Funding to aid in early childhood education and after school programs
RCMA has received two grants totally nearly $1.3 million from NCEF (Naples Children and Education Foundation) for its continued efforts to develop early childhood education programs. The NCEF funding helps support RCMA’s early education program which includes comprehensive health and family services to better prepare children for kindergarten entry.
“NCEF has been one of our strongest supporters in our efforts to develop early childhood education programs,” said Isabel Garcia, Executive Director at RCMA. “Children living in poverty are more vulnerable & exposed to many risks. They are more likely to have cognitive, behavioral & socioemotional challenges. RCMA has the tools & expertise to positively flip the negative trajectory that comes with living in poverty, especially Latino children & others from non-English speaking households.”
RCMA has partnered with NCEF on key initiatives that include the Early Learning Initiative, which supports high-quality early childhood education programs. Another initiative, the Out-of-School Time Initiative, develops programs to close gaps in educational opportunity and expands access to high-quality educational support programming and personal leadership development for at-risk children in Immokalee.
NCEF was established in 2000 with the vision of making a profound and sustaining difference in the lives of children in Collier County. Through their signature fundraising event, the Naples Winter Wine Festival, NCEF has raised nearly $269 million which, through annual grants and collaborative strategic initiatives, have supported about sixty nonprofit agencies, impacting the lives of over 300,000 children.
