A record year of grants by Naples Children & Education Foundation: $34 million
The Naples Children & Education Foundation awarded more than $34 million in grants Monday to nearly 50 nonprofit organizations that support children who are disadvantaged and in need of a helping hand to grow and thrive.
The grant award ceremony held at The Ritz-Carlton Naples, Tiburón is the hurrah moment for NCEF as sponsors of the annual Naples Winter Wine Festival, which raises millions to better the lives of local children.
Part of the behind the scenes work that takes place ahead of the wine festival weekend of events every January is extensive vetting of the nonprofits and their grant applications.
Despite the outward appearance that Collier is a wealthy community, an estimated 17% of local children live in poverty, according to a 2023 community assessment by the Collier Community Foundation.
Federal Reserve economic data released in December puts the figure at a high of 19.7% of children aged five to 17 who lived in poverty in Collier in 2023.
NCEF emphasizes collaboration between organizations and that includes public and private resources.
This year's award of $34 million is a record, and it includes $8 million that will target much needed expansions to early learning programs as more younger families move to Collier County.
More: Child care tough to find in Collier, but new projects could bring some relief
Child care centers with early learning programs are hard pressed to keep up with the need and it results in wait lists and children starting school already behind if they did not have the benefit of early leaning education.
In addition to the award of $6.7 million in traditional grants to 32 nonprofits that each have a core service focus, NCEF is allocating $16.5 million to multi-year strategic initiatives to address gaps, plus another $2.9 million for future projects.
More: 'Quite significant': Wine fest foundation distributes $33.2M to Collier charities
The strategic initiatives are in four categories of early learning, health care, out-of-school time and special projects.
This year's wine festival, in its 25th year, was held Jan. 25 at The Ritz-Carlton Naples, Tiburón. More than $34 million was raised.
Since its inception in 2001, the wine festival has raised more than $336 million, making a profound and nearly immeasurable difference in the lives of local children ever since.
Stephanie Pezeshkan, grant committee chairwoman this year, said wine festival attendees and supporters showed incredible generosity.
More: Naples Winter Wine Festival raises $34M-plus for Collier County nonprofits
'By investing in the most effective organizations, we ensure that our dollars drive meaningful change, improving lives and strengthening communities for the long term,' she said in a news release.
The traditional grants awarded annually goes to a long list of nonprofits that run the gamut from Able Academy that serves children with developmental disabilities, to MusicScore Violin that provides violin lessons to youngsters.
The amounts awarded to each organization also run the gamut with leaders of each entity grateful to NCEF's consideration and support.
The largest of the traditional grant awards this year is $686,000 to Children's Advocacy Center of Collier County, which for decades has been at the helm of a multi-disciplinary approach to minimizing trauma of children who have been abused or neglected.
Their comprehensive services start with the initial meeting with each child in the safe environment of the center's offices as opposed to a hospital or at law enforcement agency.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, reports and investigations of abuse or neglect dropped way down because children were not being seen; now case volumes are where they were before the pandemic and because of population growth, said Jackie Stephens, chief executive officer.
The nonprofit works alongside law enforcement and the state Department of Children and Family Services.
'We had a total of 1,400 referrals, and provided ongoing services to almost 1,600 parents and children,' she said, citing data for the year ending June 30, 2024. 'It is a big job. It is an important job.'
The grant from NCEF is about 25% of the organization's budget so it is crucial, she said.
'This helps us unify all our services,' she said.
The Boys & Girls Club of Collier, which serves kids after school and in summer, is receiving $450,000 this year.
The agency serves more 3,500 children and teens in its clubs in Naples and Immokalee and seven school-based sites.
NCEF funding plays a crucial role in advancing the mission to inspire and empower the youth in the community, Megan McCarthy Beauvis, president and chief executive officer, said in an email.
'These funds directly support essential programs that provide academic enrichment, character development, and workforce readiness initiatives for thousands of children and teens in Collier County,' she said. 'With this support we can continue to create a safe, nurturing environment where young people have access to the resources and opportunities they need to prepare for their successful futures.'
