Building Confidence Through First Job Experience For eight high school juniors, this spring marked an important milestone: their first job. Through paid internships at Grace Place, students gained hands-on experience across departments including finance, human resources, development, programs, and food service. Before stepping into their roles, each student completed a pre-internship course designed to build [...]
Bright Beginnings 201 Graduation: Parents Growing, Families Moving Forward This month, parents in our Bright Beginnings 201 program reached an incredible milestone at Grace Place. They graduated after a year of commitment, growth, and persistence. Throughout the year, these parents showed up four days a week, balancing work, family responsibilities, and the determination to learn. [...]
VPK Graduation: Ready for Kindergarten, Ready for What Comes Next This month, Grace Place celebrated a special milestone for our youngest learners. Our Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten (VPK) students graduated. Dressed in caps and gowns, students walked across the stage to receive their diplomas in front of proud families. The celebration was filled with music, laughter, and [...]
Young Authors' Festival: When Students See Their Words Come to Life Last month, something powerful happened at Grace Place. Students in grades 3–5 became published authors. Through our Young Authors' Festival, in partnership with Room to Read, students wrote and illustrated their own original books, then shared them with an audience of families, peers, and [...]
Futures Full Of Promise Grace Place for Children and Families' scholarship program continues to open doors for students ready to take the next step. Every year, Grace Place helps remove barriers to higher education, awarding full-ride scholarships and supporting even more students in securing additional opportunities. Many of these scholars are the first in [...]
Celebrating Adult Learners At Grace Place, learning doesn’t have an age limit, and neither does achievement. Our recent Adult Recognition events were a powerful celebration of the dedication, perseverance, and progress of our adult students who are learning English and building new opportunities for themselves and their families. These events brought together students, volunteer teachers, [...]
Field Trip to the Farm Our Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten (VPK) students recently enjoyed a hands-on field trip to Farmer Mike’s U-Pick in Bonita Springs, where learning truly came to life outside the classroom. Throughout the visit, students explored the farm and had the opportunity to see firsthand how fruits and vegetables are grown, cared for, and [...]
Honoring Our Volunteers The heart of any non-profit is its people, and this was never more evident than at our 2026 Annual Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon. With almost 50 dedicated volunteers in attendance, the room was filled with the energy of individuals committed to making a tangible difference in our community. The afternoon’s program featured powerful insights into [...]
Protecting Our Planet Our youngest learners are beginning to understand the importance of caring for the world around them. This past week, our Bright Beginnings students explored what it means to take care of their community and environment. Through engaging, hands-on activities, they discovered that even the smallest actions can make a meaningful difference. [...]
English Express: Building Confidence Our high school students are making meaningful strides in English Express, a program designed to strengthen language skills while supporting academic success. Through a combination of structured lessons, conversation practice, and homework support, over 50 students are developing their English in a way that feels both practical and empowering. Each [...]