Education nonprofit named semifinalist for $1 million prize

A Collier County-based nonprofit provider of early childhood education and a charter school operator, RCMA, has made it to the semi-final round of a national competition with a $1 million prize. 

Immokalee-based RCMA is one of 32 semifinalists in the 2022 competition for the $1 million Yass Prize for Sustainable, Transformational, Outstanding and Permissionless Education (STOP).The announcement was made Oct. 13 at Forbes on Fifth in New York City, where Steve Forbes welcomed the quarterfinalists and RCMA Director of Charter Schools Juana Brown was in the audience, according to a statement. 

As a semifinalist, RCMA, which stands for Redlands Christian Migrant Association, has already earned a $200,000 donation and is participating in an accelerator program to engage with experts, investors and mentors. RCMA will be part of an in-person accelerator program and pitch competition to be held in Miami Nov. 28 through Dec. 1, the release adds. Six finalists earning $250,000 each and one $1 million grand prize winner will be announced Dec. 14.