Vol. xx46 No.No. xxx42 Thursday,xxxday, October xxx xx, 17,20xx 2013 Goodnight Teachers surprised with grants Default: (NAPLES, FL, October 10, State of Florida Educational Li- lier County and Champions For 2013) – Eighty-one (81) teach- cense for Learning Plate Fund Learning invests 100 percent appointed ers were the happy recipients (www.License4Learning.com). of those dollars in classroom of classroom grant awards to- When the plate is purchased or Feeling day totaling more than $58,000. renewed in Collier County, $20 They were surprised with the of the fee comes back to Cold- See Grants — Page 2 to water good news by volunteers and board members of The Educa- the pain tion Foundation—Champions For Learning. In total, the Foun- board dation delivered 114 grants to 39 by Patty Brant schools in Collier County to sup- Immokalee Bulletin port creative, innovative experi- As Democrats and Republicans Patricia “Anne” Goodnight has ences for students. inch closer to bridging their differ- been appointed to the Immoka- Because of a $20,000 charita- ences or, as of press time, closer ble gift from Herb and Ann Rowe lee Water & Sewer District Board to fi nancial default, the country’s and $15,000 from the PNC Foun- of Commissioners, by Governor fi scal paralysis is making itself felt, Rick Scott. Mrs. Goodnight was dation to support the technol- ogy and capacity for the Connect even into the small corners of the appointed to the seat formerly country, like Immokalee. held by Raymond Holland, who With A Classroom grant pro- gram, every penny donated from The efforts of families and indi- moved out of the District in May viduals trying to recover from the 2011. Mrs. Goodnight is currently the community goes to fund in- novative teacher requests. most serious recession the country working as a teacher, and for the has seen since the Great Depres- Collier County Sheriff’s Depart- “We believe the greatest im- pact can be made in our com- sion are being stymied. ment as a School Crossing Guard. Local residents and businesses Mrs. Goodnight is a long time resi- munity by infl uencing our young- fi nd themselves at the mercy of dent of Immokalee, and previously est members,” commented PNC politics. represented Immokalee as a Col- Wealth Director—Naples, FL, Maybe worse, they all know lier County Commissioner for two Bob Saltarelli, on behalf of the terms from 1984 through 1992. She Foundation. “For that reason, we Submitted phtos that, even if a compromise is struck also was a Collier County School consider our support of educa- before the deadline, it could only Board Member for two terms tion a strategic investment to A grant for iWant to Learn, an IHS social studies project. Pic- prove to be a temporary respite tured are: - Ben Weber, Greg Pasanen and Roy Terry. from 1996 through 2002. She has help broaden their opportunities along a continuously rocky path. It been involved in many community for social and economic mobil- ain’t over till it’s over. based organizations throughout ity.” Local entities, like RCMA, are the years, including the Immoka- “After funding classroom hard pressed for answers on just lee Chamber of Commerce, the grants for many years and seeing how this government impasse will Immokalee Civic Association, and the impact fi rst-hand, we under- affect them, the Immokalee Community Devel- stood how important it was for Like all agencies with federal teachers and the community to funding, when the government be- See Board — Page 2 have this online tool, and we de- gan turning off the fi nancial spig- cided to also contribute to the ca- ots, RCMA has had to try to adapt, See Page 2 for information about pacity that supports the program while waiting for the other shoe to how to contact the newspaper. for teachers,” said Ann Rowe. fall. The following provided sig- Here’s how RCMA has been nifi cant contributions to fund coping: newszap.com teacher grants: Lucie Jenny Free Speech Free Ads The story is a little tougher for MacCarthy Music Fund of the the Redlands Christian Migrant As- Community Foundation of Col- sociation, lier County, Suncoast Schools RCMA Director of Communica- Federal Credit Union Foundation, tions & Marketing Bill Coats said Herb & Ann Rowe, The English- Submitted phtos no tangible effects had been felt as Speaking Union, State Farm, and the proceeds from the specialty Kate Doyle’s Lake Trafford math class Are You so SMART? See Default — Page 2 DRIVE A NEW 2014 ESCAPE FOR ONLY $199 PER MONTH* 36 month lease with approved credit through Ford Credit. $2839 plus tax, title, & license due at signing. Includes first month payment, $0 security deposit, acquisition fee, & capitalized cost reduction. *Stock #14t06. 