Linda A. Miles

At RCMA, we believe every child deserves the chance to dream big and achieve their fullest potential. I am incredibly proud of Isabel Garcia, her leadership team, and the dedicated staff and faculty who bring this mission to life every day. Their passion for education and commitment to children and families is truly inspiring.

This year, we expanded our reach—opening Mulberry Community Academy, breaking ground on the Lipman Family Campus, and growing our Hopewell and Zellwood Child Development Centers. These milestones reflect our deep commitment to putting children first and ensuring they have the foundation for a bright future.

RCMA’s success is measured in the students who thrive, the families we empower, and the communities we strengthen. Thanks to our generous supporters, we are turning dreams into reality.

Thank you for believing in RCMA’s mission.

While the parents and students may not have realized it on that first day, but history was made in Mulberry, Florida as RCMA debuted their
newest school, Mulberry Community Academy (MCA). The first day of classes was met with a few challenges as the official Academy space
was not yet ready to receive students. Teachers and students worked in a beautiful interim space that featured four classrooms for 80
students, bathrooms and an office area. Even though the Academy classrooms weren’t quite ready yet, that didn’t deter the students from
assembling in their temporary classrooms and began the school year with hopes and dreams of a successful academic year.

“What a historic day for RCMA,” said Isabel Garcia, Executive Director for RCMA. “When you see the little ones come to school for the first time,
you can see they’re not quite sure what to expect. But as soon as they start to make new friends, these kids are ready to learn! And for the
parents, you can see the pride in their eyes, as well as relief, knowing that their children will be taken care of and are able to begin a journey
towards a brighter future.” MCA is RCMA’s third charter school, with additional charter schools in Immokalee and Wimauma.

ICA

ICA’s BETA Club excelled at the 34th Annual Elementary/Junior BETA Convention in Orlando. They achieved a first-place finish in Performing Arts, second place in Math and Spanish (6th grade), and third place in Spanish (7th grade). This was their first convention appearance, marking a notable debut for the chapter. BETA, which stands for Better Education Through Achievement, is the largest, independent, educational youth organization in America, and recognizes high academic achievement, rewards and nurtures worthy character, fosters leadership skills, and encourages service to others.

MCA

MCA’s inaugural Chess Club, consisting of kindergarten and first-grade students, has made a strong impression in the local chess community. The team
received recognition at a Polk Scholastic Chess tournament. Though they just started playing, they are showing the rest of the local chess community that the Mulberry Monarchs are a force! High school volunteers Freddy Bautista and Christian Cortes, who mentored the club, have been accepted into Stanford and Cornell universities, respectively. Their dedication has been instrumental in the club’s success and serves as an inspiration to the school community

WCA

WCA is proud to partner with various community organizations to provide additional support and opportunities for its scholars. One of our most prolific partners in education is Berkeley Preparatory School and their Berkeley Academy. Berkeley is a nationally regarded, coed, independent day school in Tampa, Florida, and their Academy is aimed at helping highly motivated students from low-income households reach their unique potential and achieve their dream of going to college. They team up with a select number of our sixth graders who are mentored and guided over the course of six years so that the learning cycle never ends.

Other activities that Berkeley brings to WCA include DEAR (Drop Everything and Read) and the rigorous Prep and Me program. Senior Buddy Day pairs RCMA students with Berkeley seniors for arts, games, and picnics. Berkeley students further enrich the community by delivering Christmas gifts and engaging kindergarteners in story time, demonstrating their generosity and dedication to WCA scholars. We are so grateful for our partnership!

WCA also has great relationships with local Kiwanis and Rotary Clubs and are extremely grateful for everything they do for our scholars.

For the past several years, athletics has been a big part of scholar life at Wimauma Community Academy. As part of the Suncoast Charter Athletic League, the school has earned trophies from soccer championships and ball hockey, which attest to the hard work these student athletes have put in to succeed in sports as well as the classroom.

The latest sport that is adding to the Academy’s trophy case is the WCA Cross Country Club. During the year, the team achieved a remarkable feat, finishing second in the highly competitive District Charter School Championship meet. During the event, three of the WCA Dolphins placed third, fourth, and seventh.

Because of their success, the team qualified for the state meet in Lakeland, where three runners placed in the top 3 in their age category. Under the guidance of their dedicated coach, Mr. Mark Haggett, the team is putting in long hours of training and are displaying exceptional teamwork and determination.

“The WCA Cross Country Club has demonstrated the true essence of teamwork, dedication, and perseverance,” said Coach Haggett. “This achievement is a reflection of the school’s commitment to nurturing not only academic excellence but also the holistic development of our students.”

The District Charter School Championship is known for its tough competition, attracting top athletes from schools across the region. The WCA Cross Country Club’s achievement is a testament to their hard work, perseverance, and spirit. While the team basks in their current success, they have their sights set on the state meet which is next up. Way to go, Dolphins!

COMMUNITY CARE IN ACTION

“I AM RCMA” is not just about our staff—it’s about everyone who makes this work possible. From partners offering free health screenings for children who might otherwise go without care, to generous foundations and community groups who believe in our mission, these partners ARE RCMA. Their compassion, time, and resources help us do more for the children and families we serve. We’re proud to partner with them—because they are RCMA too.

