IT'S THE SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUS.

COMING UP, BRINGING A SENSE OF COMMUNITY TO EDUCATION.

WE LEARN HOW ONE ORGANIZATION IS USING A MULTI-GENERATIONAL METHOD TO HELP MIGRANT FAMILIES LEARN ENGLISH AS A UNIT AS THE COST OF BEING A TEACHER CONTINUES TO RISE.

WE LOOK AT A PROGRAM THAT AIMS TO PROVIDE VALUABLE RESOURCES TO LEADERS IN THE CLASSROOM.

AND RECOGNIZING THOSE WHO VENTURED OVERSEAS TO FIGHT IN WORLD WAR.

2, WE PREVIEW A NEW DOCUMENTARY THAT SHARES THE STORIES OF THE VETERANS 81 YEARS AFTER THE WAR CAME TO A CLOSE HELLO, I'M JENNIFER CRAWFORD.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

LAST YEAR, FLORIDA WELCOMED OVER 178,000 NEW IMMIGRANTS.

THAT'S ACCORDING TO THE U.S.

CENSUS BUREAU.

DESPITE BEING A 56% DROP-OFF FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR, FLORIDA STILL RECORDED THE HIGHEST NET MIGRATION TOTAL OF ANY STATE IN THE COUNTRY.

LEARNING ENGLISH IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE IS IMMIGRANTS FACE WHEN COMING TO AMERICA.

BUT IN COLLIER COUNTY, ONE NONPROFIT IS EASING THAT BURDEN BY TAKING A MULTI-GENERATIONAL APPROACH TO TEACHING MIGRANTS HOW TO READ, WRITE AND SPEAK ENGLISH.

FOR MORE, I'M JOINED BY LAURA FISHER.

SHE IS THE CEO OF GRACE PLACE, WHICH IS LOCATED IN GOLDEN GATE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME THIS MORNING.

WHAT A REMARKABLE NONPROFIT YOU HAVE OF.

CAN YOU TELL OUR AUDIENCE WHAT IS THE MISSION OF GRACE PLACE?

>> OUR MISSION IS TO BREAK THE CYCLE OF PROPERTY BY PROVIDING EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES TO STUDENTS WITHIN THE GOLDEN GATE COMMUNITY.

WE'VE BEEN DOING THAT FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS.

STARTED REALLY IS A HOMEWORK, HELP COMPONENT AND HAS GROWN TO HAVING 1300 STUDENTS AND PROGRAMS THAT START IS YOUNG IS ONE YEARS OLD AND GO TO OUR OLDEST LEARN ARE STILL LEARNING ENGLISH AT 89 YEARS OLD.

THAT'S UNBELIEVABLE.

HOW DO YOU ACCOMPLISH THIS?

YOU HAVE SUCH A WIDE RANGE OF >> OF JUST FOR YOUR STUDENTS.

TRULY VERY DIFFERENT PROGRAMS.

BUT WITH A SINGULAR FOCUS ON LITERACY AND MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE MOVING FORWARD.

>> AND THEIR LITERACY JOURNEY.

SO IN THE MORNING WE HAVE A NON-TRADITIONAL PRESCHOOL PROGRAM.

VERY SIMILAR TO OTHER PRESCHOOLS EXCEPT FOR THE FACT THAT WE REQUIRE THAT A PARENT BE ON SITE, LEARNING ENGLISH AT THE SAME TIME.

SO OUR FOCUS IS REALLY ON THOSE FAMILIES IN GOLDEN GATE, THE PROBABLY WOULD NOT PURSUE OTHER EARLY LEARNING COMPONENTS BECAUSE THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT THEY DIDN'T COME FROM A PLACE FOR PRESCHOOL, WAS MAYBE AN OPTION.

AND SO STUDENTS DIDN'T LEAVE THE HOME AS LITTLE KIDS THAT MAYBE WENT TO KINDERGARTEN, BUT THEY WEREN'T REALLY LOOKING FOR THAT ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITY TO GET THEM READY FOR KINDERGARTEN.

SO WITH 220 STUDENTS IN THAT PROGRAM WITH A PARENT THAT IS THEY'RE LEARNING IN A SEPARATE CLASSROOM.

SO THE STUDENTS ARE IN CURRICULUM THAT IS TIED DIRECTLY TO AN ACCREDITED PROGRAM.

WE'VE GOT AN 88% TO 92% SUCCESS RATE WITH ALL OF THOSE STUDENTS BEING READY TO GO TO KINDERGARTEN AND THEN THEIR PARENTS ARE LEARNING ENGLISH ASSIMILATING TO THE UNITED STATES.

