When it comes to holding up their auction paddles to raise money for nonprofits, Naples gala patrons are on a record-setting roll.
It’s not just the Naples Winter Wine Festival, which set a new record in 2025 with $34 million raised for Naples Children and Education Foundation in support of nearly 50 area organizations.
For perspective, the Met Gala — the hyper-glam fundraiser each May that supports the Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum in New York City with the help of global celebrities and Vogue editor Anna Wintour — raised $26 million in 2024, which was a record to that time for the event.
During what The Naples Press has dubbed “paddle season” in Naples — its own season-within-a-season filled with galas galore — many nonprofits set records this year, as well, with more than $45 million raised in total at the 28 events listed here that were held between November 2024 and March 2025.
While this list is not exhaustive and focuses primarily on galas featuring auctions or fund-a-need paddle raises, with a few exceptions, it shows just how successful this season was for nonprofits supporting areas including the arts; children and education; health and community; seniors; social services; the environment; and nature and animals.
Galas help bring nonprofit missions to life
What is behind the money-raising magic that might make Wintour wonder just what is going on down here in Naples? How do local nonprofits bring their missions to life in ways that keep their donors dressing up, showing up and putting up those paddles again and again?
For the American Heart Association, the need for more education and training around CPR and how to use an AED (automated external defibrillator) was a big focus this year, according to Southwest Florida executive director Jessica Rodriguez.
“What we are trying to do is build the chain of survival in Southwest Florida when it comes to cardiac arrest, because currently nine out of 10 cardiac arrests occur outside of a hospital, and in 90% of those cases, the victim dies because CPR is not being performed adequately or in a timely manner,” Rodriguez said. “Quite simply, not enough people know what to do or how to do CPR, so we’re trying to remove that barrier and really bring this education to the forefront in our community.”
The focus on the importance of CPR was illustrated for the 550 guests at the organization’s Heart Ball, which raised a record $850,000, through the story of 7-year-old Oscar Stuebe. Oscar was hit in the chest by a baseball while playing; thanks to the quick actions of his mom, Sarah — who called 911 and performed CPR — his life was saved. There was not a dry eye in the house as Oscar and his family took the stage to thank supporters who make lifesaving efforts, training and technology possible for cardiac emergencies.
“The most recent statistics for the state of Florida show that we lost a student athlete to cardiac arrest every three days, and in most of those cases it’s because somebody was not performing CPR or using an AED immediately on the victim,” Rodriguez said. “So, it really touches everybody and we’re seeing victims younger and younger, and I think it’s definitely a cause that the community is starting to rally behind. It’s certainly a reason that we were able to increase our support this year.”
At Youth Haven’s Starry Night Gala, which raised a record $2.5 million, the audience of more than 500 heard from an alumna of Rob’s Cottage, the organization’s homeless teen transition program.
Youth Haven CEO Linda Goldfield said the event served as “a punctuation mark to a great season of support.
“She [the speaker] was actually celebrating her 20th birthday the night of the event and is a college student who had never dreamed of being able to go to college, let alone have the tremendous success she is having as a student,” Goldfield said. “So, for the investors in our organization who are there to celebrate with us, it’s a chance for them to see the impact of how they are making a difference in many children’s and teen’s lives.”
Goldfield said she invited all of the teens from the Rob’s Cottage program to the event so that supporters had the chance to interact with some of the older children served by Youth Haven.
“Rob’s Cottage is a program for homeless teens, with a 90% success rate, ensuring that our homeless teens in this community aren’t homeless adults,” she said. “I think getting to hear firsthand from someone who has lived in — and been successful in — our program really makes a difference.”
In the arts arena, Gulfshore Playhouse brought down the house for the 455 guests at its Once Upon a Dream Gala with show-stopping performances that literally put the spotlight on the organization’s new $72 million Baker Theater and Education Center.
This time, heartfelt smiles and laughter took the place of heartfelt tears shed at the American Heart Association and Youth Haven events, as patrons enjoyed performances that brought to life Gulfshore Playhouse’s mission to create world-class professional theatre and unique education opportunities in Naples.
Kristen Coury, the organization’s founder, CEO and producing artistic director, said its gala — which raised almost $2.6 million this year — supports the Annual Fund for Artistic Excellence, which she called “the heartbeat of our existence every year.”
“Our gala is like the ‘anti gala,’ it’s 95% entertaining and 5% fundraising,” Coury said when asked about what sets it apart from others. “We don’t have a live auction or a silent auction; the whole night we’re entertaining and also making the case for why this organization should be important to you and raising your quality of life.
“We’re offering events and engagement opportunities for the community, offering up professional theatre and incredible educational opportunities for ages 5 to 105. And therefore, if you believe in this organization, what this organization is doing, we hope you will be generous tonight, instead of saying ‘Your $5 will help us buy a can of paint.’”
She said this year’s gala, the first to be held in the new facility since its completion, was especially meaningful.
“It really was a wonderful evening for us, with the excitement that we could celebrate with everybody about the building we’ve been talking about for so many years,” Coury said. “We can finally say, ‘Hey, we did that all together, and thank you so much for your support.’”
