0% Funded
Only $360.00 Needed
The L.I.F.E. (Learning Independent Functional Employment) Program is a community-based internship initiative designed for students with special needs, ages 18–22. It is offered through Barron Collier High School in partnership with Royal Poinciana Golf Club and Collier County Public Schools. The program provides meaningful, structured work-study experiences tailored to each student’s strengths and interests.
Royal Poinciana Golf Club fosters a workplace culture grounded in core values such as integrity, teamwork, respect, accountability, trust, honesty, and stewardship. These values are not only modeled by club employees but also intentionally instilled in our interns throughout their experience. We believe that cultivating these attributes is essential to preparing students for future employment and personal growth.
Research shows that behaviors that are recognized and rewarded are more likely to be repeated. Therefore, the goal of this grant is to fund a recognition and incentive program that celebrates interns who consistently demonstrate these core values in the workplace. This initiative has proven meaningful success in previous years, and we are hopeful for continued support to sustain its momentum and expand its positive impact on our interns' growth and development.
School-Wide, Grade-Level, Or Class Events/Programs - Parent Nights, Honor Roll Celebrations, EOY Events, PBIS, LIM, etc.
The L.I.F.E. Program is designed to equip our interns with the skills and values necessary for success in the workplace. This project aims to deepen our interns’ understanding and application of seven core workplace values, including: integrity, teamwork, respect, accountability, trust, honesty, and stewardship through a structured, engaging recognition initiative.
Each month, interns will receive direct instruction on one core value through a combination of lessons, videos, and role-playing activities. They will use that information to create 1 PowerPoint slide per month to add to their Final Core Value presentation. This approach ensures that students not only understand the meaning of each attribute but also learn how to demonstrate it effectively in a real-world job setting.
Interns who exemplify the monthly value in the workplace may be nominated by instructors, job coaches, supervisors, L.I.F.E. leaders, or co-workers. From these nominations, one intern will be selected as the Intern of the Month. This recognition includes: a certificate presented during a small celebration, a photo displayed on the recognition wall and communication screens at Royal Poinciana Golf Club, and a reward of $20 in L.I.F.E. Bucks, which can be exchanged for a gift card during our biannual shopping trips as part of the program’s Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports.
By understanding and demonstrating the core values of Royal Poinciana Golf Club, interns will learn an invaluable set of job site principles that will help them obtain and maintain future employment. The Intern of the Month incentive program will also benefit our interns by helping to build their self-esteem, motivation, and a sense of accomplishment among our interns. Interns are more likely to repeat exceptional workplace behaviors because they will see them being rewarded. By celebrating their growth and contributions, we foster a culture of excellence and inclusion that prepares students for meaningful employment and independent living. The outcomes will not only be measured by student growth on worksite evaluations, but the smiles on their faces as they receive their well-earned recognition.
The purpose of this funding request is to support a monthly recognition initiative within the L.I.F.E. Program, which celebrates interns who exemplify core workplace values. The budget includes: $20 per month in L.I.F.E. Bucks to be awarded to the selected Intern of the Month. These Bucks are part of our program’s token economy and can be exchanged for gift cards during biannual shopping trips, reinforcing financial literacy and responsible decision-making. $20 per month will be used for refreshments to be served during a small celebration honoring the Intern of the Month. This event fosters a sense of community, pride, and motivation among participants. This funding will help sustain a meaningful incentive system that encourages interns to consistently demonstrate integrity, teamwork, respect, accountability, trust, honesty, and stewardship in the workplace.
| # | Item | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $20 L.I.F.E. Buck Bonus per month September-May | $180.00 |
| 2 | $$20 towards celebration snacks per month | $180.00 |
| Total: | $360.00 |
0% Funded
Only $360.00 Needed
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