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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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    The Naples Winter Wine Festival is ranked among the top 10 arts and entertainment events for wealthy Americans. This ranking by the Luxury Institute is based on exclusivity, quality and prestige.
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      Brief history of Naples wine auction as new record is set
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      Naples Winter Wine Festival Raises over $34 Million for Children’s Charities
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Apr. 232015

Behind the Scenes with Maria Jimenez-Lara, the Newly Appointed CEO of Naples Children & Education Foundation

On May 1, 2015, Maria Jimenez-Lara will become the new CEO of the Naples Children & Education Foundation (NCEF), founders of the Naples Winter Wine Festival. For the past three years Maria has been a…

Apr. 192015

Results of a good cause, by the numbers

News-Press read more

Apr. 172015

NCEF Hires New CEO

Apr. 152015

Lucrative wine fest organizers sip new CEO

Apr. 142015

Naples Children & Education Foundation Appoints Maria Jimenez-Lara as CEO

Apr. 142015

Naples Children & Education Foundation names new leader from its own ranks

Apr. 132015

On the Move – Maria Jimenez-Lara

Apr. 112015

Depression doesn’t equal violent person

Every child deserves the chance to see clearly and

Every child deserves the chance to see clearly and reach their full potential. NCEF’s Vision Initiative is committed to ensuring that children from low-income families receive the vision care they need to succeed.
Through @bascompalmereye students in Collier County’s low socio-economic schools receive vision screenings, comprehensive exams and two pairs of glasses if needed. When tertiary care is required, children are referred to an ophthalmologist either at Bascom Palmer or through partner @floridalionseyeclinic
Children with extreme vision loss are referred to @lighthouseofcollier whose children's programs empower youth living with blindness and vision impairment to increase their independence through experiences, education and socialization.
By working together, our partners strive to prevent students and children from falling through any cracks.
#NCEF #NWWF #itsALLforthekids #VisionInitiative #StrategicInitiatives #BlueprintPartners #vision

Everyone at NCEF was honored that our CEO, Maria J

Everyone at NCEF was honored that our CEO, Maria Jimenez-Lara, was featured on @kellyclarksonshow in Kelly’s "What I'm Liking" segment on March 4th! It was truly special to see our story shared on a national stage, highlighting the power of our community coming together to support children in need.
A huge thank you to everyone who continues to make this life-changing work possible!
If you missed it, you can watch the clip by clicking the link in our bio or searching “The Kelly Clarkson Show Naples Children & Education Foundation” on YouTube.
#NCEF #NWWF #itsALLforthekids #KellyClarksonShow #WhatImLiking #25YearsofImpact

Happy Wine Wednesday! Today we are featuring one o

Happy Wine Wednesday! Today we are featuring one of this past year’s NWWF Vintner Dinners, Sailing from the Past to the Present to the Future ⛵️ Hosted by: Sue & Mike Bieker with Libby & Rick Germain. Honored Vintners: Constance & Louis-Michel Liger-Belair of Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair in Burgundy, France and Vintner: Bo Barrett of Chateau Montelena in Calistoga, California. Chef: Cassidee Dabney of The Barn at Blackberry Farm in Walland, Tennessee. Event Planning: Margaret Events in Naples, FL. Cheers!

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.