UNDERSTANDING HOW TO BECOME REAL ADVOCATE FOR THEIR STUDENTS AS THEY ENTER THAT TRADITIONAL SCHOOL SYSTEM.

AND THEN AS A VPK PROGRAM, IT IS A VPK PROGRAM.

SO WE'RE TRACKED BY THE SAME EARLY LEARNING COALITION THAT ANY OTHER PROGRAM WOULD BE.

WE'RE REALLY JUST TARGETING A SINGULAR POPULATION.

>> AND THEN YOU ALSO HELP ELEMENTARY STUDENTS, BUT DON'T PROVIDE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CURRICULUM.

EXPLAIN THAT EXACTLY.

SO WE COME ALONG.

COLLIER COUNTY, PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

>> AS THE AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM.

SO WE WORK WITH THE 5 ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS WITH IN GOLDEN GATE, THOSE STUDENTS OR BUST BY OUR BUSES DIRECTLY TO OUR 4 ACRE CAMPUS.

THEY'RE THEY'RE FROM ABOUT 2.30, IN THE AFTERNOON UNTIL ABOUT 6 O'CLOCK AT NIGHT.

SIMILARLY WORKING ON HOMEWORK AND RICHMOND PROGRAM, BUT FOCUSED ON THAT LITERACY AND MAKING SURE THAT READING IS A FOCUS AND A FUN FOCUS WITHIN THOSE HOUSEHOLD.

AND THEN ULTIMATELY AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE'VE GOT AN ADULT LEARNING PROGRAM WHERE PEOPLE COME BACK AND CAN CONTINUE THEIR ENGLISH JOURNEY AS ADULTS.

OUR OLDEST LEARN OR AS I SAID, IS 89 YEARS OLD AND CONTINUES TO COME EITHER DURING THE DAY OR IN THE EVENING TO JUST INCREASES ENGLISH LEARNING SKILLS.

>> NO, I'M CURIOUS WHEN THE ADULTS WANT TO ENROLL, WHAT'S THEIR PROCESS?

IS THERE NOT A SILLY DID WITH THE SCHOOL RIGHT?

>> SO WE'RE TIED TO THAT ZIP CODE FOR OUR MAIN CAMPUS OR CAMPUS.

IN GOLDEN GATE FOCUSES ON THE STUDENTS WHO HAVE GROWN UP IN THE COMMUNITY COME FROM NON-TRADITIONAL HOUSEHOLDS, MEANING ENGLISH IS NOT THEIR MAIN LANGUAGE.

SPOKEN AT HOME.

MANY OF THE FAMILIES IN THAT COMMUNITY WORKED IN LANDSCAPING.

THEY PROBABLY WORK IN HER TO OUR HOTELS.

A LOT OF SOCIAL SERVICE PROGRAMS THERE AND SOCIAL OR SERVICE INDUSTRY PROGRAMS THAT SO WE'RE COMING ALONGSIDE OF THEM BECAUSE SOME OF THEM HAVE COME HERE SPEAKING GREAT ENGLISH.

WE HAD A WOMAN WHO CAME FROM ARGENTINA WHO HAD BEEN DEGREED AS AN ARCHITECT, VERY, VERY EDUCATED WOMAN.

BUT HER ENGLISH REALLY WASN'T WHERE IT NEEDED TO BE TO BE ABLE TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN THE UNITED STATES.

SO SHE AND HER CHILDREN AND HER HUSBAND ENROLLED IN OUR PROGRAMS UNTIL THEY WERE ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY FIND EMPLOYMENT AND THE KIDS ARE READY TO GO, YOU KNOW, OFTEN TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.

>> HOW DO FAMILIES PAY FOR THIS?

EVERYTHING WE DO IS FREE.

>> EVERYTHING WE DO IS GREAT.

THAT'S WHY WE HAVE A 7 MILLION DOLLAR FUNDRAISING BUDGET EACH YEAR.

>> WE DON'T WANT TRANSPORTATION.

WE DON'T WANT THE COST OF A PROGRAM TO BE A DETERRENT OR A BARRIER TO ANYBODY ACHIEVING THEIR GOALS.

>> CAN YOU TOUCH ON THE SUMMER PROGRAMS BECAUSE YOU'RE YOU'RE AROUND.

WE ALL KNOW THAT SUMMER READING SCORES AT DECLINE DURING THE SUMMER FOR MANY CHILDREN.

HOW DOES THIS HELP?

