NCEF to Honor 25th Anniversary

The Naples Children & Education Foundation (NCEF) today announced that its annual Fund a Need at the 2025 Naples Winter Wine Festival will pay homage to the past 25 years of accomplishments and fund all seven of its strategic initiatives, including Early Learning, Healthcare, Hunger, Mental Health, Oral Health, Out-of-School Time and Vision. 

Every dollar raised for this special call to action auction lot named “Fund the Future” will go to support underprivileged children in Collier County with a holistic approach focusing on the wellbeing of the whole child and support the continued success of their collective impact projects. 

Founded by NCEF, the Naples Winter Wine Festival enters its 25th year and ranks as the most successful international charity wine auction in the world, raising almost $302 million for local children’s causes. At the 2025 Festival, guests will have a chance to show their support through a live auction on Saturday, January 25th, while supporters across the country, including those who are unable to attend the Festival, will be able to participate in an online auction starting Friday, January 17th at 8 a.m. (EST) and running through Tuesday, January 28th at 5 p.m. (EST). 

“This year’s Fund a Need will significantly impact the nourishment, healing and education of children in our community by aligning with NCEF’s holistic approach,” said Stephanie Pezeshkan, NCEF Honorary Trustee and 2025Grant Committee Chair.“By addressing the multifaceted needs of these children, we will help provide comprehensive support systems that ensure their overall wellbeing.” 

Each of NCEF’s collective impact models and initiatives provides the most fragile children with the tools they need to succeed academically and thrive by enhancing educational opportunities, supplementing feeding programs and offering essential vision, oral and mental health services.  

“Contributions to "Fund the Future" will directly support NCEF’s seven Strategic Initiatives, which are designed to address the needs of the whole child,” said NCEF Chief Executive Officer Maria Jimenez-Lara. “By providing children with this comprehensive support, we can foster the growth of resilient, capable and productive adults who will contribute positively to their communities.” 

Together, we can fill in the gaps and provide the essential resources that children in Collier County need to overcome the current realities they face. Here are some startling statistics: 

Every dollar raised will go to support NCEF’s strategic initiatives to focus on the future of local children. For more information or to make a donation, please visit www.napleswinefestival.com.