Naples Children Foundation Appoints Lant to a Senior Leadership Role

Naples Children Foundation Appoints Lant to the Senior Leadership Role of Chief of Staff & Head of People Operations

Naples Children Foundation (NCF), the founding organization of the world-renowned Naples Winter Wine Festival, is pleased to announce that Kathleen Lant has been appointed to Chief of Staff & Head of People Operations.

In this role, Lant will serve as a strategic partner to the CEO and executive leadership team, helping advance organizational priorities, strengthen leadership effectiveness, oversee human resources strategy, and drive operational excellence across the Foundation. She will continue to champion its people, culture and mission while helping ensure NCF remains well-positioned for long-term impact and sustainability.

“We are delighted about the appointment of Kathleen to this very important position within our organization,” said Maria Jimenez-Lara, Chief Executive Officer for NCF. “By strengthening our people and operations, Kathleen will play a critical role in helping NCF fulfill its mission and maximize our impact on the children and families we serve.”

Lant is a seasoned human resources executive, organizational strategist and certified executive coach with more than 25 years of professional experience helping organizations strengthen leadership, navigate change and achieve sustainable growth. Most recently, she founded and led her own consulting firm, partnering with organizations and executives to strengthen leadership, employee engagement and organizational culture.

As Chief of Staff & Head of People Operations, Lant will help advance initiatives that strengthen organizational culture, employee engagement and operational effectiveness across the Foundation. Working closely with leadership and staff, she will focus on creating an environment where employees feel supported, empowered and connected to NCF’s mission. Her leadership will play a key role in ensuring the Foundation remains a high-performing, mission-driven organization equipped to create lasting impact for the children, families and communities it serves.

About Naples Children Foundation
The Naples Children Foundation, the founding organization of the Naples Winter Wine Festival, creates transformational change and improves educational, emotional and health outcomes for vulnerable children in Collier County. Through its annual grants and strategic initiatives, NCF has impacted nearly 90 of the most effective nonprofits in the local community, providing 385,000 children with the services and resources they need to succeed. Through bold investments, collaborative partnerships, and data-driven solutions, NCF supports programs that ensure every child can thrive. NCF’s unique approach, which 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 (NWWF), 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 across 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 more than $366 million, making a profound difference in the lives of hundreds of thousands of children in Collier County.

For additional information on the Naples Children Foundation, contact Madison Blasco at madison@napleschildrenfoundation.org or 239-325-2975.

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