Volunteers start After-School Homework Club and Parenting Classes

With two rooms and a bus borrowed from Golden Gate Methodist Church, Rev. Stephanie Campbell and a few dedicated volunteers launched a homework club for students in grades K through 5, enrolling 60 students the first year.

Diane Ponton was hired to lead a program for parents and preschoolers to attend together. It was the foundation of Bright Beginnings, the nationally recognized Grace Place Family Literacy Program ^TM.

Middle School and High School Programs Added

Recognizing the need for educational support beyond grade 5, afterschool programs were established in Golden Gate Middle School and High School. Taught by certified teachers and passionate volunteers, these programs supported academics, wellness and career exploration.

Adult Education Program starts with ESL Classes

To fully support family literacy, we started with a single English as a Second Language class in the evening.  Over time, courses were added in Financial Literacy, Digital Literacy and Citizen Test Preparation. Two public playgrounds, computer labs, and two buses were added for the growing Grace Place community.

Food Pantry welcomes Golden Gate Residents

Providing nutritious, fresh food and shelf-stable products filled an important gap for local families. With the help Harry Chapin Food Bank, our choice food pantry now serves over 300 families each week.

Campus Expansion starts with Purchase of 4 Acres

In the heart of Golden Gate, the campus site created a central location for spacious classrooms, welcoming outdoor spaces and community events. Built around the soon-to-be renovated Pfouts Chapel, the new buildings would soon replace the original classroom trailers.

Groundbreaking Ceremony for Grace Place Naples

With the support of hundreds of generous donors and community sponsors, the groundbreaking marked the start of a 6-year project to develop an extraordinary home for our programs and the families we serve.

Van Domelen Education Center Opens

With the completion of the Van Domelen Education Center, our Bright Beginnings classes and afterschool programs moved from crowded trailers to beautifully designed classrooms and outdoor play areas. Enrollment increased 50% in the years following.

Opening of Schoen Family Complex and McNamara Family Learning Center

The Schoen Family Complex and McNamara Family Learning Center opened, providing new classrooms and offices, enhancing our Adult Education and administrative capabilities.

Celebrating the Barbara Bush Literacy Award and Jilk Family Center

On behalf of Grace Place, Diane Ponton accepted the Pearl Literacy Award from the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy, in recognition of our program successes.

The campus expansion was completed with the opening of the Jilk Family Center, boosting enrollment to over 1,000 students.

Family Literacy Staff and Food Pantry were Lifelines for Golden Gate

When schools closed in March, our teachers created the Grace Place Family Home-Learning Guide with weekly lessons and activities for all grade levels – and called families to help them access programs online.

The Food Pantry served a record 500+ families weekly for most of the year, almost doubling our regular participation.

New Programs for Summer Reading and Bright Beginnings  

To address post-pandemic learning losses, we designed an intensive Summer Reading Program for grades K through 5, weaving literacy activities into every part of the day.

A 3^rd year curriculum for Bright Beginnings parents was added, expanding language learning opportunities and career exploration.

NAC Accreditation and Florida Gold Seal Award

Our Early Childhood Education Program earned accreditation from the National Accreditation Commission (NAC) for Early Care and Education Programs.  We also received the Gold Seal Award from the Florida Department of Education.

Achievements from Preschool to High School

We celebrated a year filled with great results. 100% of our 4-year-olds were kindergarten-ready in May. Enrollment in our K-5 program showing improvement one letter grade in Math and ELA. Middle School Choice Academies improved student engagement and increased retention for grades 6-8. Our middle school students performed substantially higher in English Language Arts and Math. We had a 100% high school graduation rate, with every student having a strong post-secondary plan. Our seniors received more than $380,000 in college scholarships.

Celebrating 20 Years

Grace Place celebrates 20 years of transformative family literacy programs, with over 1,200 dedicated students, 120 committed staff and the support of 300+ volunteers.