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Pepe Fanjul and his family have been recognized by the Western Palm Beach County Farm Bureau as the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) 2016 Farm Family of the Year. The award was presented on November 9 by John L. Hundley, Chairman of the Board of the Sugar Cane Growers Cooperative of Florida, at Ray’s Heritage Packing House in Belle Glade.

The award is given to farm families who exhibit excellence in their commitment to agriculture and civic engagement in the Glades region of western Palm Beach County, where the Fanjul family has been farming since 1960. The family’s companies, Fanjul Corp. and Florida Crystals Corporation, produce sugarcane, rice and sweetcorn.

“We’re really humbled,” said Andres Fanjul of the award, echoing the sentiments of the rest of the Fanjul family. “It’s an incredible opportunity. When I read all the families that have won this award in the past, it’s an honor to be included as part of that group.”

The Everglades Agricultural Area is among the world’s most productive and sustainable agricultural basins. In addition to providing thousands of jobs for Glades residents through farming and agribusiness, the Fanjul family has been an integral part of the community for decades through their charitable support, particularly their efforts to improve children’s access to high-quality education and help reduce hunger.

“They’re an integral part of this community,” said Commission of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam of the Fanjuls. “They’re a large family themselves, and they recognize that this is a larger agricultural family, and that’s why you see the commitment that they make to support the local farm bureau, the education system, the housing situation.”

For instance, the Fanjul family founded New Hope Charities, a grassroots nonprofit that provides services for children and families in western Palm Beach County ranging from daycare and health care to food distribution. The Fanjul family also founded two charter schools in Pahokee, Everglades Preparatory Academy and Glades Academy, to increase educational opportunities for families in the Glades.

 

The Fanjul family has been recognized, once again, for the philanthropic efforts of one of its members.  This time Emilia Fanjul has been named an Icon of Style of Philanthropy by the Spanish-language magazine Vanidades’.  The annual awards ceremony is held in New York City and recognizes the contributions of people within the Hispanic community.  More than 10 years ago, Emilia Fanjul embarked on a mission to provide superior educational opportunities to the children in rural areas of West Palm Beach County Florida.  As chairwoman of Glades Academy Elementary School and Everglades Preparatory Academy High School, Emilia offers parents an educational choice for their kids.

Many years ago, Pepe Fanjul’s father came to the United States as a refugee from Cuba.  He wanted something better for his family, so he established a sugar cane plantation in Florida.  In the effort to help others, the schools provide the educational opportunities that will be the firm foundation for these children for the rest of their lives.  Emilia Fanjul has watched Glades Academy develop into an A-rated school: the first in Western Florida.  Hard work and a great staff work together to continue the pursuit of the dream.

Pepe Fanjul is one of the annual benefactors to these two charter schools each year.  Florida Crystals donated the land on which the Glades Academy campus was opened in December 2011.  Highly rated schools offer the community excellent choices and bring more families to the area.  Between great schools and jobs, the families associated with the Fanjul family will see the best America has to offer for many years to come.  Emilia Fanjul knows that awards are the confirmation that the work is making a difference in the community.  Her personal investment will continue because of the many intrinsic rewards she gleans from the effort.

Pepe Fanjul sends out his deepest congratulations to Glades Academy’s school children, teachers, administrators and board members for the tremendous work they did to achieve the charter school’s first A rating.   Pepe Fanjul also recognizes the amazing effort that went into achieving Adequate Yearly Progress for the second consecutive year, as well as in three of the past four school years.

Pepe Fanjul has been closely involved in the school for 10 years.  Glades Academy Elementary charter school was founded by Pepe’s wife Emilia Fanjul in 2001 to offer children and parents in the rural communities of western Palm Beach County a wider range of school choice and options for education.  Emilia Fanjul serves as chairwoman of the board of the Pahokee school.

The results of the 2010 – 2011 school year show that Glades Academy Elementary school is excelling at both the state and federal levels.  The rating system is part of the state of Florida’s A+ Plan, while Adequate Yearly Progress, or AYP, is part of the federal No Child Left Behind Act.  Glades Academy was also the highest rated elementary school in the communities of western Palm Beach County.

Emilia expressed her excitement about the dual achievements, saying, “It is thrilling to reach an A rating and AYP; it shows just how far Glades Academy charter school has grown in its first 10 years. I’m so proud of the nurturing, safe environment our teachers and administrators have created for the students to be able to reach their highest potential.  Our staff has done a phenomenal job, and we will keep building on this for the future.”

Pepe Fanjul and Emilia Fanjul have been large sponsors of the school since it was established.  They are contributors at the school’s annual benefits, which are also hosted by Emilia.  Florida Crystals Corporation (of which Pepe Fanjul is vice chairman of the board, chief operating officer and president) also donated the land where Glades Academy built its brand new school.  The school will open this coming school year (2011 – 2012) and is equipped with state-of-the-art technology, including internet access in all the classrooms and interactive board that will assist students by allowing them to take advantage of the latest educational tools.