Guadalupe Center honors Phil and Mary Beuth as 'Legendary Leaders'
The Floridant/10225192

NAPLES, Fla. - Floridant -- Guadalupe Center has recognized Phil and Mary Beuth as Legendary Leaders, an honor celebrating the Bonita Springs couple's leadership, guidance and support that extends more than two decades.

Formerly known as the Wall of Fame, Guadalupe Center's Legendary Leaders include donors, volunteers and trustees responsible for the nonprofit's rise from a humble soup kitchen in 1982 into a mission-focused organization transforming lives and creating endless possibilities through education. Today, Guadalupe Center serves nearly 1,900 students annually in Immokalee.

"A Legendary Leader is somebody who has given their heart and soul to make sure that we have the best program and the best organization possible," said Guadalupe Center President Dawn Montecalvo. "Phil and Mary have been so important to our organization. They're some of our biggest advocates. They not only believe in the mission, but they live the mission, they breathe it."

Guadalupe Center's mission is to break the cycle of poverty through education for the children of Immokalee. Students have access to a nationally accredited Early Childhood Education Program, After-school Tutoring & Summer Enrichment Program and college-preparatory Tutor Corps Program.

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The Beuths are the 12th honorees to earn the Legendary Leader designation.

Phil Beuth is a former broadcaster who served as president of Good Morning America and a division president at ABC. Meanwhile, Mary Beuth worked in the financial services industry and was a branch administrator for Chemical Bank.

Phil Beuth is a trustee emeritus at Guadalupe Center and is perhaps best known for creating the Jump Up for Education, which raises six figures at annual fundraising galas, as well as his legendary elevator sales pitches that inspire others to give.

"We're making an investment into their future, into their growth," he said. "If these students continue to work hard and stay focused on their goals, this investment will pay big dividends for students, their families and the community."

Immokalee's poverty rate is 28.4%, one of the highest in Florida. However, it's an improvement from 37.4% noted in a 2019 estimate from the U.S. Census. Those gains are directly tied to overall increases in educational attainment. Today, 51.9% of adults in Immokalee have earned high school diplomas, compared to just 39.3% estimated in 2019.

Guadalupe Center students, who often are the children of farmworkers, day laborers and hospitality workers, have earned college degrees and returned to Southwest Florida to become physicians, teachers, business owners, engineers, financial planners and other successful adults.

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About Guadalupe Center
Guadalupe Center is a purpose-driven nonprofit organization with proven success in creating endless possibilities for the students of Immokalee through education, as well as fostering personal and academic success that leads to economic independence.  For more information, please visit GuadalupeCenter.org (https://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=i6IlJ5z-2FyoM5sIFZj7ZMJcimU0R93Avb5mq7ntTZzh-2Bo-2FVxGeo-2FBfuJn8S9UgheHtUJr_SvmLtGKdOz5xwmvoQ2P51iTfWYoItE0iKQewot40icAg4C7ehDvpulXKJSUPzpJy5ZYyvNs-2B4vsxasdcAnARSt9ugcattIYCTO1IiByVwswGpt43fQA4KHm...) or call 239-657-7711.