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2025 Naples Winter Wine Festival

Naples Children & Education Foundation

to Honor 25th Anniversary

Naples Winter Wine Festival

with Holistic Fund a Need Auction Lot -

“Fund the Future”.

he Naples Children & Education Foundation community by aligning with NCEF’s holistic approach,” said
(NCEF) today announced that its annual Fund a Stephanie Pezeshkan, NCEF Honorary Trustee and 2025 Grant
T Need at the 2025 Naples Winter Wine Festival will Committee Chair. “By addressing the multifaceted needs of these
pay homage to the past 25 years of accomplishments and fund children, we will help provide comprehensive support systems that
all seven of its strategic initiatives, including Early Learning, ensure their overall wellbeing.”
Healthcare, Hunger, Mental Health, Oral Health, Out-of- Each of NCEF’s collective impact models and initiatives provides
School Time and Vision. the most fragile children with the tools they need to succeed
Every dollar raised for this special call to action auction lot academically and thrive by enhancing educational opportunities,
named “Fund the Future” will go to support underprivileged supplementing feeding programs and offering essential vision, oral
children in Collier County with a holistic approach focusing and mental health services.
on the wellbeing of the whole child and support the continued “Contributions to "Fund the Future" will directly support NCEF’s
success of their collective impact projects. seven Strategic Initiatives, which are designed to address the needs of
Founded by NCEF, the Naples Winter Wine Festival enters the whole child,” said NCEF Chief Executive Officer Maria Jimenez-
its 25th year and ranks as the most successful international Lara. “By providing children with this comprehensive support, we can
charity wine auction in the world, raising almost $302 million foster the growth of resilient, capable and productive adults who will
for local children’s causes. At the 2025 Festival, guests will have a contribute positively to their communities.”
chance to show their support through a live auction on Saturday, Together, we can fill in the gaps and provide the essential resources
January 25th, while supporters across the country, including that children in Collier County need to overcome the current realities
those who are unable to attend the Festival, will be able to they face. Here are some startling statistics:
participate in an online auction starting Friday, January 17th at 8 • 75% of 4 year olds in Collier County are not participating in
a.m. (EST) and running through Tuesday, January 28th at 5 p.m. VPK programs
(EST). • 8.8% of Collier County Children lack health insurance
“This year’s Fund a Need will significantly impact the • 65% of Collier County students qualify for free or reduced-price
nourishment, healing and education of children in our meals

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