>> SO WE'VE FOR 2 OF HIS CAMP, EVEN THOUGH IT'S NOT IT'S STILL ACADEMIC SPACE, BUT WE GIVE IT MORE OF A FUN SLANT IN THE SUMMER BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT LEARNING YEAR-ROUND CAN BE VERY DIFFICULT.

SO FOR ANY HOUSEHOLD FINDING WAYS FOR THAT READING TO BE FUN IS IMPORTANT.

AND I THINK RIGHT NOW THIS YEAR WITH WORLD CUP THAT MAKES IT MUCH EASIER FOR EVERYBODY, RIGHT?

BECAUSE EVERY FAMILY CAN BE TALKING ABOUT WORLD CUP.

YOU CAN BE READING ABOUT WORLD CUP.

AND SO KEEPING KIDS ENGAGED DURING THAT TIME IS CRITICAL.

A LOT OF STUDENTS WILL LOSE 2 OR 3 MONTHS OF LEARNING OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT IN A PROGRAM FOR STUDENTS WHERE ENGLISH MAY NOT BE THEIR MAIN LANGUAGE.

I CAN BE REALLY SIGNIFICANT FOR ALL STUDENTS CAN BE NOT ALL OF OUR STUDENTS, NO MATTER WHAT THEY LOOK LIKE OR WHERE THEY CAME FROM ARE GETTING IS, YOU KNOW, ALL THE TIME AND SO HELPING THEM MAINTAIN THAT JOY OF READING, ESPECIALLY AS THEY CONTINUE TO GO THROUGH LIFE.

RIGHT.

IF YOU THINK ABOUT YOURSELF, I WANT TO READ A NOVEL.

YOU KNOW THAT SOME ARE READ.

I'M GONNA GO THE BEACH AND READ SOMETHING THAT'S A LOVE OF LEARNING.

THAT'S A LOVE OF READING.

SO WE'VE BUILT IN THINGS LIKE OKAY FOR GONNA BUILD COOKIES, YOU NEED TO READ THE RECIPE IF THEY'RE GOING TO BUILD SOMETHING WITH LEGOS, YOU NEED TO READ THE INSTRUCTIONS.

WE'RE GONNA GO TO THE ZOO.

ALL RIGHT.

WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE ANIMAL THE ZOO?

CAN YOU READ ABOUT THAT ANIMAL AND BE ABLE TO SHARE THAT WITH HIM?

YOUR APPEARS IN THE OTHER STUDENTS IN HER CLASSES, WE THINK ABOUT BOOK CLUBS.

WE ALL AS ADULTS WANT TO BE IN A BOOK CLUB AND CONTINUE TO READ.

BUT WE DON'T ALWAYS THINK ABOUT THAT FOR STUDENTS RIGHT?

BUT THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH HAVING A FAMILY BOOK CLUB ARE PEER GROUP OF 7 OR 8 YEAR OLDS THAT ARE READING THE SAME BOOK A 13 YEAR OLDS READING THE SAME BOOK.

THAT SOUNDS LIKE A BEAUTIFUL BE DEALS ON WONDERFUL PLACE.

WE'RE SO PROUD OF IT.

THE STUDENTS, YOU KNOW, IT BRINGS UP A DIGNITY AND IT HELPS THEM UNDERSTAND THAT NO MATTER WHAT YOUR BACKGROUND IS, YOU DESERVE.

YOU KNOW, A QUALITY EDUCATION AND ARE SO EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

THE OTHER REALLY EXCITING THING WE DO IS 5 OF OUR SENIORS.

WE HAVE 5 FULL-RIDE SCHOLARS SCHOLARSHIPS THAT ALLOW THEM TO THEN BE ABLE TO GO TO ANY COLLEGE THEY WANT IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA.

ON A FREE RIDE.

AND SO IT'S VERY COMPETITIVE.

AND THAT'S ONE OF MY FAVORITE DAYS OF THE YEAR IS TO ACTUALLY WATCHING THE 4 YEAR OLD'S GRADUATE READY TO GO TO KINDERGARTEN AND WATCHING OUR SENIORS RECEIVED THEIR FULL RIDE.

SCHOLARSHIPS ARE JUST REALLY EXCITING TIMES FOR ME.

THAT'S JUST AWESOME.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING THIS REALLY WONDERFUL INFORMATION ABOUT A GREAT ORGANIZATION.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

GREAT.

THANKS FOR JOINING US TODAY.

