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After a record-setting 2025 Naples Winter Wine Festival, Naples Children & Education Foundation announced on March 17 more than $34 million in grants to nearly 50 Collier County children’s charities at a reception held at The Ritz-Carlton Naples, Tiburón.

The nonprofits receiving the grants provide a wide range of services to support underprivileged and at-risk children. This year’s grants include an $8 million investment to drive enrichment and expansion of early learning opportunities to close what NCEF calls “persistent gaps in early childhood education.”

In making the announcement, NCEF CEO Maria Jimenez-Lara extended thanks to the NWWF patrons “whose generosity far exceeds anything beyond extraordinary.”

“You help make three days of wine and food into year-round impact, with a lasting change for children in our community,” she said. “Because of you, we have now raised and are investing an astounding $34,081,814 into this community alone. This is the power of collective impact coming together, and we will continue to shape a brighter future for those we serve.”

Funding this year includes traditional grants of $6.7 million to 32 nonprofits and $16.5 million to 17 agencies for NCEF multiyear strategic initiatives focusing on early learning, health care and out-of-school time. Another $2.9 million was earmarked for future projects and strategic initiatives.

For the $8 million early learning program, NCEF commissioned the Florida Chamber Foundation to conduct a study identifying critical needs, strategic recommendations and best practices. NCEF officials said the funds will support areas including infrastructure improvement, staff salaries and program enhancements.

“We will concentrate in communities that we haven’t been able to develop,” Jimenez-Lara said. “We’ll be concentrating on Golden Gate, East Naples and Golden Gate Estates to really develop some early learning infrastructure and options for parents.”

Dawn Montecalvo, president of the Guadalupe Center, said the Florida Chamber Foundation study outlined the needs for early learning in Collier County with a focus on three main goals.

“We have to have enough slots for the children, and then affordability and tuition assistance for parents because the costs to run early learning is past what [some] parents can actually afford,” she said. “And then quality, and that means making sure you have the best teachers, who have the best training, who are being paid fairly and who want to be at work.

“We’re investing in our children to make sure they are kindergarten ready.”

Since 2000, NWWF has raised more than $336 million and served more than 350,000 children in Collier County. Jeff Gargiulo served as NWWF Team 25 chair, and Stephanie Pezeshkan served as NCEF grant committee chair.

Recipients of 2025 traditional grants of more than $400,000 included Boys & Girls Clubs of Collier County, $450,000; Fostering Success, $415,000; Fun Time Early Childhood Academy, $490,000; Grace Place for Children & Families, $400,000; Youth Haven, $450,000; and Children’s Advocacy Center of Collier County, $686,000.

2025 NCEF Traditional Grants

ABLE Academy, $190,000

Avow Kids, $127,200

Better Together Strengthening Families, $200,000

Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Sun Coast, $110,000

Boys & Girls Club of Collier County, $450,000

Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation, $75,000

Catholic Charities, $295,000

Children’s Advocacy Center of Collier County, $686,000

Conservancy of Southwest Florida, $75,000

First Tee – Naples/Collier, $75,000

Fostering Success, $415,000

Fun Time Early Childhood Academy, $490,000

Grace Place for Children & Families, $400,000

Legal Aid Service of Collier County, $600,000

Literacy Collier (formerly Literacy Volunteers of Collier County), $75,000

MusicScores Violin, $50,000

Naples Therapeutic Riding Center, $100,000

NCH Naples Comprehensive Health – Bilingual Perinatal Community Educator, $84,000

NCH Naples Comprehensive Health – Pediatric and Special Needs Navigator, $85,000

NCH Safe & Healthy Children’s Coalition, $50,000

Pace Center for Girls, $100,000

Special Olympics Florida, $127,500

St. Matthew’s House, $100,000

STARability Foundation, $80,000

Taste the Impact, $125,000

The Education Foundation of Collier County – Champions for Learning, $225,000

The Salvation Army of Collier County, $75,000

The Shelter for Abused Women & Children, $150,000

United Arts Collier, $85,000

Valerie’s House, $200,000

YMCA of Collier County, $350,000

Youth Haven, $450,000

 

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