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