Auction items fuel fun and amp up giving
In addition to the heartwarming stories and lively performances shared at many area galas, specialists take the stage at many galas to persuade, cajole and inspire patrons to reach a bit further into their pockets to keep the momentum going while bidding on items ranging from luxurious trips to destinations around the globe, premium golf packages to once-in-a-lifetime culinary experiences.
At each event that features an auction or paddle raise, highly skilled auctioneers keep the energy elevated and the totals climbing as the evening progresses, with guests on the edge of their seats as everyone waits to see if a new record is set, and who walks away with a coveted item.
Popular auctioneers including Gabriel Butu, Chris Marchand, Rick Gallo and John Terrio seemed to be everywhere this season, fueling the fun and keeping the friendly competition going back and forth until the final “going once, going twice …” was called.
A sampling of this season’s auction items that kept paddles in the air:
- A trip to Milan for the women’s show at Dolce and Gabbana during fall fashion week, sold for $45,000 at Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples’ Night at the Museum gala;
- Private dinner and concert with Andrea Bocelli on the Tyrrhenian Sea, and a trip to Luciano Pavarotti’s hometown hosted and curated by Nicoletta Pavarotti at the Opera Naples gala;
- A Ryder Cup experience with premium access to one of the world’s top golf tournaments at the Grace Place gala;
- And while the David Lawrence Center’s Sound Minds signature event didn’t include an auction, Dennis Quaid, the Emmy-winning actor who served as keynote speaker, auctioned off a round of golf with him the following day at The Ritz-Carlton Naples, Tiburon.
Patrons raise paddles to support favorite causes
ARTS
Artis—Naples
Friends of Artis—Naples Gala: Springtime Harmonies: March 16 Guests: 275
$1.8 million*
Gulfshore Playhouse
Once Upon a Dream Gala: March 3 Guests: 455
$2,581,100
Naples Art Institute
Scene to be Seen: Feb. 8 Guests: 300
$422,584
Opera Naples
An Evening in Paris Gala: Dec. 5 Guests: 250
$482,819
The Naples Players
Front & Center Gala: Feb. 11 Guests: 220
$2.5 million*
Total: $7,786,503
CHILDREN AND EDUCATION/ SENIORS/SOCIAL SERVICES
Baker Senior Center of Naples
An Evening for Better Tomorrows: Jan 11 Guests: 250
$1.1 million
Better Together
Night of a Million Dreams: Feb. 18 Guests: 225
$621,050*
Champions for Learning
Night for Champions: Feb. 15 Guests: 340
$1.1 million*
C’MON (Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples)
Night at the Museum: The Color Factory: Feb. 8 Guests: 400
$1.5 million
Fostering Success
Candy Dreams Gala: March 1 Guests: 300+
$700,000*
Grace Place
Celebration of Grace: A Night in Emerald City: Dec. 7 Guests: 378
$1,802,156*
Guadalupe Center
Elevate the Dream Signature Gala: Jan. 10 Guests: 315
$2 million*
The Village School of Naples
The Knight Gala: March 29 Guests: 235
$1 million*
The Shelter for Abused Women & Children
Mending Broken Hearts with Hope: Feb. 18
Guests: 800
$1,457,793
Women’s Foundation of Collier County
Women Rock Philanthropy: Nov. 22 Guests: 600
$700,000*
Youth Haven
Starry Nights Gala: March 22 Guests: 500
$2.5 million*
Total: $14,480,999
ENVIRONMENT/ANIMALS/NATURE
Patty Baker Humane Society Naples
Best in Show Gala: March 21 Guests: 325
$1.1 million*
Conservancy of Southwest Florida
Magic Under the Mangroves: March 6 Guests: 450
$1.7 million
Naples Botanical Garden
21st Annual Hats in the Garden: March 28 Guests: 700
$4.5 million*
Naples Zoo Gala
Zoo Gala: Nov. 21 Guests: 225
$1.5 million
Total: $8,800,000
HEALTH/COMMUNITY
American Cancer Society
Bucket List Bash: Feb. 22 Guests: 310
$1.5 million*
American Heart Association
Southwest Florida Heart Ball: March 21 Guests: 550
$850,000*
Breakthrough T1D (Formerly JDRF)
An Evening at the Palm Royale: Jan. 31 Guests: 340
$1.2 million
David Lawrence Centers for Behavioral Health
DLC Sound Minds Signature Event featuring Dennis Quaid: March 20 Guests: 550
$1.6 million*
Naples Comprehensive Health
NCH Ball: March 8 Guests: 480
$3.1 million*
Neighborhood Health Clinic
Celebration of Hope and Healing: Feb. 28 Guests: 165
$1.7 million*
Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida
Naples Dinner: Care. No Matter What: Feb. 13 Guests: 525
$1,315,678*
STARability
STAR Gala: Illuminating Abilities: Feb. 1 Guests: 580
$3.2 million*
Total: $14,465,678
Grand Total: $45,533,180
* Denotes record amount raised at gala