>> YOU CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT GRACE PLACES IMPACT ON THE COLLIER COUNTY COMMUNITY BY VISITING ITS WEBSITE, GRACE PLACE, NAPLES DOT ORG.

COMING UP, 81 YEARS FOLLOWING THE END OF WORLD WAR.

2, WE LEARNED ABOUT A NEW DOCUMENTARY THAT CAPTURES THE STORIES OF THE VETERANS WHO PAVED THE WAY FOR AMERICA'S VICTORY.

JUNE 14TH MARKS FLAG DAY AN ANNUAL OBSERVANCE THAT COMMEMORATES THE ADOPTION OF THE AMERICAN FLAG IN 17.

77 AS PART OF THE CELEBRATIONS, A SPECIAL SHOWING OF THE NEW DOCUMENTARY WILL BE HAPPENING IN CAPE CORAL.

MY FATHER'S WAR MEMORIES FROM OUR HONOR WORLD WAR.

2 SOLDIERS SHARES THE FIRSTHAND STORIES FROM VETERANS OF THE CONFLICT FOLLOWING SOLD-OUT SCREENINGS IN NEW ENGLAND, LIMITED TICKETS ARE STILL AVAILABLE FOR THE SHOWING AT THE MARQUEE CINEMAS THIS SUNDAY THIS SUNDAY, JUNE 14TH MARKS FLAG DAY AS PART OF OUR CONTINUING COVERAGE OF AMERICA.

2.50, I AM NOW JOINED AND HONORED TO BE JOINED BY CHARLIE VALERA FROM CAPE CORAL.

HE IS THE AUTHOR AND DOCUMENTARIAN OF A NEW FILM.

AND YOU HAVE WORKED VERY HARD.

CHARLIE ON THIS FILM.

CAN YOU TELL US MORE ABOUT HOW YOU FIRST BEGAN TO WORK ON THIS PROJECT?

>> WHAT'S 5 AFTER MY FATHER PASSED AWAY?

I GOT IT.

I RECEIVED A COPY OF HIS DISCHARGE PAPERS.

DD 2.14, AND ON IT.

IT SHOWED WHERE HE WAS DURING THE WAR AND HOW LONG HE WAS THERE.

BUT HE NEVER TALKED TO US ABOUT IT FOR CENTRE AND NOBODY OUT.

AND ONE OF MY BROTHERS SERVED IN THE NAVY DURING THE VIETNAM CONFLICT.

AND WHAT A SAD TO LOOK A LITTLE BIT FURTHER INTO IT.

I REALIZED TEAM WITH 3 OTHER GUYS LIKE ME WHOSE DAD WAS IN THE WAR AND NEVER HEARD ANY STORIES SENT.

I WONDER WHY.

AT THAT POINT.

I DECIDED TO LIVE INTERVIEW SOME WHERE WHERE TO VENTURE INTO THEIR LIVES WILL LIKE I WASN'T SO CONCERNED ABOUT THE BATTLES AS MUCH AS I WAS CONCERNED WITH.

HI TO LIVE A LIFE LIKE THAT.

WHAT DID YOU EAT?

I DID YOU SLEEP WITH?

DID YOU SEE?

HOW LONG THE THERE WHAT WE'RE THINKING.

WHAT DID YOU DO?

SO I STAND BY WANTING TO INTERVIEW VETERANS FROM ALL BRANCHES IN BOTH THEATERS OF WAR.

SO IF YOU HAD A RELATIVE THAT WAS.

MAYBE IN THE NAVY.

AND YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THEIR LIFE WAS LIKE.

>> I WANT TO KNOW HOW DID YOU FIND THESE VETERANS AND THEN SELECTED TO ACTUALLY GO ON CAMERA?

ACTUALLY PROBABLY INTERVIEWED ABOUT 25 TO 30.

>> AND I WOULD GO TO THE HOUSE.

I HAD A LITTLE HANDHELD CAMERA AND WANT TO MAKE SURE VIDEO THEM.

I GOT WITH EAST.

I WILL DO WHAT THEY SAID.

NOT WHAT I THOUGHT.

I HEARD SO I BUT THEY CAME WITH ME.

I HAD A FEW SERIOUS QUESTIONS.

SIMPLE THINGS.

AND FROM THERE, LET THEM GO ON.

SO I COULD HEAR WHAT IT IS.

THEY WANT TO FINALLY GET OFF THE SHOULDERS IF THEY WERE IN THEIR EARLY TO MID 90'S.

WHEN I MET WITH THEM.

>> DID THEY OPEN UP TO YOU AND MAKE THEMSELVES PRETTY VULNERABLE?

