Naples Children & Education Foundation
- - The Naples Children & Education Foundation (NCEF) was established in 2000 with the vision of making a profound and sustaining difference in the lives of children in Collier County.
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In the News & Press

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Sep. 302016

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Every child deserves the chance to see clearly and

Every child deserves the chance to see clearly and succeed. Through Blueprint Partner, @bascompalmereye vision care program, students in Collier County’s low socio-economic schools receive the essential eye care they need to thrive in the classroom and beyond.
In just four years, they have served 22,000 students from grades K-12, providing screenings, comprehensive exams, glasses and specialized tertiary care—all at no cost to families. Since 2020, 6,024 students have received two pairs of prescription glasses, and 1,292 have been referred for advanced care.
With funding from NCEF, they were able to launch of a mobile vision van, which brings critical eye care directly to children in Immokalee, East Naples and beyond, ensuring more students than ever get the treatment they need.
#NCEF #NWWF #itsALLforthekids #VisionInitiative #StrategicInitiatives #BlueprintPartners #vision

Clear Vision, Brighter Future! Did you know that u

Clear Vision, Brighter Future! Did you know that up to 85% of academically and behaviorally at-risk children have undetected or untreated vision problems? Yet, 2 out of 3 kids in the U.S. don’t receive preventative eye care before starting school.
For low-income and minority children, the barriers to vision care—lack of funding, access and follow-up treatment—put them at even greater risk. Without proper vision, learning becomes a struggle.
That’s why, through NCEF’s Vision Initiative, we are working to bridge this gap—identifying needs, providing screenings and ensuring children get the treatment they deserve. Because every child deserves to see their future clearly.
#NCEF #NWWF #itsALLforthekids #VisionInitiative #StrategicInitiatives #BlueprintPartners #vision

In Case You Missed It! ✨ I was honored to be fea

In Case You Missed It! ✨ I was honored to be featured on The Kelly Clarkson Show in Kelly’s "What I'm Liking" segment on March 4th! It was truly special to bring our story to a national stage and highlight the power of our community coming together to support children in need. Thank you to everyone who continues to make this life-changing work possible!
If you missed it, you can click the link in our bio, or watch the clip on The Kelly Clarkson Show’s YouTube page!

Today we are featuring one of this past year’s N

Today we are featuring one of this past year’s NWWF Vintner Dinners, Reflections of the Past, Celebrating the Future ☀️ Hosted by: Nena & Bill Beynon with Marilyn Scripps at the Northern Jet Hangar. Vintner: Alessia Antinori of Marchesi Antinori, Srl. in Tuscany, Italy. Chef: Ryan Pollnow of Flour+Water in San Francisco, California. Event Planning: Margaret Events. Cheers!

Passing the gift of generosity, one glass at a tim

Passing the gift of generosity, one glass at a time. Cheers to making a difference—Happy Wine Wednesday!! 🍷✨

Exciting news! NCEF CEO, Maria Jimenez-Lara, will

Exciting news! NCEF CEO, Maria Jimenez-Lara, will be featured on The Kelly Clarkson Show @kellyclarksonshow for Kelly’s segment "What I'm Liking." To find out where and when the show airs in your city, go to kellyclarksonshow.com/exclusives/where-to-watch.
Tune in to hear how NCEF has transformed the lives of 350,000 children over the past 25 years, thanks to the funds raised at the Naples Winter Wine Festival.
We are honored to share our story on a national stage and celebrate the power of a community coming together for children in need.
#NCEF #NWWF #itsALLforthekids #KellyClarksonShow #WhatImLiking #25YearsOfImpact

“I have found that among its other benefits, giv

“I have found that among its other benefits, giving liberates the soul of the giver.” – Maya Angelou This year’s Meet the Kids Day presentation showcased how The Present is Where the Past Meets the Future through the stories of remarkable individuals transformed by NCEF-supported programs. It’s All for the Kids.

For the 2025 #NWWF world-renowned live auction, Fe

For the 2025 #NWWF world-renowned live auction, Festival attendees came together under the big tent just outside The Ritz-Carlton Naples, Tiburón to bid on 52 unique lots featuring incredible wine, travel and culinary experiences, many of which included wines from some of the world’s most revered vineyards. Among this year’s top-selling auction lots were:
🍷✨ Driving at the Speed of Bentley for $1.7 million.
🍷 ✨ Million Dollar Night of Music with Scotty McCreery for $1 million.
🍷 ✨ MILLION DOLLAR MEAL … ALL for the Kids! for $1 million.
🍷 ✨ Set Sail Along the Croatian Coastline for $850,000.
🍷✨ The Art of Time with Staglin and Panerai sold twice for $800,000 each.
🍷 ✨ Meet Me on the Right Bank for $800,000.
🍷 ✨ Through the Centuries and Generations of Marchesi Antinori for $750,000.
We are beyond grateful for your generosity and continuous support!

Today we are featuring one of this past year’s N

Today we are featuring one of this past year’s NWWF Vintner Dinners, Hi Ho Silver 🎶 Hosted by: Patricia Aluisi, Judith Liegeois and Donna Solimene at the home of Betsy & Tony Markel. Vintner: Grace Evenstad of Château de la Crée in Burgundy, France and Domaine Serene in Dayton, Oregon. Chef: Emeril Lagasse of The Emeril Group in New Orleans, Louisiana.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to all patrons who

We extend our heartfelt thanks to all patrons who contributed to this year’s Fund a Need, “Fund the Future.” Your generous support helped bring our 2025 vision to life, funding all seven Strategic Initiatives with a focus on the wellbeing of the whole child and ensuring the continued success of our collective impact projects.
Your contributions are making a profound difference in nourishing, healing and educating underserved and at-risk children in Collier County. By aligning with NCEF’s holistic approach, you’ve underscored the importance of initiatives like Early Learning, Healthcare, Hunger, Mental Health, Oral Health, Out-of-School Time and Vision - providing children with the comprehensive support that wraparound services offer.
Together, we are continuing NCEF’s proven blueprint for success and transforming our community for generations to come. Thank you for sharing in this mission.
#NCEF #NWWF25 #itsALLforthekids #FundTheFuture #FAN25 #StrategicInitiatives #holisticapproach #BlueprintModel #BuildingOn25Years #PastPresentFuture #support

Happy #WineWednesday! Today we are sharing photos

Happy #WineWednesday! Today we are sharing photos from one of this year’s NWWF Vintner Dinners, 🍇 Intimate dinners with award-winning chefs and celebrated vintners hosted by Festival Trustees in elegant, private homes and settings throughout Naples. World-class wines, Michelin-starred chefs and life-changing generosity.

Beautiful photos from Meet the Kids Day at Artis—Naples. The event highlighted NCEF’s Traditional Beneficiaries and Strategic Initiative partners, showcasing their impact on Collier County. Thank you @masqueradeswfl and @beachstreetmarquee for the beautiful and colorful balloon décor!