Publix Charities Awards Grant for Mulberry Projects

RCMA is grateful to Publix Charities for their generous $61,000 grant that will support outdoor decking for modular classrooms, STEM supplies for hands-on learning, and after-school programs like chess, arts, and sports. These initiatives enrich students’ education and personal growth. The collaborative efforts between RCMA and Publix underscore a shared dedication to fostering educational excellence and nurturing the growth of young minds in the Mulberry community.

NCEF and RCMA Work to Close Gaps in Education

RCMA is proud to partner with the Naples Children & Education
Foundation (NCEF) in their support of RCMA projects like the Early Learning Initiative, strengthening our high-quality early childhood education programs, and the Out-of-School Time Initiative, which expands academic support for at risk youth in Immokalee. Thanks to NCEF, RCMA can provide critical services that help children thrive.

Smiles Are Brighter All Across RCMA

Thanks to the generosity of our community partners, RCMA students across Florida are smiling brighter! From UF Dental Outreach and Morning Star Children’s Dentistry to Suncoast Community Health Centers, We Care 4U, Concorde Career Institute, UnidosUS, and Traviss Technical College, these compassionate teams have provided free dental screenings and hygiene instruction to children who might otherwise go without care. Their kindness and dedication are deeply appreciated by our staff and families. Whether it’s hands-on learning, fun giveaways, or mobile clinics, these partners are helping RCMA build healthier futures—one smile at a time.

Driscoll’s Generosity Strengthens RCMA Infrastructure

RCMA is extremely thankful for the generous support from Driscoll’s, totaling $70,000, in support of strengthening of RCMA’s infrastructure as well as our capital campaign efforts aimed at constructing RCMA’s Mulberry Community Academy. Driscoll’s has partnered with RCMA for nearly 25 years. The collaborative efforts between RCMA and Driscoll’s Inc. underscore a shared dedication to fostering educational excellence and nurturing the growth of young minds.

RCMA Lends a Hand in Tallahassee

In celebration of Children’s Week, several of the Child Development Centers at RCMA participated in the annual Celebration of the Hands in Tallahassee. With the help of children, teachers, families, and legislators across the state, a magnificent display of more than 21,000 pieces of custom hand artwork was displayed in the Florida State Capitol Rotunda. The beautiful works of art served as a daily reminder to legislators and visitors that the future of our children rests in their hands.

RCMA centers have been involved in the project for many years. The many submissions are connected together, and then those long strands of hands are hung from the ceiling of the Florida Capitol.

Celebrating Tradition, Unity, and Lots of Tamales

The holidays got extra tasty at RCMA’s Immokalee campus with their 8th Annual Tamalada—a lively celebration of heritage, unity, and a lot of tamales (3,200 to be exact!). This beloved tradition, rooted in Mexican culture, brought families together to share the art of tamale-making, with superstar moms leading the charge.

The fun didn’t stop at corn masa and fillings—kids from both the CDC’s and the academy lit up the stage with holiday songs and dances, spreading cheer before everyone dug into a delicious tamale feast. More than just a meal, the event was a heartwarming mix of laughter, stories, and culturalpride.

More than a culinary event, the Tamalada is a testament to the power of tradition, community, and cultural exchange. RCMA is extremely grateful to all of the moms who prepared the most amazing tamales. This proves that good food + great company = unforgettable memories. Thank you moms! You ARE RCMA!

Hopewell

A new child care center, kitchen, playground, and offices are part of the new construction currently in progress at RCMA’s Hopewell CDC. The demand for education is growing in this community and RECMA is answering the call. We are so excited for this project and for the community that it will benefit.

Mulberry

A new child care center, kitchen, playground, and offices are part of the new construction currently in progress at RCMA’s Hopewell CDC. The demand for education is growing in this community and RECMA is answering the call. We are so excited for this project and for the community that it will benefit.

Zellwood

After suffering damage from Hurricane Idalia, some much needed updates were provided to RCMA’s Zellwood CDC. With the support of Disaster Relief funds allocated from the offices of Head Start, a new modular building has been erected to provide child development services for infants and toddlers. The facility also boasts colorful classroom spaces and a kitchen area where nutritious meals are prepared.

Lipman Family Campus

Work is progressing at an amazing pace at the new Lipman Family Campus for Children and Families in Immokalee. Last year, Lipman Family Farms, long-time supporters of RCMA, made a $3 million donation to the organization; the largest donation Lipman has ever made to any one organization. We are extremely grateful to Lipman Family Farms for their continued support in RCMA and its mission.

Dr. Heriberto Elizarraras is living proof of the lifelong impact RCMA can have on a child’s future. As a young boy, he attended RCMA’s Balm Child Development Center, where his early experiences helped shape a strong foundation for learning.

“I remember learning my ABC’s and simple songs when I was at RCMA,” he recalls. “They gave me the building blocks that would set me up for the
rest of my life!”

With the support of his family and the guidance he received at RCMA, Heriberto went on to pursue his dream of becoming a doctor—a dream he has had since the first grade!

Today, Dr. Elizarraras operates his own urgent care clinic in Riverview, Florida with his wife, a former RCMA teacher. His journey from an RCMA preschooler to a respected physician is an inspiration to our students, families, and staff.

In an example of life coming full circle, Heriberto’s sister, Hermila Segoviano, is the Information Data Specialist at the very same center he once attended. Their story is a powerful reminder of how RCMA not only educates children but uplifts entire families across generations.

Dr. Elizarraras’s success is a testament to what’s possible when children are given the right start. With continued support from donors, stories like his can become reality for every child in our care.