Naples Children Foundation | Naples Children & Education Foundation

Naples Children Foundation
- - The Naples Children Foundation was established in 2000 with the vision to be a sustainable, world-recognized organization that generates and distributes significant resources for the vulnerable children in Collier County and is known for its support of measurable results.
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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.
    About the Festival
- - Explore the Naples Winter Wine Festival
  - - 2026 Vintners
    - 2026 Chefs
    - 2026 Sommeliers
    - 2025 Auction Lots
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News & Galleries
- - Press Inquiries
    Lisa JulianoSVP, Naples Winter Wine Festival & Event Production
    239-325-2972
    
    Clay ConePR Consultant, Cone Communications
    239-398-9268
    For the press
- - Explore Our News & Galleries
  - - Sep. 162025
      Revered Group of Featured Sommeliers to Showcase Their Talents with Some of the ...
    - Aug. 192025
      Incredible Lineup of Acclaimed Vintners and Top Chefs Unveiled for 26th Annual N...
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Apr. 232024

NCEF Grant Awards 2024

Apr. 222024

FGCU and NCEF unveil Early Childhood Development center in East Naples

Mar. 212023

NCEF Grant Awards 2023

Mar. 162022

NCEF Grant Awards 2022 – Traditional Beneficiaries

Mar. 162022

NCEF Grant Awards 2022 – Strategic Initiatives

Jun. 262020

NCEF Grant Awards Presentation 2020

Mar. 112020

NCEF Fund the Future 2020

May. 292019

Impact 2019 – Maria Jimenez-Lara

Please join us in welcoming sommelier Jacob Brown

Please join us in welcoming sommelier Jacob Brown of Lazy Bear in San Francisco, California.
Jacob Brown began his beverage career as a ski bum bartender in Park City, Utah, where he discovered his passion for wine through the Introductory Sommelier Course. He moved to Austin, Texas, working his way up from dishwasher to beverage director at restaurants including Counter 3.FIVE.VII and the ELM Restaurant Group. Today, Jacob is head sommelier at San Francisco’s acclaimed Lazy Bear, curating beverage pairings for the tasting menu while pursuing his Master Sommelier Diploma. A dedicated wine professional—and lifelong Minnesota Vikings fan—he’s always chasing the perfect pour (and a Super Bowl win).

NWWF26 Celebrity Chef highlights! Today we are fea

NWWF26 Celebrity Chef highlights! Today we are featuring Dean Fearing of Fearing’s Restaurant in Dallas, Texas.
James Beard Award winner Chef Dean Fearing is the culinary icon behind Fearing’s in Dallas, known for his southwestern cuisine and dedication to locally sourced ingredients. A Culinary Institute of America graduate and “Pioneer of American Cuisine,” Dean spent over two decades as executive chef of The Rosewood Mansion before opening Fearing’s in 2007. He’s starred on Dean’s Cuisine, cooked for presidents and celebrities, authored The Texas Food Bible, and off the plate, performs with his all-chef band, The Barbwires.

The incredible lineup of world-renowned vintners i

The incredible lineup of world-renowned vintners includes Aymeric de Gironde of Château Troplong Mondot in Saint-Émilion, France.
Born into a family of winemakers and cognac distillers, Aymeric de Gironde began his journey with Hennessy in New York before joining Krug in France, expanding its presence across Europe and the U.S. In 2006, he took on a new challenge in Bordeaux, overseeing commercial and marketing efforts alongside AXA Millésimes. Six years later, Aymeric was invited by Michel Reybier to lead Château Cos d’Estournel, where he brought his vision of excellence and innovation to one of Saint-Estèphe’s most celebrated estates.
That same pursuit of purpose led him to Château Troplong Mondot, where he now serves as General Manager—honoring its heritage while shaping a new, contemporary chapter.

Please join us in welcoming sommelier Mark Bright

Please join us in welcoming sommelier Mark Bright of Saison Hospitality in San Francisco, California.
Mark Bright discovered his passion for wine at 15 while traveling through Burgundy and the Rhône Valley. His career began as a sommelier in Las Vegas and San Francisco, earning early recognition from Wine & Spirits and Wine Spectator. Today, he is co-founder and beverage director of Saison Hospitality Group, home to Michelin-starred restaurants, a boutique winery and a rare wine brokerage—all built on quality and sustainability.

