Linda A. Miles

As the RCMA Board reflects on another year of impactful work, we are filled with gratitude for your unwavering support and dedication to RCMA’s mission. Your contributions have enabled us to continue providing exceptional educational opportunities for children from low-income families, from infancy through eighth grade and beyond. With over 50 child development centers and two (soon to be three) charter academies across Florida, we are proud to be the state’s largest provider of childhood education and a nationally recognized charter school operator.

Our mission remains strong and we are steadfast in our passion to lift children up through education, making their dreams our focus. At RCMA, we believe in the strength and potential of every child. Our commitment to providing a culturally sensitive and caring environment is unwavering, making us a beacon of hope for the families we serve.

This 2022-2023 report shows what is possible with the dedication of our RCMA team members, partners and our generous donors. Thank you for standing alongside us so that together, we can build a brighter a future for the children and families of RCMA.

It has been an unprecedented year of growth and recognition at RCMA’s two (soon to be three) Community Academies. This year, Immokalee Community Academy (ICA) expanded its services by adding an 8th-grade class to its student body. In anticipation of this expansion, the school is adding new classroom space at the facility. ICA is the only school in the Collier County School District to offer a Dual Language model, providing students with a bilingual educational experience.

Both RCMA academies, ICA and Wimauma Community Academy (WCA), continue to deliver high-quality education and essential support, fostering a brighter future for the students they serve. RCMA is also celebrating the news that it has been designated as a “School of Hope” charter school operator by Florida’s State Board of Education, making it the fifth organization to receive this honor since the program’s inception in 2017. This designation allows RCMA to access state funds and low-interest loans, supporting its expansion efforts.

One of the many teachers helping students reach their fullest potential is Michael Gonzalez at ICA. This year, Champions for Learning named him a Golden Apple Award recipient for 2022- 2023. Out of 60 Teachers of Distinction, Mr. Gonzalez was selected as one of only six Collier County teachers to receive the prestigious award.

Mr. Gonzalez was very emotional about the honor. “These students are everything to me,” he said. “I treat them like my own sons and daughters. I love them so much. They work so hard; I hope that I can be the best teacher for them.”

These institutions do more than just impart knowledge; they also foster a sense of belonging, empowerment, and aspiration among their students. With RCMA’s holistic approach, supportive leadership, and dedicated educators, the academies continue to pave the way to bigger and brighter futures.

RCMA Breaks Ground on New Lipman Family Campus in Immokalee

RCMA and Lipman Family Farms have officially broken ground in Immokalee on the new Lipman Family Campus for Children and Families. When completed, the $16.4 million campus will feature two new child development centers, a community center, two soccer fields and a new charter school.

Lipman Family Farms, long-time supporters of RCMA, also made a $3 million donation to the organization, the largest donation Lipman has ever made to any one organization. The gift supports efforts to expand RCMA’s charter schools throughout the state of Florida, as well as support the new campus being constructed in Immokalee.

The construction of the child development centers will be an upgrade to the original centers in Immokalee impacted by past hurricanes. When constructed, the centers will serve over 200 children. The campus is scheduled to open in late 2025.

RCMA Dedicates Gazebo in Memory of Vero Beach Couple

To celebrate a legacy of philanthropy, RCMA has honored the late Paul and Stella Covill with the dedication of a gazebo at the RCMA Children’s House in Vero Beach.

“Paul and Stella both had an amazing passion for helping children get off a good start in their lives and in their learning,” explains Isabel Garcia, Executive Director at RCMA. “The Covills understood how early childhood education can not only make a difference in young lives, but also how it can influence future generations. Giving kids opportunities is what motivated them. Their dedication to our mission and the families that we serve exemplifies a dynamic duo of philanthropy. The naming of the gazebo pays tribute to them and their generosity for generations to come.”

