2019 Naples Winter Wine Festival Set To Bring “Joy to the World”

(May, 2018 – NAPLES, FL) Plans are already in motion for next year’s Naples Winter Wine Festival (NWWF), set for January 25-27, 2019, following a record-breaking year for the Festival which raised a total of more than $15.1 million, including a jaw-dropping $2.4 million for the annual Fund a Need. Jeannelle & Brian Brady and Linda & Tom Koehn, philanthropists and Trustees of the Naples Children & Education Foundation (NCEF), founders of the Naples Winter Wine Festival, will take the helm of the upcoming event as the 2019 Co-Chairs and will be working year-round to ensure guests of the 2019 Festival will enjoy the best food, wine and auction lots around the world.

The Co-Chairs have unveiled the 2019 Festival theme as “Joy to the World.” The theme is a testament to the uplifting, year-round impact of the event, and the inspiration that NWWF brings to both attendees and the greater community. The Festival was recently recognized again for its contributions and named the “#1 Charity Wine Auction” in the U.S. by Wine Spectator for the 12^th time.

Jeannelle & Brian Brady step into their roles as Co-Chairs after 7 years of involvement with the NCEF. Brian has served as President and CEO of Damon Corporation and Heartland Recreational Vehicles, served on the Board of Directors of St. Joseph Capital Bank and currently serves as a Director and Trustee of Lumeta Corporation. Jeannelle started her career as a chemist and now serves as Chair of the University of Notre Dame Performing Arts Council and as a Board Member of Premier Arts of Elkhart County, Indiana. The couple was recently honored by the dedication of the Brian & Jeannelle Brady Boys & Girls Club of Elkhart County. In their roles at NCEF, Jeannelle served on the Grant Committee from 2013 through 2017 and Brian has been a member of the Board of Directors since 2014.

Hailing from Des Moines, Iowa, Linda & Tom Koehn enter their roles as Co-Chairs after over 5 years of involvement with NCEF. Tom has been the owner and CEO of The Waldinger Corporation for the last 35 years. Linda taught high school students for 20 years, and then developed a second career as a community volunteer, being named a “Woman of Influence” by the Des Moines Business Record in 2005.  Linda currently serves as a Trustee of both Cornell College and Simpson College, and is a member of the Board of Directors of the Des Moines Botanical Garden. Tom currently serves as a Trustee of the Des Moines Art Center. In 2015, Tom & Linda were honored as “Philanthropists of the Year” by the Central Iowa Association of Professional Fundraisers. Prior to being appointed Co-Chairs of NWWF, Linda served on the NCEF Grant Committee from 2013 through 2016 and Tom joined the NCEF Board of Directors in 2017.

“Next year’s Festival theme, ‘Joy to the World,’ is an homage to the spirit our community displays through the support of local organizations and initiatives benefiting the underprivileged kids in Collier County,” said Jeannelle & Brian Brady. “As preparations begin for the 2019 NWWF, we’re thrilled to continue the momentum from last year’s historic event and maintain our position as one of the country’s premier charity wine auctions.”

Since the event’s inception in 2001, the Festival has raised more than $176 million for its founding organization, NCEF, which has awarded grants to more than 45 non-profit organizations that have impacted the lives of over 200,000 children. Guests of the Festival will join in this charitable mission as they raise their paddles during the Festival’s famed live auction, part of a weekend that features celebrated names in food and wine from around the world.

Ticket packages for the 2019 NWWF will start at $12,500 per couple for a Double Magnum package and $30,000 for two couples for a Jeroboam package. For a full list of packages and additional details, please visit: https://www.napleswinefestival.com/about-the-festival.

ABOUT THE NAPLES CHILDREN & EDUCATION FOUNDATION
The Naples Children & Education Foundation, the founding organization of the Naples Winter Wine Festival, is improving the educational, emotional, and health outcomes of underprivileged and at-risk children. Through its annual grants and strategic initiatives, NCEF has impacted over 45 of the most effective nonprofits in the community, providing more than 200,000 children with the services and resources they need to excel. NCEF’s unique approach, which emphasizes collaboration between organizations and bridges public and private resources, has become a blueprint for how to transform a community, one issue at a time.

ABOUT THE NAPLES WINTER WINE FESTIVAL
The Naples Winter Wine Festival, one of the world’s most prestigious charity wine auctions, offers a weekend of unforgettable memories. Guests enjoy world-class food and wine during intimate dinners in private homes, and are invited to bid on once-in-a-lifetime travel and wine experiences during an electrifying live auction. Since its inaugural event in 2001, the NWWF has raised more than $176 million, making a profound difference in the lives of thousands of children.

Find our latest updates on social media – NWWF and NCEF are on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at @NCEF_NWWF.