BECAUSE I KNOW THAT IS OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING THAT VETERANS THEY IN GENERAL DON'T LIKE TO TALK ABOUT.

>> AT FIRST THEY DID NOT SOME OF THEM.

>> WE'RE VERY DIFFICULT AS FAR AS YOU KNOW, TO DO THIS BEFORE OR >> I WANT TO CAMERA ON.

BUT AGAIN, I THINK I DON'T THINK I WOULD TO ANY HOUSE WON'T.

I PROBABLY WENT BACK 3 TO 5 TIMES.

BECAUSE EVERY ANTI-GAY BE 2 MORE QUESTIONS.

AND EVENTUALLY THEY DID OPEN UP TO MEET THE LIKE I MENTIONED, WE MADE PROMISES.

I MADE THEM PROMISES.

THEY DID OPEN UP.

SO, YEAH, I WAS VERY FORTUNATE.

>> AND WHAT'S THE RESULT OF ALL OF THIS WORK TELLING MORE SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE FILM AND INCLUDED AND WHAT YOUR GOAL IS WITH THE FILM.

>> THE FAMILIES.

>> I HAD ABOUT PROBABLY 25 HOURS THAT I NEEDED TO HAVE IT.

>> AND IT DOWN TO ABOUT 80 MINUTE.

THAT'S BEEN DONE.

8, 9, VETERAN SERVING THERE.

AS WELL AS ACROSS MYSELF BECAUSE YOU'RE IN THE U.S.

AND HOW SHOWING YOU TO BE THERE.

OF THE 9 VETERANS.

LIKE I SAID, I WANTED TO PAINT WITH A NICE BROAD BRUSH AND GET EVERY POSSIBLE DETAIL.

IS ONE GENTLEMAN THAT WAS ON A U.S.

HAS NORTH CAROLINA.

OKAY.

HIT BY A TORPEDO WHAT WAS THAT LIKE?

IT WAS A SOUND LIKE WHAT DID YOU SEE?

AND THEN I NEED TO GO AND GET SOME OVERLAYS TO PUT OVER.

DURING THE FILM.

SO YOU WOULD UNDERSTAND.

BUT SOME OF THOSE INSTANCES ARE ALIKE.

ONE OF THE GENTLEMAN WAS IN 3 CONCENTRATION CAMPS.

WHAT WAS THAT LIKE?

I WOULD HAVE TO DO FOR THEM.

WHEN YOU LEFT.

AND THE GENTLEMEN TAKEN, THEY WERE PINNED DOWN AND HE HAD TO TAKE OUT AN ENEMY MACHINE GUN ENCAMPMENT SINGLE-HANDEDLY SOMEBODY HAD TO DO IT.

THIS GUY THAT WAS 5 FOOT, ONE INCHES, ONE INCH.

WE HAD TO DO.

HE HADN'T TALKED ABOUT THAT.

THESE THESE GUYS HAD TALKED ABOUT THIS STUFF IN 67 YEARS.

>> HOW DID IT IMPACT YOU TO HEAR THESE STORIES FIRST HAND?

I WOULD IMAGINE.

IT GOT PRETTY EMOTIONAL AT TIMES.

>> IT WAS A LITTLE EMOTIONAL.

IT WAS MORE ENCOURAGING.

I WAS SO ENCOURAGED.

AND SO IN AWE THAT THE GUY NEXT DOOR, THAT OLD GUY THAT LIVES NEXT DOOR TO YOU WITH THAT AMERICAN FLAG OUT FRONT.

THAT THAT GUY WAS A MARINE IN GUANICA.

NOW YOU GOT TO BE KIDDING ME.

NO WAY.

THAT IS LIKE SO FAR LIVES.

AND THAT'S WHAT HE WENT THROUGH.

AND HE WAS 20 YEARS OLD.

SO THE MORE I TALK WITH THEM.

AND THE MORE I GOT INTERESTED IN WHAT ELSE CAN I DO NOW?

WHAT HAS COME TO FIND OUT ONE REASON A CALL THAT MY FATHER'S WAR IS BECAUSE A LOT OF THE VETERANS CHILDREN.

I WAS TALKING TO THEIR FATHER'S WAR AS WELL.

I WANT TO CALL OUR FATHER'S WORDS.

>> THE BIBLICAL SIT ON OR IF YOUR FATHER.

>> AND EVERY.

>> EVERYBODY'S 5 OF THE TARIFF DURING THE WAR.

