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.

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 [...]

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.

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

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 [...]

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.