Santa Sweets & Gargiulo Hold Dedication Event For 'Mainster Digital Literacy Program'

Immokalee, FL – Friends, colleagues, faculty, and students gathered on November 15 at Pinecrest Elementary School in Immokalee, FL to celebrate the dedication of the “Mainster Digital Literacy Program”. The Mainster Digital Literacy Program is a commitment being made by two FL-based farming operations, Gargiulo Inc. and Ag-Mart Produce Inc. (DBA Santa Sweets Inc.), to support digital literacy initiatives for economically disadvantaged students in Collier County. Together, the two Procacci-family-owned companies will be donating $5000 annually to both Redlands Christian Migrant Association and Pinecrest Elementary School.

The program is named in honor of Barbara Mainster. Ms. Mainster is retiring next month after 28 years as executive director of Redlands Christian Migrant Association. RCMA schools serve nearly 7,000 children in 21 Florida counties. More than anyone else, Mainster deserves credit for the size and character of RCMA. She has overseen RCMA’s expansion from three child-care centers, when Mainster joined in 1972, to today’s 68 child-care centers and three charter schools. And she has led RCMA in its all-embracing relationship with low-income families, respecting parents and their culture.

The special event was both a celebration of Ms. Mainster’s distinguished career as an educator and advocate for farmworker families and a showcase of the great strides that are being made by Pinecrest’s students through the hard work of their teachers and students.

Santa Sweets and Gargiulo’s support of digital literacy initiatives in Collier County began in late 2014 when Santa Sweet’s COO, Joseph M. Procacci, learned that Pinecrest was in need of digital devices to support their STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math education) curriculum and to increase students’ exposure to technology. Nearly all of Pinecrest’s students, and Immokalee students in general, grow up in economically disadvantaged families where English is a second language. The vast majority of students lack accessibility to digital learning opportunities at home. After an initial donation of 5 iPads yielded overwhelmingly positive results and feedback from teachers and students alike, Santa Sweets and Gargiulo followed up with subsequent donations that have quintupled Pinecrest’s supply of iPads.

During the event, Pinecrest Elementary STEM Coach, Dylan Opper, hosted a virtual classroom tour that demonstrated some the many ways that Pinecrest’s teachers are using the iPads to increase student engagement, foster creativity, and make learning fun for Pinecrest students. Among the highlights of the tour were a game-show style Science lesson for 5th grade students and a coding lesson where 2nd graders programmed a robot to walk a straight line. According to Mr. Opper, the donated iPads have allowed Pinecrest to carry out “a strategic plan of STEM education goals for each grade level.”

“Every student now has the opportunity and responsibility to control their own learning. They are on track to be influential members of our increasingly digital society,” said Opper.

In addition to Mr. Opper, the speakers at Tuesday’s event included: Pinecrest Principal Dr. Susan Jordan, Joseph Procacci, Naples Children & Education Foundation CEO Maria Jimenez-Lara, and Ms. Mainster.

At the event, Mr. Procacci shared the sentiment behind the Mainster Digital Literacy Program, “Barbara has been a tremendous friend to our companies, our workers and our industry. There is nothing more precious to us than our children. Her incredible leadership during her career has opened doors that weren’t previously there for our workers’ children. Our employees show up for work knowing that their kids are in great hands. Thank you Barbara. We wish you nothing but the best in your retirement!”

About Santa Sweets: Santa Sweets Inc. is the premier supplier of heirloom and grape tomatoes in North America. We specialize in growing vine ripened, high-flavor tomatoes that are bursting with sweetness. With growing operations in New Jersey, North Carolina, Florida and Mexico, we provide an unparalleled surety of supply to our customers. As the #1 organic grape tomato producers in North America, we incorporate many organic methods into our conventional farming operations to maximize soil health and minimize resource consumption. To find out more information on how to provide your customers with the freshest, safest and best tasting tomatoes on the market, please visit www.santasweets.com .

About Gargiulo: Gargiulo Inc. is one of the largest growers, packers and distributors of open field fresh tomatoes in North America. Gargiulo specializes in growing round, roma and cherry tomato varieties. Working hand-in-hand with their subsidiary BHN Seed Co., Gargiulo continually produces innovative new varieties that demonstrate improvements in yield, quality, disease resistance and flavor. With operations in Florida, Georgia, California and Puerto Rico, Gargiulo provides their customers with year-round sourcing solutions. In addition to the Mainster Digital Literacy Program, Gargiulo is very active in supporting various causes that benefit the migrant community. Their generous support of the Gargiulo Education Center helps in providing after school education for over 60 students in the Naples migrant Community.

About RCMA: Redlands Christian Migrant Association serves low-income families in 21 Florida counties by operating 68 child-care centers, three charter schools, six after-school programs and 25 child-care homes. Founded in 1965 by Mennonites, RCMA is a non-sectarian, nonprofit corporation, and is one of the nation’s leading providers of the Migrant & Seasonal Head Start program.

Source: Procacci Brothers Sales Corporation