THERE IS ONE STORY IN THERE, THOUGH, ABOUT A HUSBAND AND WIFE.

I NEED TO HEAR HER VERSION BECAUSE HE WAS A P O W. HE WAS SHOT ON QUITE INTO BEING A PRISONER OF WAR, CARLO OR 2.

AND I WAS ABLE TO TALK WITH HIS WIFE AND GET HER AND HAD HIS STORY.

I WANTED HERS.

GREAT PERSPECTIVE.

IT SURE WIFE.

YEAH.

I WAS LIKE, WHEW.

WHAT WAS IT LIKE WHEN YOU GOT THIS?

YOU KNOW HIS M I A WAS IT LIKE WHEN YOU GOT THIS IS THE P O W WOULD YOU DO?

HOW DID YOU HELP THEM OUT?

SAME QUESTIONS THAT I THINK ANYBODY WOULD ASK IF THEY HAD THE OPPORTUNITY THIS IT WITH A WORLD WAR.

2 VETERAN.

>> AND THERE ARE FEW WORLD WAR, 2 VETERANS STILL WITH US TO THIS DAY.

YOU MENTIONED, I THINK ALMOST ALL THAT YOU'VE INTERVIEWED HAS SINCE PASSED, BUT THERE'S ONE REMAINING.

TELL US ABOUT THIS.

THIS GENTLEMAN.

>> CHARLIE SANDERSON, IF YOU WATCHED A DOCUMENTARY, HE'S THE FIRST ONE IN THE DOCUMENTARY.

THEY WEREN'T PUT IN ANY PARTICULAR ORDER.

HE JUST HAPPENED TO BE TO TALLY.

WASN'T HE SHOWED UP AT THE THEATER.

ON SATURDAY.

SO SURPRISED.

I HAVE BEEN CALLING HIM NO LUCK.

I TEND UP SNAIL MAIL WITH THE LETTER AND IT'S SAYING LET ME KNOW IF YOU WANT TO PICK YOU UP ON, MAKE SURE YOU ENTER.

I GET TO A LIMO.

WHATEVER PEOPLE HE WAS LIKE A ROCK STAR REALLY BEFORE GATHERING AROUND HIM AND THANKING HIM AND HE HAD THE SAME HAT ON THAT HE HAS IN THE PITCHES AND IN THE FILM.

HE WAS SO HAPPY.

WE BROUGHT HIM IN.

HAVE A SEAT HAD SOME PEOPLE EVEN WHO MIGHT HAVE CARRIED THIS COULD HAVE A SPEECH SPOT FATALITY HE WENT TO SIT DOWN.

EVERYBODY STOOD UP, GIVE A ROUND OF APPLAUSE, A STANDING OVATION.

HE GOT UP.

HE TIPPED HIS HAT.

AND STEP BACK UP AND THEN WATCHED HIMSELF ON THE BIG SCREEN.

>> WHAT A WAY TO HONOR HIM.

FANTASTIC.

>> IT WAS PRETTY AWESOME.

>> DOES THAT IN ITSELF MAKE THIS PROJECT WORTH IT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

NO.

GO.

IF NOTHING ELSE HAPPENS, THAT WAS DOLLARS.

THAT WAS GOOD.

>> WHAT'S THE FINAL RUN?

TIME ON IT IN.

>> AND IF SOMEONE'S INTERESTED IN IN SEEING IT, I KNOW IT'S GOING TO BE.

>> PREMIERING IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

TELL US ABOUT THAT.

THE FILM IS 80 MINUTE WRONG.

BE SHOWN AT THE MARQUEE SENATORS IN CAPE CORAL AND PEAK ROAD PLAZA ON FLAG DAY, WHICH IS NO POINT AND PICK FLAG DAY FOR THAT REFUND AT 3.30, IN THE AFTERNOON.

ONE SHOW ONLY.

THIS IS NOT.

>> I DON'T KNOW WHERE TO GO FROM HERE, BUT YOU HAVE DONE A WONDERFUL, A WONDERFUL WORK HERE AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US IN STUDIO TODAY.

THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> FUN FACTS FROM THE WGCU NEWSROOM.

DESPITE BEING ADOPTED BY THE SECOND CONTINENTAL CONGRESS IN 17, 77 FLAG DAY WAS NOT OFFICIALLY ESTABLISHED UNTIL A PROCLAMATION WAS ISSUED BY PRESIDENT WOODROW WILSON IN 1968.

CONGRESS OFFICIALLY ESTABLISHED FLAG DAY IS A NATIONAL HOLIDAY ON AUGUST.

