News & Events

Immokalee Foundation children We Are Immokalee sign
News Partner Profiles

The Immokalee Foundation: Creating Pathways to Success

Founded in 1991, The Immokalee Foundation’s core charge is to build pathways to success for Immokalee’s children by connecting opportunity with accountability, linked by empowerment. During its history, the organization has steadily expanded its programmatic footprint, offering more services in-house in addition to its early legacy of fundraising. As a partner within Future Ready Collier, The Immokalee Foundation is in lockstep with efforts to ensure students know about, and are facilitated to access, a range of academic, career, and life choices.

Posted by Caroline Ridgway
laptop on table says "Join Us Online"
College & Career Events Resources

FAFSA Information Sessions and Online Tutorials

A primary interest of Future Ready Collier is helping all young people graduate from high school with a plan for their future. Whatever your expectations or hopes, it’s smart to be sure you complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as early in your senior year as possible. Filling out the FAFSA gives you the greatest flexibility in getting and using financial aid and scholarships for any sort of post-high school education and training. Read more to register for free virtual FAFSA information sessions held in November and December.

Posted by Caroline Ridgway
College & Career Events Resources

Learn About Talent Strong Florida

On October 7, Future Ready Collier hosts a virtual community conversation with the Florida College Access Network (FCAN) about their Talent Strong Florida initiative. Talent Strong Florida joins stakeholders in education and the business community to bring attention to the value of post-high school training. FCAN’s recently welcomed executive director and their assistant director for network partnerships will participate in the conversation.

Posted by Caroline Ridgway
Close-up of elementary student’s notebook
Partner Profiles

The Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation: Stewards of Learning

As one of the founding financial partners behind Future Ready Collier, the Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation has a uniquely empirical perspective on collective impact at work, as well as deep community connections that both speak to and evolve from such strategic, networked energetic investment. At the outset of the conversations that gave rise to Future Ready Collier, the Schulze Family Foundation, long led locally by Mary Beth Geier, saw the value of collaborative conversation, whereby each participant can openly say what they know that’s helpful, balanced by what they don’t know that they need help with. Coming together, sharing knowledge, and moving along a coordinated, forward-looking path are key characteristics of Future Ready Collier’s origins and ongoing success.

Posted by Caroline Ridgway
back to school colored pencils
News Resources

CCPS Goes Back to School on August 31

Collier County Public Schools reopen for the year on Monday, August 31. This includes back to school for both in-person, on-campus learning and digital or other home-based options. CCPS created a webpage with plenty of helpful resources for parents. Make sure to read through and have all the information you need!

Posted by Caroline Ridgway
student carrying books
News Resources

Round-Up of Current Resources and Updates

Future Ready Collier is keeping watch over current resources and updates for families about the start of school and related topics. Read on for specifics, and share with those who would benefit from this information. Stay tuned to the Future Ready Collier website and Facebook page for future quick summary updates like this one. 

Posted by Caroline Ridgway
food pantry
News Resources

Collier County CARES Funding Distributions and Applications

Collier County has announced its plans for distributing funding received through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Those eligible to apply include: nonprofits, hospitals, nursing homes, community health care and public safety assistance providers; licensed childcare facilities; individuals needing help with past-due rent, mortgage, utilities and childcare; and small businesses to relaunch and rehire. Application deadlines for Collier County CARES support vary by category. PPE kits may be included in requests and distributions. Future Ready Collier is committed to sharing important information like this with the community. Please alert anyone who may be in need and eligible. 

Posted by Caroline Ridgway
Back to School
College & Career Early Learning News Resources

School Reopening Updates

In any other year, August’s arrival means students and parents start to eagerly gear up for the school year ahead. As the onset of the 2020-2021 school year looms, however, many are wondering how best to navigate a world still dominated by COVID-19. This uncertainty applies as much to early childhood learning as to post-secondary schools. Future Ready Collier is keeping an eye on school reopening plans and safety precautions being adopted.

Posted by Caroline Ridgway
boy reading book
Partner Profiles Resources

The United Way of Collier and the Keys: Amplifying Impact with Future Ready Collier

“How can we do better together?” This question posed during Future Ready Collier’s conceptualization remains a guiding principle of the network’s daily work. As a founding partner, the United Way of Collier and the Keys (formerly the United Way of Collier County) has been instrumental in Future Ready Collier’s evolution. Uniquely positioned as both a local grantmaker and direct services provider, the United Way understands the criticality of local connection. The collaboration engendered by and through Future Ready Collier has a compounding effect, enabling the United Way and similar entities to better understand and subsequently address regional need.

Posted by Caroline Ridgway