Naples Children & Education Foundation Announces New Staff Appointments

The Naples Children & Education Foundation (NCEF), the founding organization of the Naples Winter Wine Festival, has announced the appointment of Diana Aviles as Administrative Coordinator and Lauren Luckow as Festival Support Coordinator.

 “We are pleased to welcome Diana and Lauren to our organization,” said Maria Jimenez-Lara, NCEF CEO. “In these roles, they will provide critical support for our vision of making a profound and sustaining difference in the lives of at-risk and underprivileged children in Collier County.”

Diana Aviles

 Born in Maui, Hawaii but raised in Naples, Aviles has several years of experience in administrative support, managerial and project coordination positions. She was educated at Florida South Western State College. A staunch advocate for helping the community, Aviles has been involved in various philanthropic endeavors, including Domestic Animal Services and Key Club.

 In her position with NCEF, Aviles will be responsible for administrative and accounting support to the Chief Financial Officer. This includes preparing presentations, agendas, reports, special projects and other documents as well as establishing and maintaining professional relationships with third party vendors and suppliers and coordinating all vendor on premise services.

Lauren Luckow

 A native of Naples, Luckow is passionate about the children and community of Collier County. She brings more than 15 years of hospitality industry experience to NCEF, including restaurants, catering and special events planning. After graduating from college, Luckow pursued the medical industry full-time, working in aesthetics and administration for more than 10 years.

 As NCEF Festival Support Coordinator, Luckow will provide direct support to the Director, Events & Communications in the successful execution of all events related to NCEF and NWWF throughout the year. This includes, among others, Lot Room coordination at the NWWF and execution of the annual Online Auction, including lot development, coordination and fulfillment.

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 other landmark 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 close to 90 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.

FEATURED PHOTO: Maria Jimenez-Lara NCEF CEO

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.