NWWF26 Celebrity Chef highlights! Today we are fea

NWWF26 Celebrity Chef highlights! Today we are featuring Cassidee Dabney of The Barn at Blackberry Farm in Walland, Tennessee and Joey Edwards of Three Sisters at Blackberry Mountain in Walland, Tennessee.
Cassidee grew up gardening, canning and cooking—always inspired by seasonal ingredients. After training at the New England Culinary Institute and working across the globe with the Four Seasons, she joined Blackberry Farm in 2010, becoming executive chef in 2015. Known for her Foothills Cuisine®, Cassidee has earned national recognition, including multiple James Beard Award nominations.
Joey discovered his love of cooking early, turning creativity into a way to bring people together. After training at Le Cordon Bleu and honing his craft in top kitchens, he joined Blackberry Farm in 2013, later returning as sous chef under Cassidee Dabney. In 2020, Joey transitioned to Blackberry Mountain, where he brings his passion for cooking and foraging to life as executive chef of Three Sisters.

The incredible lineup of world-renowned vintners i

The incredible lineup of world-renowned vintners includes Candice Bernard Cathiard of Château Smith Haut Lafitte in Pessac-Léognan, France and Cathiard Vineyard in Saint Helena, California.
Candice, niece of Florence and Daniel Cathiard, grew up in France watching her family’s passion for winemaking at Château Smith Haut Lafitte. Inspired from an early age, she went on to build a career in hospitality with Marriott hotels across France, Spain and Florida. Now based in Napa Valley, she leads hospitality at Cathiard Vineyard, overseeing direct-to-consumer sales and cultivating lasting relationships with clients and collectors.

Calling all volunteers! Our volunteers are an inva

Calling all volunteers! Our volunteers are an invaluable part of the NWWF’s impact on the children of Collier County, and we thank you for your desire to be a part of the team. 💚 Volunteer applications for the 2026 Festival are now open! Learn more & contact us here: napleswinefestival.com/volunteers

Please join us in welcoming sommelier Pablo Braida

Please join us in welcoming sommelier Pablo Braida, MS of Pret-a-Vin Consulting in Augusta, Georgia.
Pablo Braida, Master Sommelier, grew up in Córdoba, Argentina, before a career in hospitality took him to London and later Napa Valley, where he began his studies with the Court of Master Sommeliers. In 2022, he became the first Argentinian and one of only a handful of South Americans to achieve the prestigious Master Sommelier title. Today, Pablo is VP of customer relations at Estate Wine Brokers in Austin, where he shares his passion for rare and collectible wines.

NWWF26 Celebrity Chef highlights! Today we are fea

NWWF26 Celebrity Chef highlights! Today we are featuring Stephen Coe of Ciba Matta and 1756 Grotto in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands.
Chef Stephen Coe is a nationally recognized, award-winning chef best known for defeating Bobby Flay on Chopped: Beat Bobby Flay with a rematch on the way. A graduate of Johnson & Wales, he’s a 4x Chopped champion, 7x World Food Champion and Olympic medalist. Owner of The Early Bird Café in Kingston, MA, and two award-winning food trucks, he was voted ‘Best Chef South of Boston’ in 2022 and 2023. Chef Coe also hosts Dangerous Eats, recently starred in A Taste of Love, and has a new cookbook, Lobsta Love, launching this fall.

Joining the distinguished lineup for this year’s

Joining the distinguished lineup for this year’s Naples Winter Wine Festival is Grace Evenstad of Domaine Serene Vineyards & Winery in Willamette Valley, Oregon and Château de la Crée in Burgundy, France.
Grace and Ken Evenstad founded Domaine Serene in Oregon’s Dundee Hills in 1989 with a mission to produce world-class Pinot Noir. Today, under Grace Evenstad’s leadership, the winery spans seven estate vineyards and over 360 acres of vines, including holdings in Burgundy, France, making them the only Oregon-based vintners with estates in both regions. Following Ken Evenstad’s passing in 2020, Grace continues their shared vision, crafting elegant, complex Pinot Noir and Chardonnay that reflect the finest terroirs of Oregon and Burgundy.

The 2026 Naples Winter Wine Festival is four month

The 2026 Naples Winter Wine Festival is four months away! The NWWF marks its 26th anniversary, so far raising more than $336 million which through annual grants and collaborative strategic initiatives have impacted close to 90 of the community’s most effective nonprofit organizations and the lives of 385,000 of the most vulnerable children in Collier County. Cheers!

Fall is here—and so is the weekend! Time to slow

Fall is here—and so is the weekend! Time to slow down and taste your way through the season.