3RD, 1949.

THIS INTERVIEW WAS CONDUCTED AS PART OF WGCUS COVERAGE OF FLORIDA TO 50 AND IT'S SPONSORED IN PART BY THE STATE OF FLORIDA THROUGH THE DIVISION OF ARTS AND CULTURE.

COMING UP AFTER THE BREAK, SCHOOL BABY OUT FOR THE SUMMER.

BUT SOME LEE COUNTY LINED UP IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS IN FORT MYERS.

WE'LL TELL YOU WHY THEY WAITED IN LONG LINES TO HELP MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE READY FOR THE UPCOMING SCHOOL YEAR.

A RECENT SURVEY BY THE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION ADOPT A CLASSROOM FOUND THAT ON AVERAGE K THROUGH 12 TEACHERS IN FLORIDA SPENT ALMOST $1000 EVERY YEAR OUT OF POCKET ON SCHOOL SUPPLIES FOR THEIR STUDENTS IN FORT MYERS, THE UNITED WAY OF LEE HENDRY GLADES HELPED ALLEVIATE THOSE EXTRA COSTS FOR TEACHERS BY GIVING AWAY NEARLY $200,000 WORTH OF CLASSROOM SUPPLIES AND FURNITURE.

TEACHERS WAITED FOR HOURS FOR THE CHANCE TO RECEIVE FILING CABINETS, ART SUPPLIES, WHITE BOARDS AND MANY OTHER ITEMS.

IT IS THE SIX-YEAR, THE NIGHT AWAY HEALTHY EVENT DESPITE FACING DIRE FUNDING CONCERNS OF THEIR OWN.

>> FOR MORE, I AM JOINED BY HANNAH PELLE, THE INTERIM PRESIDENT AND CEO OF UNITED WAY OF LEE.

>> HENDRY AND GLADES.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY.

>> AND THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> UNITED WAY RECENTLY TOOK PART IN A SUCCESSFUL EVENT THAT HAD TEACHERS FROM LEE COUNTY LINED UP FOR HOURS, STARTING AS EARLY AS 04:00AM IN DOWNTOWN FORT MYERS.

CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THE EVENT AND HOW IT CAME TO FRUITION?

>> YES, SO WE HAVE MANY PARTNERSHIPS COMMUNITY AND ONE THAT WE'RE MOST PROUD OF IS THE FOUNDATION FOR LEE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

WE WE HOST EVENTS WITH THEM ALL THE TIME.

WE HAVE A INTERNAL PROGRAM AT UNITED WAY, CALL GIFTS IN KIND.

BUT WE RECEIVE AND DONATIONS AND THROUGHOUT AND THE YEAR.

GOODS AND OFFICE SUPPLIES FOR NYCHA CLASSROOM SUPPLIES AND I'M JUST TO GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE OF THAT PROGRAM LAST YEAR WE RECEIVED OVER 10 MILLION DOLLARS AND FREE DONATED ITEMS.

AND SO WE WERE ABLE TO PARTNER WITH THIS WITH THE FOUNDATION FOR LEE COUNTY, PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND TO HELP THE TEACHES WE PROVIDED AND JUST ALMOST $200,000 IN CLASSROOM SUPPLIES AND AND OVER 300 TEACHERS SHOWED UP THAT DAY.

AND YES, YOU'RE RIGHT.

AND THEY STARTED AT 4 O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING LINING UP AT THE FILING CABINETS AND CHAZ AND KINDS OF CLASSROOM SUPPLIES SENT AND THEY WITH REAL TO.

I MEAN.

I MUST SAY, THE BACKBONE COMMUNITY AND THEY SHOULDN'T HAVE TO GO INTO THEIR OWN POCKET AND FAR SUPPLIES LIKE THIS.

SO WE ARE THRILLED TO PARTNER.

>> THE TEACHERS ARE JUST ONE GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT YOUR ORGANIZATION SERVES.

CAN YOU TELL US MORE ABOUT THE MISSION OF UNITED WAY AND THE SCOPE OF THE WORK THAT YOU DO?

AND LEE HENDRY AND GLADES COUNTIES.

>> YES, AND ABSOLUTELY SO UNITED WAY.

WE ARE A COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION.

WITH THEN HE HAS SINCE 1957.

AND WE REALLY BRING PEOPLE AND RESOURCES AND AND ORGANIZATIONS TOGETHER TO IDENTIFY LOCAL NEEDS AND INVEST IN SOLUTIONS AND IMPROVE LIVES.

MISSION IS TO.

