Joseph Zednik, an Immokalee Foundation board member and mentor, and Bonita Springs resident, has been named to chair the organization’s Charity Classic Celebration scheduled for Friday, Nov. 11, at The Ritz-Carlton, Naples.

Highlights of the evening include an extraordinary dinner, live and silent auctions featuring once-in-a-lifetime experiences, music, entertainment and dancing.

The event’s theme, Dream. Believe. Experience., celebrates the foundation’s mission to provide sustained educational opportunities that make aspirations come true for the youth of Immokalee. TIF's largest fundraiser raised a record-breaking $1.5 million in 2010 for the foundation’s educational programs.

“The programs funded by the Charity Classic Celebration help the kids of Immokalee obtain an education so they may have the opportunity to live the American dream,” said Zednik. “There is no better feeling than helping them grow, learn and succeed.”

Along with his position on The Immokalee Foundation board, Zednik is CEO of Prescient Ridge Fund, LLC, and is a former member of the Chicago Board of Trade, Chicago Board of Options, Chicago Mercantile Exchange, Eurex and National Futures Association. Zednik received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the Illinois Institute of Technology.

The Out of this World Community Carnival was held at Immokalee Middle School on February 5, 2011. The carnival was a community-wide celebration of literacy and science — and, of course, of the community itself. We were very pleased to be a part of this special day. Continue on to see a collection of snapshots from the day's events.

In late January, nearly 200 people gathered to celebrate the induction of 32 new students into TIF's Take Stock in Children program. The 32 students, mostly seventh graders, will work with mentors and TIF staff members from now through high school graduation in an effort to help them excel academically and prepare themselves for continued academic success after high school. All students who complete the program — which includes meeting high academic, behavioral, and social standards — will earn a four-year scholarship to a Florida state university. 

A new generation of TIF’s Take Stock in Children (TSIC) students will soon be welcomed to the program.

On January 24, 32 students will join the TSIC ranks. While candidates typically apply to the program in seventh grade, we will also be admitting select eighth and ninth graders as well. Each participant will meet weekly with a mentor throughout the school year — meetings that will continue through senior year of high school. In order to maintain TSIC eligibility, students commit to high grades, good behavior, regular school attendance, and community service. In return, they earn full tuition scholarships to any Florida state college, university, or vocational school.

Every year, the Christmas Around the World parade comes to Immokalee — and TIF's students always look forward to putting on a good show as participants in the parade.

This year, TIF's Vocational Success students came up with the theme "Disco Fever" and conjured music-related designs to decorate a holiday float. While Vocational Success students handled the cutting and construction, more than 80 students from across TIF's programs came together to see the project through. The parade provided students with a valuable opportunity to use the skills they're developing in school and in their vocational programs. At the same time they found a fun and exciting way to make a holiday contribution to their community.

"It's great to see these kids building skills and character at the same time," says Elda Hernandez, program manager for Vocational Success. "And the team work they displayed was incredible."

Continue on for additional photos of the creation process for the 2010 Christmas Around the World Parade.