Naples Children & Education grants over $11.9 Million to children’s charities at annual ceremony

CO-CHAIRS OF THE 2015 FESTIVAL (FROM LEFT): CHUCK HALLBERG, SHARON HALLBERG, SANDI MORAN, TOM MORAN.

More than thirty of the most effective charities in Collier County today received more than $8 million in grants to continue their critical work with at-risk and underprivileged children in Southwest Florida.

The Naples Children & Education Foundation (NCEF), founder of the Naples Winter Wine Festival, also presented checks totaling $3.8 million for three long-term strategic initiatives that were previously announced, bringing the total amount granted to over $11.9 million.

Trustees celebrated grant recipients at the annual grants award ceremony at the Bay Colony Golf Club in Naples. The grants will support a wide variety of programs and organizations that improve the physical, emotional and educational lives of Collier County’s children.

“We are exceptionally grateful to all of the Festival’s guests and winning bidders who made today possible,” said Tom Moran, Co-Chair of the 2015 Naples Winter Wine Festival. “Through their generosity, the Naples Children & Education Foundation is able to continue to make a far-reaching and lasting difference in our community, and there’s nothing worth celebrating more than that.”

A grants committee comprised of eleven trustees works yearround to determine how to distribute the funds raised at the Festival in the most impactful manner, benefiting as many children as possible by supporting effective, disciplined and strategic charities.

Throughout the coming year, the committee will maintain contact with grantees to ensure the money is being used effectively.

“Each year we continue to be astounded by the personal stories of the grantees and the incredible impact the awards make,” said Jim Dixon, Chairman of the Grants Committee and one of the Co-Chairs for the 2016 Festival. “We are honored to support organizations that are tangibly improving the lives of children in need within our community, whether by providing adolescent nutrition and wellness, empowering youth through mentorship programs or inspiring them through cultural and physical activities.”

Among the more than 30 recipients, NCEF will award first-time grants to five charities: the Conservancy of Southwest Florida, the Gargiulo Education Center, the Holocaust Museum of SWFL, the South Florida National Parks Trust, and the United Arts Council.

THE FOLLOWING IS THE FULL LIST OF NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS RECEIVING GRANTS FROM NCEF IN 2015:

ABLE Academy: $250,000, Angel’s Undercover: $60,000, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Sun Coast: $85,000, Boys & Girls Club of Collier County: $1,000,000 Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation: $250,000, Catholic Charities: $168,700, Children’s Advocacy Center: $493,151, Collier Child Care Resources: $100,000, Conservancy of Southwest Florida: $80,000, Early Literacy and Learning Model (ELLM): $450,000, Friends of Foster Children of SWFL: $388,000, Fun Time Early Childhood Academy: $157,000, Gargiulo Education Center: $52,000, Golisano Children’s Hospital of SWFL-Naples Clinic: $93,200, Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples: $344,000, Grace Place for Children & Families: $95,000, Greater Marco Family YMCA: $429,000, Greater Naples YMCA: $395,000, Guadalupe Center: $775,000, Holocaust Museum of SWFL: $50,000, Immokalee Childcare Center: $230,000, Legal Aid Services of Collier County: $365,400, MusicScores!: $40,460, Naples Botanical Garden: $88,450, Naples Equestrian Challenge: $153,000, Redlands Christian Migrant Association: $486,760
Safe & Healthy Children’s Coalition: $73,850, South Florida National Parks Trust: $46,000, Special Olympics: $70,375, St. Matthew’s House: $50,000, SWFL Workforce Development Board: $70,000, The Immokalee Foundation: $294,000, The Shelter for Abused Women & Children: $350,000, United Arts Council: $58,000 and YMCA School Aged Collaboration: $58,000

NCEF also presented checks totaling $3.8 million to three strategic initiatives: the Children’s Vision Initiative, the Children’s Out of School Initiative and Children’s Hunger Initiative.

The 2016 Naples Winter Wine Festival will take place January 29-31 at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort.

ABOUT THE NAPLES CHILDREN & EDUCATION FOUNDATION
The Naples Children & Education Foundation, the founding organization of the Naples Winter Wine Festival, is committed to improving the educational, emotional and health outcomes of underprivileged and at-risk children. Through its annual grants and strategic initiatives, NCEF has impacted over 40 of the most effective nonprofits in the community, providing around 200,000 children with the services and
resources they need to excel. For more information about NCEF, please visit www.napleswinefestival.com.