Newly Formed Nonprofit, Taste the Impact, Fuels Youth Entrepreneurship Program Behind Taste of Immokalee

Immokalee, FL – The growth of Taste of Immokalee, a social business created and operated by high school students, has created an increased demand for the youth entrepreneurship behind its success. To better support and sustain this entrepreneurship program, a nonprofit has been launched under the name of Taste the Impact.

Taste the Impact’s program is committed to providing career-focused training primarily to under-served high school students from the migrant farm-working community of Immokalee. Youth gain hands-on business experience and the soft skills necessary in today’s workforce, along with the opportunity to earn professional certifications through the Florida Ready to Work program.

Every fall, high school students in Collier County may apply to enter the program, where they begin learning about entrepreneurship and the social business model behind Taste of Immokalee. But without adequate funding to support the increased demand, many deserving students must be turned away.

“Funding is critical to continuing the program that has already transformed hundreds of young lives in Immokalee, with the potential to impact countless more in our region and beyond,” said Marie Capita, Executive Director of Taste the Impact. “Our nonprofit status now enables us to directly accept tax deductible donations and gives our donors confidence that their support goes directly to funding scholarships and training our future business leaders.”

Guiding the success of Taste the Impact is a strong Board of Directors bringing expertise in both business and philanthropy. Members include:

• Kevin Carmichael, Chair - Partner, Wood, Buckel & Carmichael, Attorneys at Law
• Debra Bailey - Former sales and marketing executive at Univar and McKesson Chemical
• Mariana Birmingham - Vice President, Business Banking Relationship Manage at PNC Bank
• Scott Boyd - Philanthropist, former officer for Fortune 1000 AmCast Industrial and Harsco
• Douglas Chapman - Former executive with BNY Mellon, Salomon Smith Barney and Bank of America
• John K. Paul, CPA - Owner, IFCO Consulting; Founding Board Member of Taste of Immokalee

Learn more about Taste the Impact and how you can make a difference at www.TastetheImpact.org.