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Naples Children & Education Foundation (NCFF) Invests a Record $33.2 Million

in Local Organizations Supporting Underprivileged and at Risk Children in Collier County.

CEF, the founding organization of Naples Winter The following is a list of NCEF 2024-2025 traditional
Wine Festival, has invested a record $33.2 million beneficiaries and dollar amounts:
N in more than 50 nonprofit organizations supporting
underprivileged and at risk children in Collier County.
This tremendous investment in future generations includes
funding traditional grants of over $6.6 million and $19.4 million
for NCEF multi year strategic initiatives that fill fundamental
gaps in local children’s services, plus another $7.2 million in
funding for future projects and strategic initiatives.
“The 2024 Naples Winter Wine Festival broke all records
allowing us to provide the highest amount of funding ever for
underprivileged and at risk children in our community,” said
Jacki Guinn, 2023-24 NCEF Grant Committee Chair. “We are
thrilled to support these nonprofits in our mission of making
a profound and sustaining difference in the lives of children in
Collier County.”
This year, a total of 32 organizations received traditional
grants, plus 19 additional agencies that help fill critical needs in
the community by taking part in NCEF’s multi partner, multi
year strategic initiatives focusing on the well being of the whole
child. Those initiatives receiving funding include early learning,
healthcare, hunger, mental health, oral health, out of school time
and vision.
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. Each NCEF beneficiary is fully vetted and
many utilize that process as a “Good Housekeeping Stamp of
Approval.” The Blueprint Partner program builds upon that
process.
“Our strategic partners collaborate throughout the year to
optimize funding, avoid duplication and develop innovative
programs aimed at delivering high quality services to support
local children,” said NCEF CEO Maria Jimenez-Lara. “The
amount allocated for these multi-year initiatives is quite
significant, reflecting our overwhelming belief in their impact
and efficacy.”

64 Life in Naples | April 2024