and two nationally recognized charter schools.
Its Everglades II Child Development Center provides Migrant Seasonal Head Start programs to approximately 70 children of agricultural workers from birth to age 5, primarily from November to June.
At this age, outdoor play time is key to the early childhood education. In addition to physical health benefits, children develop social and emotional skills during unstructured play time, including resilience and taking turns.
The grant funds will pay for new playground equipment, toys, storage sheds, and child-safe mulch.
