Naples Children & Education Foundation Launches “Drawn Together. Creating Hope.”

NCEF Chief
Executive Officer
Maria Jimenez-Lara

The Naples Children & Education Foundation (NCEF) has launched a community-wide campaign to engage both children and adults in an effort to draw attention to the valuable work that the organization does to improve the physical, emotional and educational lives of children in Collier County, especially in light of the devastating Covid-19 pandemic.

The “Drawn Together. Creating Hope.” campaign invites the community to draw or color on one of four downloadable illustrations representing the four NCEF service categories of Child Advocacy, Early Learning, Medical/Healthcare and Out-of-School Time.

As part of the campaign, NCEF also is offering virtual Zoom backgrounds that can be downloaded from its website for free.

“The Covid-19 pandemic has affected us all, but it has had the greatest impact on the underserved and underprivileged members of our community,” said NCEF Chief Executive OfficerMaria Jimenez-Lara. “Children have been hit the hardest, deprived of nutrition and after-school care along with a range of essential services. The work of NCEF is now more vital than ever.”

To help change a child’s future, supporters are encouraged to visit https://www.napleswinefestival.com/drawn-together/. There you can download and print a coloring template or save the image to your tablet or phone.

After creatively coloring in your vision of a better tomorrow, you can share your creation on social media with the hashtag #DrawnTogetherCreatingHope or email it to DrawnTogether@NCEFoundation.com and NCEF will share your illustration on its page.

Participants also will have the opportunity to make a donation to help NCEF fulfill its mission in the supporting these investment categories:

• Child Advocacy: Child advocacy refers to a range of individuals, professionals and organizations that speak for and protect our community’s most vulnerable children. These agencies provide children in need with a voice, shelter, crisis counseling, mentorship and the essentials to help them overcome the challenges they face.
• Early Learning: A child’s early years lay the foundation for their lifetime. Enriched learning experiences stimulate a child’s growth in all key developmental areas. An environment with well-educated and caring staff, high program standards and a curriculum based on a child’s developmental needs is critical to that child’s long-term success.
• Medical/Healthcare: NCEF grants provide children in need with essential medical and healthcare services that have measurable outcomes and a life-changing impact. Therapeutic intervention modalities include applied behavioral analysis, counseling, equine therapy, speech and language therapy, and therapeutic recreation.
• Out-of-School Time: Programs that operate during after-school, holiday and summertime hours improve engagement in learning by helping young people build stronger relationships with adults, foster better work habits and increase feelings of personal efficacy.

“The goal of this campaign is to increase awareness, involve the community in our work and create hope for the future,” said Jimenez-Lara. “Whether you’re a child or an adult, you can help bring NCEF’s work to life.”

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 collaborative strategic initiatives, NCEF has impacted over 45 of the most effective nonprofits in the community, providing more than 275,000 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 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 $212 million, making a profound difference in the lives of hundreds of thousands of children.

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.