20 cent per mile over 10500 per year. Includes $1500 RCL Bonus Cash. See dealer for details. More to choose from with similar savings. Image is for illustration purposes only. Offer ends 10/31/13. 2 Immokalee Bulletin October 17, 2013 on till Nov. 1 when RCMA’s funding cycle Numbers provided by Mr. Coats explain begins,” he noted. The federal government that the impact in the Immokalee-LaBelle Default is the largest single funder of Head Start. area, if no funds are available, RCMA em- Board Throughout the state, the total children ployees will remain laid off and families will Continued From Page 1 Continued From Page 1 affected by this potential disaster is 1,853 go without child care. for Redlands Christian Migrant Association This would affect 238 children and 72 yet, but RCMA staff was concerned. opment Corporation. Mrs. Goodnight also alone. staffers in Collier County; 59 children and 26 “It could be a major problem if this goes previously served a two-year term for the staffers in Hendry County and 23 children Board of Commissioners of the Immokalee and several staffers in Glades County. Water and Sewer District beginning in 1996, According to Mr. Coats, Head Start and and two four-year terms beginning in 2000. Grants Early Head Start operate year round or Mrs. Goodnight brings a lifetime of commu- Continued From Page 1 through the school year. They are funded nity service to the IWSD Board of Commis- through June 30, 2014. sioners. These programs fund 138 children and Governor Scott also appointed Magda grants. grants online or call 643-4755 with the name some four-fi fths of our staff in Glades Coun- Ayala to the Immokalee Water & Sewer The award-winning teachers requested of the grant you’d like to fund. ty; 183 children and two-thirds of our staff District Board of Commissioners. Ms. Ayala classroom funding through the Champi- To learn more about The Education in Hendry County; but only 32 children and was appointed to the seat held by Everett ons For Learning’s website where all grant Foundation—Champions For Learning, some 10 staff members in Collier County. Loukonen, whose term expired in 2010, but requests can be viewed and fulfi lled by the please visit www.ChampionsForLearning. The Florida Offi ce of Early Learning is who continued to serve on the Board, until community. The Education Foundation be- org or call 239-643-4755. funded through November. School Readi- replaced. Ms. Ayala is the owner of the Bull- gan funding classroom grants over twenty ness funds pay for 51 children and roughly rider Ballroom in Immokalee, and has lived years ago. The online Connect With a Class- About the PNC Foundation a dozen staff in Collier County; 15 children in the community for over 50 years. She has room program began in 2003, allowing The PNC Foundation, which receives its and several teachers in Hendry Co. and no a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business teachers to post funding requests (from $20 principal funding from The PNC Financial programs in Glades County. from Barry University, and Master of Sci- to $2,000) for creative, innovative experi- Services Group (www.pnc.com), actively In Immokalee, he said migrant and sea- ence Degree in Mental Health from Nova ences for their students, which also invests supports organizations that provide services sonal programs were most at risk. These Southeastern University. She looks forward in best practices to share with other teach- for the benefi t of communities in which it contracts began on Nov. 1, 2012, and end to helping to make the community a better ers. has a signifi cant presence. The foundation Nov. 1, 2013. place for her child and grandchildren. This Teachers will continue to post requests focuses its philanthropic mission on early They must refunded by November 11 for is Ms. Ayala’s fi rst time being appointed online. We encourage community mem- childhood education and community and service to be uninterrupted. “If Congress or elected to a public offi ce in the State of bers to view and fund the projects and help economic development, which includes the functions properly, all new contracts will be Florida. teachers create these experiences for stu- arts and culture. Through Grow Up Great, okay,” Mr. Coats noted. The Governor also appointed Joseph dents. its signature cause that began in 2004, PNC Some RCMA centers don’t use federal Brister to the Board of Commissioners of the Visit www.ChampionsForLearning.org/ has created a $350 million, multi-year initia- money per se- they are funded by the state Immokalee Water & Sewer District. Mr. Bris- CWAC to view teacher requests and fund tive to help prepare children from birth to from federal monies. ter was appointed to the seat formerly held age 5 for success in school If Congress does not reestablish fund- by Veronica Barnhart, who resigned in June and life.