Redlands Christian Migrant Association 402 W. Main St., Immokalee, FL 34142 (800) 282-6540 www.rcma.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

RCMA LOSING CHILD CARE CENTER IN LAKE PLACID AFTER 27 YEARS OF SERVING LOW-INCOME FAMILIES

LAKE PLACID, FL – March 6, 2008 -- After 27 years of serving low- income families in Lake Placid’s Highway Park neighborhood, the Redlands Christian Migrant Association must find new space – and raise a lot of money – to continue serving the community’s children. “The good news is, we have friends and supporters who are helping,” said RCMA Executive Director Barbara Mainster. “The bad news is, we must raise $300,000 by June 1 to qualify for a generous government grant. We need the community’s help to meet this fast- approaching deadline.” RCMA staff and families served by the South Highlands Child Development Center, 124 Williams St., are rolling up their sleeves to help. Several fund-raisers are already on the calendar, including:  Car washes from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday, March 8, April 5 and April 19, Bank of America, 611 Dal Hall Blvd. $5 minimum.  Strawberry shortcake sale on Tuesday, March 18, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the center, 124 Williams St., with tickets ($2.50) available in advance.  Taco sale on Friday April 11, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the center, 124 Williams St., tickets ($5, includes soft drink) available in advance.  Concerts by nationally acclaimed children’s entertainer Anna Moo, on Friday, May 23, at the Hardee County Agri-Civic Center, 515 Civic Center Dr., Wauchula; 9-10 a.m. preschool through second grade; 10:30-11:30 a.m. third and fourth-graders. The public is welcome, tickets $5. Businesses, including banks, supermarkets and growers, also are being asked to donate. Mainster is also sending letters to numerous civic clubs in the region, asking for their help. Located in what had been Carver Elementary School, RCMA’s South Highlands Child Development Center dates to 1981. 2

“That’s when RCMA began a partnership with the local ministerial association in Highway Park to make sure low-income parents had a good child- care center for their children when they went to work,” Mainster explained. “Over the years we renovated almost all of the old brick school building and added Head Start and Early Head Start services there. “Over 100 children now attend daily. The center has achieved accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children, the highest mark of quality in the child-care world.” Action Revival, Inc., which bought the building from the School Board and leased it to RCMA, has given RCMA notice that it is ready to expand its mission and wants to use the building starting in August 2008. “Thanks to good friends in Highlands County, including the County itself, this change should not create a long-term problem to the families we serve. We are working closely with our community partners to find interim classroom space in the Lake Placid community. And Highlands County believes RCMA belongs in Highway Park and has generously agreed to submit for grants to build a new building there for our use. The new building would also serve as a hurricane shelter and have a community room, both of which are greatly needed in Highway Park.” RCMA’s challenge is to raise $300,000 by June 1, which would enable the County to submit for a $750,000 government grant. “We appeal to businesses, churches, civic clubs and big-hearted people to do what they can to help, either by making a direct donation, supporting the numerous fund-raisers coming up, or letting us know of other people who may be interested in helping.” To help, call Sonja Wilson or Karen Lowe at the South Highlands Center, (863) 699-3794, or Barbara Mainster, RCMA executive director, at (800) 282- 6540 or email [email protected]. Founded in 1965 in the Redlands farming area of southern Miami-Dade County, RCMA serves nearly 8,000 children at more than 70 child care centers and two charter schools in 21 Florida counties. RCMA operates nine childcare centers in Avon Park, Sebring and Lake Placid and a regional business office in Avon Park. In 2006-2007, RCMA served 678 children in Highlands and had 151 employees (full and part time). Florida’s largest nonprofit childcare provider, RCMA is funded by local, state and federal grants, as well as the generosity of businesses, individuals, the United Way and other organizations. Donations and volunteers are always welcome. For more information, see www.rcma.org.

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Caption:

Preschoolers learn numbers, letters, colors, pre-writing skills and more on computers at RCMA’s South Highlands Child Development Center. From left are Abilene, Abby and Osvaldo.