Naples Children & Education Foundation
- - The Naples Children & Education Foundation (NCEF) was established in 2000 with the vision of making a profound and sustaining difference in the lives of children in Collier County.
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Naples Winter Wine Festival
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    The Naples Winter Wine Festival is ranked among the top 10 arts and entertainment events for wealthy Americans. This ranking by the Luxury Institute is based on exclusivity, quality and prestige.
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  - - Jul. 152025
      Founders of Darioush Winery to be Celebrated as Honored Vintners at 26th Annual ...
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Published Articles

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Mar. 012015

Imaginative wine festival benefits children’s foundation

Mar. 012015

New Trustees Add Wealth of Experience to Naples Children & Education Foundation

Feb. 272015

Making a Difference: GPS initiative connecting underprivileged students to education programs

Feb. 272015

A good harvest in Naples

Feb. 202015

$3.8 million set aside for 3 long-term goals

Feb. 182015

Search is on for CEO to head up Naples Winter Wine Festival

Naples Daily News

Feb. 102015

Trustees named to Naples Children & Education Foundation

Feb. 102015

New trustees announced for Naples organization

For many children, school is more than a place to

For many children, school is more than a place to learn—it’s where they receive their most reliable meals each day.
But when summer arrives, those meals disappear. That’s why our Hunger Initiative partners are essential—stepping in to provide food and feeding sites across Collier County during the summer months, ensuring no child goes without.
Whether it’s mobile pantries, food kits at camps or local distribution sites, these efforts made possible by @hcfbswfl @mealsofhope @midwestfoodbank and @ourdailybreadfoodpantry fill a critical gap and keep kids nourished, healthy and ready to thrive.
Together, we’re making sure summer stays full—for every child.
#NCEF #NWWF #itsALLforthekids #StrategicInitiative #BlueprintPartners #HungerInitiative #CollierCounty #NoChildHungry #SummerFeeding

Through our traditional funding, NCEF proudly supp

Through our traditional funding, NCEF proudly supports out-of-school time programs across Collier County that go beyond after-school hours—extending into comprehensive, enriching summer camps that keep kids engaged, active and learning all summer long.
From science and nature to sports, arts, and career exploration, these programs offer safe spaces, caring mentors, and opportunities to grow—no matter the season.
We’re honored to support incredible partners making it happen, including: @bgccollier @calripkensrfdn @championsforlearning @conservancyswf @firstteenaplescollier @unitedartscollier @ymcanaples
#NCEF #NWWF #itsALLforthekids #SummerCamps

Today we are highlighting Vintner Plane Arrival. N

Today we are highlighting Vintner Plane Arrival. Napa vintners arrive in style on private jets for the NWWF! When the vintners land at the Naples Airport Authority, the Naples High School drum line welcomes them along with the Airport Authority and NCEF representatives to thank them for donating their time and talents. With their help, we’ve been able to raise hundreds of millions of dollars ALL for the kids of Collier County. We thank them for their generosity.

On Tuesday, July 8th, NCEF staff visited one of it

On Tuesday, July 8th, NCEF staff visited one of its incredible beneficiaries, @theableacademy. As a leading provider of individualized applied behavior analysis programming for individuals with developmental delays, ABLE Academy offers a warm, inspiring environment where children can thrive. The NCEF team was welcomed by Dr. Colleen Cornwall, CEO and Founder, and Kim Raiser, BCaBA and Operations Director, who guided them on an inspiring tour of the facility. During the visit, the team saw the dedicated one-on-one work of the interdisciplinary staff and heard stories highlighting the remarkable progress students have made over the years. Special highlights included learning about the Miracle Bell, which rings to celebrate each new skill or milestone a child achieves, and a screening of a recent episode of the Able News Network, a student-produced news channel featuring student interests and events. To round out the visit, NCEF staff were treated to drinks from Taste Buds Café, the on-site coffee bar fully operated by students who took orders and crafted what was arguably the best coffee in town!

Today is the last day to vote! 🍷 Vote for #NWWF

Today is the last day to vote! 🍷 Vote for #NWWF as your favorite wine festival before noon! USA TODAY 10Best teamed up with a panel of wine industry experts to find the best wine-centric celebrations in the U.S. Voting ends today at 11:59am. Click the link in our bio to vote!

