Naples Children & Education Foundation Welcomes New Trustees

The Naples Children & Education Foundation (NCEF), founders of the Naples Winter Wine Festival, has named Sue and Mike Bieker, Ashley and Adam Gerry and Catherine and John Van Hulleas Trustees. In this role, they will support NCEF’s vision of making a profound and sustaining difference in the lives of underprivileged children in Collier County.

“These couples bring extraordinary nonprofit and business experience, which will contribute greatly to the support and leadership of our Board,” said Rick Germain, NCEF Chairman of the Board. “And, as past patrons of the Naples Winter Wine Festival, each of them demonstrates a deep, heartfelt commitment to investing in a broad range of charitable causes in the community.”

Sue and Mike Bieker have supported the needs of underserved children for many years. The couple moved to Naples in 2019 and attended the Naples Winter Wine Festival in 2022 and 2023.

Sue is a retired attorney and graduate of the University of San Diego School of Law. Previously, she served as a Board member of several children’s agencies and as a longtime Court-Appointed Special Advocate through Voices for Children in Rancho Santa Fe, California. Mike, a graduate of Indiana University, is the founder of MarketLab, one of the first companies to use direct mail cataloging to sell products to U.S. hospitals. He remains a shareholder and Board member.

Residents of Naples for over 20 years, Ashley and Adam Gerry are generous philanthropists dedicated to community service who have been Naples Winter Wine Festival patrons since 2011.

Ashley, a graduate of the University of Missouri-Columbia, donates time and resources to a number of organizations, including the Golisano Children’s Hospital, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples (where she serves on the board). She also served on the 2023 Online Auction Committee and helped spearhead fundraising for a benefit concert for Hurricane Ian victims. Adam earned his law degree from Syracuse University and is Chairman and CEO of the investment firm Granite Associates. He serves on the Boards of the Frederick Gunn School, Gerry Foundation and Bethel Woods Performing Arts Center.

Both originally from Michigan, Catherine and John Van Hulle have been attending the Naples Winter Wine Festival for the past three years, where their love of travel and wine come together.

After recently retiring from The Cleveland Clinic Outpatient pharmacies, Catherine has started her own contract pharmacist company. John, who had an extensive career in the chemical industry, is currently CEO of Aurorium, a global manufacturer of specialty materials and ingredients. Since moving to Naples, Catherine and John have both been involved in a variety of leadership positions at their Mediterra golf community. In addition, Catherine has been volunteering at the Shelter Guild, which supports The Shelter for Abused Women & Children in Naples.

 About 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 elegant, private homes and settings throughout Naples 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 approximately $269 million, making a profound difference in the lives of hundreds of thousands of children.

 About 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 60 of the most effective nonprofits in the community, providing more than 300,000 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.

For additional information on the Naples Children & Education Foundation or the Naples Winter Wine Festival, contact Lisa Juliano at lisa@napleswinefestival.com or 239-514-2239.