WE ARE DEDICATED TO IMPROVING THE LIVES OF ALL PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

>> CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THE SIZE OF YOUR BUDGET?

AND HOW YOU'RE FUNDED?

>> SHOW WE ARE WHO WE ARE FUNDED THROUGH.

WE HAVE SOME GRANTS BUT WE HAVE FUNDED COMMUNITY A GENEROUS COMMUNITY AND OVER THE LAST.

ALMOST 70 IS WE HAVE DISTRIBUTED 221 MILLION DOLLARS AND OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY INVESTING IN AND WE HAVE 92 PARTNER AGENCIES RIGHT NOW AND WE INVEST IN 260 PROGRAMS AND WE HAVE SOME INTERNAL PROGRAMS TO DO SO.

IT'S REALLY FROM THE COMMUNITY.

>> NOW, YOU RECENTLY STEPPED IN AS INTERIM PRESIDENT AND CEO AND YOU ARE AT THE HELM OF AN ORGANIZATION THAT REALLY IS FACING A CRITICAL SHORTFALL OF MORE THAN 1 MILLION DOLLARS.

CAN YOU TALK ABOUT HOW THIS HAPPENED AND HAS IT EVER HAPPENED BEFORE?

WHY THIS IS DIFFERENT IN YEARS PAST.

SO.

>> FOR THE LAST 35 YEARS WE HAVE MADE THE CAMPAIGN GOAL CONSISTENT WAY.

WE TYPICALLY MAKE THAT JEN APRIL AND THIS YEAR HAS BEEN DIFFERENT.

AND WE WERE BEGINNING OF JUNE.

WILL 1.6 MILLION DOLLARS SHORT AS THAT CAMPAIGN GOAL, WHICH IS 11.5 MILLLION AND WE ARE.

WE'RE RIGHT NOW RIGHT AROUND A MILLION DOLLARS SHORT.

>> CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THIS CAMPAIGN THAT YOU'VE JUST LAUNCHED RECENTLY FOR THE SUMMER?

IT IS CALLED ONE IN A MILLION AND EVERY DOLLAR COUNTS.

AND YOU'LL DONATION AND CAN BE ONE IN A MILLION LESS CLOSE.

THIS GAP TOGETHER.

THIS IS AN URGENT CALL.

2 MAKE THIS GOAL SO WE CAN FIND OUR AGENCIES THAT ARE PROVIDING FOOD ASSISTANCE, HOUSING SUPPORT AND YOUTH PROGRAMS AND I MEAN SO MUCH SENIOR SERVICES AND CRITICAL PROGRAMS THAT WE WE NEED TO FIND THAT WE NEED TO.

GET TO SCHOOL.

YOU HAVE TO.

>> IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE TODAY?

I DO KNOW THAT I BELIEVE YOU GUYS HAVE CUT YOUR STAFF BY AT LEAST 12 POSITIONS.

SO IT SEEMS LIKE ON YOUR IN YOUR YOU'RE HAVING TO DEAL WITH THIS SITUATION AS WE WILL NOT.

>> CUT THE AGENCY'S WITHOUT CUTTING OURSELVES AND MEAN THAT IS JUST NOT IN OUR NATURE.

THIS IS A NUDGE, AN AGE, PLEASE.

AND EVERY DOLLAR COUNTS.

WE HAVE TO CLOSE THIS TAB.

AND I JUST APPRECIATE THIS GENEROUS COMMUNITY.

THEY HAVE RALLIED FOR EYES FOR THE LAST 70 YEARS.

AND AND WE JUST WE HAVE AN AMAZING COMMUNITY HERE.

SO AND I JUST THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO GET THE WORD OUT WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

HANNAH POWELL.

THANK YOU.

>> FOR MORE ON UNITED WAY OF LEE HENDRY GLADES AND THEIR CURRENT ONE IN A MILLION CAMPAIGN.

YOU CAN HEAD TO THEIR WEBSITE AT UNITED WAY.

THE DOT ORG COMING UP ON OUR NEXT PROGRAM, CUTTING THROUGH THE FOG TO BETTER UNDERSTAND GUT HEALTH, HOW SCIENTISTS ARE USING NEW TECHNOLOGY TO TRACK BLOATING, AND KEEP YOUR STOMACH HEALTH AT COMFORTABLE LEVELS.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

MAKE SURE YOU VISIT WGCU DOT ORG, WHERE YOU'LL FIND ALL OF OUR STORIES AND MUCH MORE.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AGAIN RIGHT HERE ON SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUS.