Quality Life Center of Southwest Florida, Inc.

Quality Life Center’s goal is to transform an underserved community by providing at-risk children and youth with the tools for a successful life: one that is financially stable, socially enriching and personally fulfilling.
Specific program objectives are:
Early Learning:
1.) Ensure all children are safe, healthy and kindergarten-ready, both academically and socially.
ACE Program:
1.) Ensure all children read at grade level by third grade, and stay on grade level.
2.) Ensure children’s healthy social and emotional development.
ACE Teens:
3.) Ensure all youth graduate from high school.
4.) Ensure all youth have a strategy for self-sufficiency upon high school graduation.

Quality Life Center works to provide consistent, intensive youth services that meet community needs in an accessible location all day for early learning children, and during the afterschool hours and throughout the day during the summer for older students.
Early Learning – Maximize parent/family engagement, and utilize a research-based curriculum to:
• teach age-appropriate lessons such as numbers, letters, shapes and colors, as well as math and language skills,
• provide arts activities which allow students to gain fine motor skills such as cutting with scissors, painting and beading, as well as provide opportunities for self-expression,
• utilize outdoor & recreational activities to promote physical activity, to help children learn to take turns and cooperate, and to improve movement (gross motor) skills, and
• utilize centers, circle time and educational and arts lessons to teach and reinforce social skills, including sharing and teamwork.
ACE (Arts, Character & Education) Program – Utilize a researched-based model to:
• Provide active learning academic instruction in subjects including reading and STEAM subjects, one-on-one tutoring and/or homework help daily.
• Provide weekly arts instruction (music, dance, drama, media and/or visual arts).
• Provide recreational activities.
• Provide character-building activities daily including meditation, mentoring, modeling and activities that incorporate lessons involving subjects such as fairness, honesty, teamwork, and positive interpersonal skills.
Teen ACE Program – In addition to the above:
• Provide exposure activities (to colleges, businesses, sporting and cultural events, etc.) several times during the year.
• Provide leadership and/or teamwork development activities (camping, sailing, kayaking, service projects, etc.) several times during the year
• Provide life skills and social skills activities weekly.

Since 1990, Quality Life Center has been providing high quality youth programs in an area of substantial need. During that time, the organization has developed a positive reputation in the community. The organization has an extensive number of community partners including local government, educational institutions and businesses which provide a variety of educational, cultural and artistic opportunities for students. In addition, 6000-10,000 volunteer hours are provided each year by community members. Crucially, Quality Life Center has a smart, experienced and dedicated staff, including multiple long-time staff members.
Currently, the organization owns debt-free a building with nearly 17,000 square feet of space and 10 dedicated classrooms, a full commercial kitchen, and a dance studio. Construction will be completed on an additional 5400 sf wing which will add a larger teaching kitchen, dedicated teen space and a multi-purpose room for meetings and programs. Classroom space has furniture, SMART boards, computers, supplies and equipment needed to teach a variety of subjects. The campus’s outdoor area includes a shade structure, green space and a playground. The organization owns two 18-passenger vans and two school buses.

Quality Life Center has served over 28,000 residents through the adult or youth programs since 1990.
Quality Life Center has infused $21,216,407 into the community in the last 29 years.
Quality Life Center’s ACE Program was named a 2017 National Arts and Humanities Youth Program finalist by the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and Institute of Museum and Library Services. This national recognition established ACE as one of the top arts and humanities-based programs in the country.
Year after year, Quality Life Center students make gains in math, reading and positive behavior. In 2021:
83% of youth who completed the ACE program (one school year) increased their reading or math skills by a letter grade, or maintained an A or B level. (exceeding our goal of 70%)

92% of youth who completed the ACE program (one school year) increased positive behavior, teamwork, and social skills. (exceeding our goal of 75%)

92% of parents of enrolled youth participated in parent meetings or other center activities (exceeding our goal of 60%)