On a memorable night at Amalie Arena recently, members of the RCMA family joined Tampa Bay Lightning fans in celebrating Noche Latina, an event that highlights Hispanic culture and community. During the game, RCMA was recognized for its ongoing work supporting low-income families and educational programs across Florida. In a special highlight of the night, a few RCMA members had the unique opportunity to go behind the scenes and visit the locker room, where they met Nick Paul, a standout Hispanic-American player for the Lightning. Paul, whose heritage is proudly part of the Hispanic community, took time to connect with RCMA guests, sharing inspiring words and posing for photos. We love the Lightning!

It may have taken some time, but we are happy to report that the Sports Court Cover Pavilion at Wimauma Community Academy (WCA) is complete. The space will serve as a permanent rec/sports facility for WCA student athletes, an outdoor classroom, and a community hub. The project suffered lots of setbacks over the course of its construction, including Covid, supply chain issues, drastic price increases, to name a few. In the end, WCA has a beautiful space for its student athletes to enjoy, out from under the harsh Florida sun. Many friends of RCMA helped in securing the necessary funds need to complete the project, including the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Community Foundation of Tampa Bay, Interfaith Social Action Council of Sun City Center, Frank Duckwall Foundation, and the Simmons Foundation. We are so grateful for your help!

Lots of smiles were all around, along with lots of candy, as RCMA centers throughout the state celebrated Halloween. Each year, many of our sites celebrate Halloween by having the children dress in their costumes and then parade around the center while staffers lavish them with sweet treats. It’s lots of fun, for staff and students!

The RCMA Mulberry Community Academy recently hosted Florida State Representative Melony Bell for an exciting check presentation ceremony in support of the academy’s ambitious growth plans. Representative Bell, along with State Senator Ben Albritton, played a pivotal role in securing a $350,000 legislative appropriation through the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. These funds are earmarked for a vital water treatment system, a crucial step in the ongoing development of a state-of-the-art K-8th grade facility on RCMA’s Mulberry campus.

This meaningful investment will help RCMA overcome critical infrastructure challenges at the Mulberry Community Academy. The funds are targeted specifically for the water treatment system that is necessary to meet land and environmental code requirements, making it possible for RCMA to transition from its current portable classrooms to a permanent school building that will one day serve nearly 300 children in the Mulberry community.

The event was more than just a formal presentation. After the check ceremony, Representative Bell and several honored guests took a tour of the Mulberry Community Academy, exploring its facilities and experiencing firsthand the impact RCMA has on the lives of children and families in Polk County. Representative Bell and the visiting guests then joined the academy’s students for some Halloween fun, helping them paint pumpkins and bringing joy and creativity to the children in celebration of the fall season.

This appropriation reinforces RCMA’s mission to build stronger educational foundations for children in agricultural and rural communities across Florida. As the state’s largest nonprofit provider of early childhood education and a nationally recognized charter school operator, RCMA supports thousands of families each year, empowering students to achieve their fullest potential and thrive in school and beyond.

With plans to open a fully completed facility by 2026, RCMA looks forward to providing generations of students in this community with the resources, support, and educational opportunities they need to succeed.

As RCMA’s third academy, the school showcases the organization’s unwavering dedication to serving the children of low-income families, especially in agricultural communities where resources can be scarce. Through the generous support of state leaders and ongoing fundraising efforts, RCMA is on track to expand the reach of its mission even further, offering exceptional educational programs that help children thrive.

We are so grateful to Representative Melony Bell, Senator Ben Albritton, and all who contributed thus far to this essential funding. As the RCMA Mulberry Community Academy moves forward with its vision, it’s clear that a bright future awaits the children and families it serves.

We have exciting news! We are proud to share with you the latest architectural renderings for from Harvard-Jolly the future Mulberry Community Academy. These beautiful designs bring us one step closer to constructing a state-of-the-art facility that will eventually house students from kindergarten through eighth grade. Located in a community that greatly needs access to high-quality education, the new academy will feature RCMA’s dual language curriculum, empowering students to excel academically and develop bilingual skills. This expansion marks a significant investment in the future of our children and families, aligning with our mission to provide educational opportunities where they are needed most.

RCMA has so many wonderful supporters in the business community, and we’re extremely grateful to them all. One such supporter is DeVoe Subaru of Naples. For the third straight year, the dealership stopped by RCMA’s Immokalee Community Academy and “adopted” several classrooms, presenting nearly $10,000 worth of school supplies. DeVoe General Manager Rich DeVoe and Marketing Director Emily Reed presented boxes of school supplies to many smiling scholars. They also treated the students to Rita’s Italian Ice! Thank you!

Hispanic Heritage Month is September 15 ‐ October 15, and RCMA is celebrating with a series of vibrant events at our centers across Florida. Throughout the month, students, families, and staff are coming together to honor Hispanic culture through music, dance, art, and much more. Many of our centers are hosting unique celebrations that reflect the diversity and traditions of the Hispanic communities that we proudly serve. The events are geared to fostering pride and cultural understanding among students and families. RCMA’s centers are filled with festive decorations, including displays of flags and traditional crafts from various Hispanic countries. Here are some of the pictures, and keep an eye on RCMA’s Facebook page for even more!