INTENTIONS

By Kelly G. Cooper

Naples Children & Education Foundation 

The season of fun has begun! The trustees of the Naples Children  & Education Foundation (NCEF) are excited to announce that  the Naples Winter Wine Festival, featuring over 30 of the world’s  most distinguished wineries originating from 12 wine producing  regions, will be held once again on the beautiful Grand Lawn  of The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort for its annual auction and  Sunday brunch. With the support from the Naples Winter Wine Festival, NCEF has developed into a special resource for our community and support system for charitable programs, which concentrate on narrowing the gaps in basic services for  the children of Collier County. Raising over $146 million since  inception in 2001, attendees and donors alike have made a  profound difference supporting our local youth. With this year’s  proceeds NCEF will have the ability to continue supporting  programs that significantly influences the quality of life to over  200,000 underprivileged and at-risk children in Collier County. 

Commissioned Specifically for Auction  You can make a difference too and engage in the exclusive art  auction featuring Eric Forstmann one of the country’s leading  contemporary artist in realism and still-life whose works  hang in celebrity homes and prominent collectors such as,  Meryl Streep, Warren Beatty and Kevin Bacon to name a few.  Forstmann was asked to commission a piece of art specifically  for the 2017 Naples Winter Wine Festival auction and he  graciously accepted. “I am thrilled to participate in the Naples Winter Wine Festival, an organization that does so much  for children in need. The painting I made for the winning  bidder is my small way of saying thank you for the enormous  generosity and support that so many people lend to this  event.” Intentions, is a one-of-a-kind 24” x 32” oil painting on  board that draws inspiration from Forstmann’s “intention” to  help raise funds for Collier County’s children in need. Not  only will you have an irreplaceable work of art, you will have  the unique opportunity to enjoy a celebrity dinner knowing  your proceeds benefit local charities that assist at-risk youths  and underprivileged children. 

Save the Date  Take advantage of this exceptional opportunity where you  will have the ability to revel in gourmet food prepared by  celebrity chefs, world class wine from prestigious vintners and  go home with matchless treasures. Naples premier Winter  Wine Festival will be held at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort on  January 27 – 29, 2017. It is time to plan your social calendar  around this exquisite event as tickets often sell out prior to the  RSVP deadline. Reserve your ticket now and contact Barrett  Farmer at 239. 514.2293 or barrett@napleswinefestival.  com. Please visit www.napleswinefestival.com to learn  more about the event itself and the remarkable impact the  Naples Children & Education Foundation has had making a  significant and sustaining difference in the lives of children in  Collier County.