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.
    About The NCEF
- - Explore the Naples Children & Education Foundation
  - - Foundation Trustees
    - 7 Strategic Initiatives
    - Grant Recipients
    - Make a Donation
- Close
Naples Winter Wine Festival
- - NWF 2025 Logo
    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.
    About the Festival
- - Explore the Naples Winter Wine Festival
  - - 2025 Vintners
    - 2025 Chefs
    - 2025 Sommeliers
    - 2025 Auction Lots
- Close
News & Galleries
- - Press Inquiries
    Lisa JulianoSVP, Naples Winter Wine Festival & Event Production
    239-325-2972
    
    Clay ConePR Consultant, Cone Communications
    239-398-9268
    For the press
- - Explore Our News & Galleries
  - - Mar. 182025
      NCEF awards over $34M to nearly 50 non-profits in Collier County
    - Mar. 182025
      A record year of grants by Naples Children & Education Foundation: $34 mill...
    more updates
- Close
Donate

News Releases

make a donation

Feb. 042015

Request for Proposal – Graphic Design of Marketing Communications Materials 2016

Jan. 272015

UPDATE: Naples Winter Wine Festival Live Auction Raises $12.32 Million for Kids in Need

Jan. 252015

Naples Winter Wine Festival Raises over $12.1 Million for Children’s Charities at Live Auction

Dec. 162014

Longtime Festival Supporters and Featured Vintners, Bart and Daphne Araujo, to Receive First-Ever Lifetime Achievement Award

Dec. 022014

World-Renowned Master Sommelier Larry Stone to be Honored at the 2015 Naples Winter Wine Festival

Nov. 052014

Once-in-a-Lifetime Krug Champagne Experience to Open the 2015 Naples Winter Wine Festival

Oct. 162014

Tickets to the Golden Globes, a Chance to “Own a Winery for a Week,” and More

Sep. 172014

Highly-Anticipated Wine Experiences, Limited Edition Cars, And Exotic Travel Adventures Up for Bid at the Naples Winter Wine Festival

Celebrating 4 years of Collier CARES! Since launch

Celebrating 4 years of Collier CARES! Since launching to the public, @colliercares has been a vital resource for our community, connecting residents to essential services and support.
📲 Haven’t downloaded the app yet? Now’s the perfect time!�✅ Explore resources & services�✅ Filter search preferences for personalized results�✅ Check out the events page for free & low-cost activities in Collier County
Stay connected, stay informed and let’s keep building a stronger community together! Celebrating 4 years of Collier CARES!
Since launching to the public, Collier CARES has been a vital resource for our community, connecting residents to essential services and support.
📲 Haven’t downloaded the app yet? Now’s the perfect time!�✅ Explore resources & services�✅ Filter search preferences for personalized results�✅ Check out the events page for free & low-cost activities in Collier County
Stay connected, stay informed and let’s keep building a stronger community together!
#NCEF #NWWF #itsALLforthekids #CollierCARES #ConnectwithCare #4YearsStrong

Congratulations to Naples Winter Wine Festival Sen

Congratulations to Naples Winter Wine Festival Senior Vice President & Event Production Coordinator @lmjuliano for being recognized as one of this year’s Naples 100 by @naplesillustratedmag -Lisa Juliano's responsibilities include the management and oversight of logistics, management and production for the annual Naples Winter Wine Festival, which is the nation's premier charitable wine auction. Lisa joined NCEF in 2010.

Congratulations to NWWF Trustee and Festival Chair

Congratulations to NWWF Trustee and Festival Chair Bill Beynon for being recognized as one of this year’s Naples 100 by Naples Illustrated! As president and CEO of Capital Wealth Advisors, Bill Beynon leads a team of more than 45 professionals focused on wealth management and estate planning. During his 25-year career, Beynon was director of estate planning at Creative Asset Services in Pittsburgh and a partner at First Financial Resources in Naples. Beynon co-founded Capital Wealth Advisors in 2004. He and his wife, Nena, are Trustees of the Naples Children & Education Foundation and were co-chairs of the 2023, 2025 Naples Winter Wine Festival and are chairing the 2026 Festival.

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, Dreams of Silver Linings 🍾 Hosted by: Cheryl & Larry Andrews with Denise & Brian Cobb. Vintner: Christopher Lynch of @@opusonewinery in Oakville, California. Chef: @deanfearing of Fearing’s Restaurant in Dallas, Texas. Cheers!

We are proud to invest a record $34 million in clo

We are proud to invest a record $34 million in close to 50 non-profit organizations supporting underprivileged and at-risk children in Collier County! This year’s investment in future generations includes funding traditional grants of $6.7 million and $16.5 million for NCEF multi-year strategic initiatives that fill fundamental gaps in local children’s services, plus another $2.9 million in future projects and strategic initiatives. In addition to funding traditional grants and multi-year strategic initiatives, NCEF has invested $8 million in a new Early Learning Enrichment and Expansion Program to drive systemic change in Collier County, ensuring more children in the community have access to high-quality education.

Through @lighthouseofcollier children's programs,

Through @lighthouseofcollier children's programs, youth living with blindness and vision impairment gain the skills and confidence they need to live independently and thrive. As an NCEF Vision Initiative partner, they are committed to providing essential support at every stage of development.
From infancy through young adulthood, these programs focus on education, mobility, socialization and career readiness, ensuring each child is equipped for success. Early intervention helps babies develop essential skills, school-age children build independence and teens prepare for the workforce through real-world experiences.
Each year, a structured summer camp brings these lessons to life, giving students hands-on opportunities to apply what they’ve learned in a supportive environment. Together, we are breaking barriers and empowering children with vision impairment to navigate their world with confidence.
#NCEF #NWWF #itsALLforthekids #VisionInitiative #StrategicInitiatives #BlueprintPartners #vision

Happy First Day of Spring! May you be inspired by

Happy First Day of Spring! May you be inspired by the hope and renewal found in this beautiful season.

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, Futures Uncorked! 🍾 Hosted by: Debbi & Bill Cary with Kristine & Chris Williams. Vintner: Florent Fresse of Château Léoville Las Cases in Saint-Julien, France. Chef: @oakes_nancy of Boulevard in San Francisco, California. Event Planning: Margaret Events. Photo Credits: @luminairefoto -Cheers!

Thank you to everyone who attended yesterday’s G

Thank you to everyone who attended yesterday’s Grant Awards Ceremony at The Ritz-Carlton Naples, Tiburón!
With the incredible support of our community and donors, the Naples Children & Education Foundation (NCEF), founding organization of the Naples Winter Wine Festival, has invested over $34 million in nearly 50 nonprofits supporting underprivileged and at-risk children in Collier County.
This year’s investment includes $8 million to expand and enrich early learning opportunities, ensuring more children have access to high-quality education. Your generosity fuels meaningful change, strengthening our community for generations to come. It’s ALL for the Kids! Thank you to our Grant Awards Ceremony partner @goldmansachs 💙 Click the link in our bio to read the Press Release.

In 2022, 269 children were identified with visual

In 2022, 269 children were identified with visual difficulties—269 children who may have struggled to read a book, see the board in class or navigate their world with confidence.
Clear vision is more than just sight—it’s education, independence and opportunity. When a child can’t see properly, learning becomes a challenge, confidence can take a hit and simple tasks feel overwhelming. But with proper vision care, these children can thrive in school, engage with their peers and build a brighter future.
Every child deserves the vision care they need to learn, grow and succeed. Let’s keep making a difference.
#NCEF #NWWF #itsALLforthekids #VisionInitiative #StrategicInitiatives #BlueprintPartners #vision

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