Immokalee is home to a high population of vulnerab

Immokalee is home to a high population of vulnerable and at-risk children—kids who face systemic barriers that impact their academic success and overall well-being.
That’s why NCEF strategically focused our Out-of-School Time Initiative in Immokalee—leveraging resources, expanding program capacity, providing academic safety nets and creating enriching opportunities for students who need it most.
Demonstrated by the 22.7 percentage point increase in Immokalee High School’s graduation rate—now at 87.4%— our collaborative, community-based approach is helping ensure every child has a safe, supportive space to learn and thrive during the hours that matter most.
#NCEF #itsALLforthekids #StrategicInitiatives #BlueprintPartners #Immokalee

Inside the Naples Winter Wine Festival: Video Seri

Inside the Naples Winter Wine Festival: Video Series!
Today we are highlighting The Vintage Cellar, this is a separate ticketed event; limited to only 40 guests. An unparalleled opportunity to experience the rarest and finest vintages from one of the world’s greatest wine estates. The morning tasting will consist of a vertical selection of the estate’s best years, with commentary by the vintner and additional insights from a famed wine critic. This is followed by a luncheon accompanied by a mini-vertical of recent vintages.

We are thrilled to announce Shahpar and Darioush K

We are thrilled to announce Shahpar and Darioush Khaledi, founders of the acclaimed Napa Valley winery Darioush, as our Honored Vintners at the 26th annual Naples Winter Wine Festival on January 30, 2026 through February 1, 2026.
As the Festival’s 2026 Honored Vintners, Shahpar and Darioush Khaledi will be recognized for their determination, experimentation and commitment to pursue challenging opportunities, first in the grocery business in California and later at Darioush. Their family-owned and operated boutique winery stems from the foundational intersection of viticulture, hospitality, cuisine and art. Their participation as this year’s Honored Vintners helps set the stage for what promises to be another amazing three days! 🍷 Click the link in our bio to read the full Press Release.

Each summer, students can lose up to two months of

Each summer, students can lose up to two months of reading skills, and six weeks in the fall are spent re-learning old material. This learning loss affects all students—but it disproportionately impacts vulnerable and at-risk children who may already be facing academic challenges.
Without access to structured summer learning, enrichment, or even consistent internet or reading materials, these children fall further behind—widening the achievement gap that already exists during the school year.
💡 Just 2–3 hours of learning per week during summer break can help prevent this slide and keep children on track to succeed.
#NCEF #NWWF #itsALLforthekids #SummerLearningLoss #Out-of-SchoolTimePrograms #ClosetheGap #SummerSuccess

One week left to vote for your favorite wine festi

One week left to vote for your favorite wine festival 🍷❤ USA TODAY 10Best teamed up with a panel of wine industry experts to find the best wine-centric celebrations in the U.S. vote every day once per day! Voting ends on next Monday, July 21st at 11:59am. ✨ Click the link in our bio to vote!

This heartwarming community event at the NCEF Well

This heartwarming community event at the NCEF Wellness Center in Immokalee brought together local partners and generous volunteers to support families with free, gently used clothing—no strings attached, just kindness. 💛
Thanks to the incredible turnout, we assisted 94 families, distributed all 30 crockpots donated by Meals of Hope, and emptied 59 of the 87 bins of clothing! One young mom even returned the next day to begin dental care, sharing how much it meant to find clothes for her and her newborn.
Huge thanks to @ufdentistry @davidlawrencecenters @mealsofhope @bascompalmereye @gch_swfl @fsucom @guadalupe_center and @theableacademy for making this day of compassion and connection possible.
#NCEF #NWWF #itsALLforthekids #ThreadsofKindness #CommunityCare #Immokalee

Our CEO Maria Jimenez-Lara spoke at the Florida Le

Our CEO Maria Jimenez-Lara spoke at the Florida Learners to Earners Workforce Solution Summit, joining a panel on "From Data to Decisions" to discuss how philanthropy and business can drive early learning investments.
She shared key findings from the 2025 Collier County Early Learning Landscape Analysis, conducted in partnership with the Florida Chamber Foundation’s Business Alliance for Early Learning. The study highlights challenges in access, affordability and workforce stability across Collier County’s early learning programs.
These insights will guide NCEF’s $8M investment to expand high-quality early learning and ensure families—especially in underserved areas—can find and afford the care they need.
Maria proudly represented NCEF as a continued Blueprint for Success in data-driven impact.
#NCEF #NWWF #itsALLforthekids #BlueprintModel #Statewide #PhilantrhopyinAction #EarlyLearning