The Power of Partnerships

In order to provide the services for children and families that RCMA is known for, developing important relationships has been key to the success of the agency. In a significant collaboration to support the expansion of RCMA’s Mulberry Community Academy, Florida Representative Melony Bell, State Senator Ben Albritton, and various civic leaders have all been significant supporters that helped RCMA secure the necessary funding for a critical wastewater treatment project.

Faced with a Polk County land development code requiring new schools to connect to central wastewater systems—an expensive challenge given the distance to the nearest connection point—RCMA worked closely with county officials to amend the code. This amendment allowed for the construction of an onsite treatment plant, crucial for the academy’s expansion.

With RSA Consulting Group’s help, the project secured a $350,000 appropriation in the 2023 state budget. Representative Bell and Senator Albritton, both deeply connected to the local farming community, recognized the importance of RCMA’s mission and its unique dual-language curriculum. Their efforts, alongside support from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and other local leaders, have ensured that the academy can move forward with its plans to eventually serve up to 500 children in the area, reinforcing RCMA’s vital role in the community. We are so grateful for these and many other partners who have supported our work of providing educational opportunities for the children we serve.

Artists flourish at WCA

RCMA’s Wimauma Community Academy has always been a place where students can exercise their artistic talents and allow them to flourish. This year, the school’s tradition of art excellence shone brightly as students were able to showcase their talents at the Tampa Museum Art Exhibition for a third consecutive year. Middle school students, guided by art teacher Yanira Santana, delved into Greek art, focusing on the intricate designs of ceramic vessels. Their challenge was to blend ancient styles with contemporary creativity, resulting in a stunning exhibition of over 60 unique pieces. Many of these works were available for purchase, highlighting the students’ remarkable skills and innovation. This ongoing success not only enriches the students’ educational experience but also demonstrates the vibrant artistic spirit being nurtured at WCA.

Farm and Food Workers Receive COVID-19 Relief

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many farm and food workers missed out on much of the financial assistance that most of the country was receiving. To help the families RCMA serves, the organization partnered with the National Migrant and Seasonal Head Start Association (NMSHSA) to register eligible farm workers for $600 gift cards through the Farm and Food Workers Relief Grant Program. In just two days, and with the help of 12 volunteers, RCMA provided payments to over 1,100 farm workers.

The NMSHSA received a $57.3 million dollar grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to support the program. The USDA grant program, as a continued response to the COVID-19 pandemic, awards qualified organizations who serve farm and food worker communities a grant to distribute $600 payments to eligible farm workers, meat packing workers and/or grocery store workers. The funds were intended to cover expenses resulting from the coronavirus pandemic.

While the distribution weekend was hectic, it brought much-needed relief and happiness to the families who registered for the gift cards.

At RCMA, we believe every child deserves a bright future, no matter where or how their journey begins. Our mission is to provide quality early childhood education and support to families in need, especially those in rural areas of Florida. For two young boys in Indian River County, their lives have been profoundly impacted by the support and care they’ve received from RCMA.

Meet Alexis and Alexander, precocious twin brothers with an incredible story of survival and hope. Like many of the children RCMA serves, their early years were impacted by sorrow and loss. The boys experienced the trauma of losing their mother, followed by many changes and transitions that landed them in the care of their aunt.

Their aunt immediately connected with RCMA. RCMA’s dedication to serving families in need ensured that Alexis and Alexander’s family needs would be assessed and addressed. Starting with loving teachers and a full day of care, access to developmental and medical screenings

and referrals, the new family was able to establish a healthy routine for the boys. This structured setting has been a lifeline for the boys, offering them safety, stability, health care, education, and a warm environment where they can heal, learn, and thrive. RCMA’s dual language, multicultural curriculum and comprehensive care services have given these boys a new lease on life.

Alexis and Alexander are now flourishing under the care of their loving aunt and the dedicated team at RCMA. The story of these two bright young boys, like so many other children that RCMA cares for, is a testament to the power of community and the impact of compassionate support. It is stories like theirs that highlight the reason why the work that RCMA is doing in all of the communities they serve is so important.