NCEF officials commissioned the Florida Chamber Foundation for its help in framing the early learning program going forward.
The chamber foundation conducted a study to identify the critical needs, offer recommendations and best practices,
Using the foundation's findings, funds will be targeted for building and other physical improvements, program enhancement and staff salaries.
'This significant investment in early learning aims to close persistent gaps in early childhood education and marks the start of a transformative initiative to create lasting impact for children and families in our community,' Maria Jimenez-Lara, chief executive officer of NCEF, said in a news release.
This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: In its 25th year, NCEF went big with grants and a new initiative
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Yahoo
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Rediscovering Culinary Roots with the Luxury Group by Marriott International
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For the latest information and programming, please visit: To explore Marriott Bonvoy Moments, please visit Join the conversation @MarriottBonvoy and #MarriottBonvoyMoments. High-resolution images available here. About Marriott International Marriott International, Inc. (Nasdaq: MAR) is based in Bethesda, Maryland, USA, and encompasses a portfolio of nearly 9,500 properties across more than 30 leading brands in 144 countries and territories. Marriott operates, franchises, and licenses hotel, residential, timeshare, and other lodging properties all around the world. The company offers Marriott Bonvoy®, its highly awarded travel platform. For more information, please visit our website at and for the latest company news, visit In addition, connect with us on Facebook and @MarriottIntl on X and Instagram. Marriott encourages investors, the media, and others interested in the company to review and subscribe to the information Marriott posts on its investor relations website at or Marriott's news center website at which may be material. The contents of these websites are not incorporated by reference into this press release or any report or document Marriott files with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, and any references to the websites are intended to be inactive textual references only. About Luxury Group by Marriott International With an unrivaled portfolio of eight dynamic luxury brands, Marriott International is creating authentic, rare, and enriching experiences sought by today's global luxurian. Spanning all corners of the world, Marriott International's Luxury Group offers a boundless network of more than 530 landmark hotels and resorts in over 70 countries and territories through The Ritz-Carlton, Ritz-Carlton Reserve, Bvlgari Hotels & Resorts, St. Regis Hotels & Resorts, EDITION, The Luxury Collection, JW Marriott, and W Hotels. From the world's most iconic destinations to the ultimate undiscovered gems, the international hospitality leader's collection of luxury brands is focused on elevating travel with highly contextualized, nuanced brand experiences that signal the future of luxury by allowing guests to indulge their passions while sparking personal growth. For more information, please visit About Marriott Bonvoy® Marriott Bonvoy's extraordinary portfolio offers renowned hospitality in the most memorable destinations in the world, with more than 30 brands that are tailored to every type of journey. From The Ritz-Carlton and St. Regis to W Hotels and more, Marriott Bonvoy has more luxury offerings than any other travel program. Members can earn points for stays at hotels and resorts, including all-inclusive resorts and premium home rentals, and through everyday purchases with co-branded credit cards. Members can redeem their points for experiences including future stays, Marriott Bonvoy Moments™, or through partners for luxurious products from Marriott Bonvoy Boutiques®. To enroll for free or for more information about Marriott Bonvoy, visit Media ContactJoanna HuangDirector, Luxury PR & CommunicationsMarriott International, Asia Pacific excluding View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Marriott International Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data

Associated Press
02-06-2025
- Associated Press
Mouser Electronics Awarded Distributor of the Year Honors from OMRON Electronic Components for Fifth Consecutive Year
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Mouser stocks a wide selection of OMRON Electronic Components, including switches, relays, connectors, optoelectronics and sensors that are used in consumer electronics, computer peripherals, industrial automation products and telecom applications. To learn more, visit For more Mouser news and our latest new product introductions, visit As a global authorized distributor, Mouser offers the widest selection of the newest semiconductors, electronic components and industrial automation products. Mouser's customers can expect 100% certified, genuine products that are fully traceable from each of its manufacturer partners. To help speed customers' designs, Mouser's website hosts an extensive library of technical resources, including a Technical Resource Center, along with product data sheets, supplier-specific reference designs, application notes, technical design information, engineering tools and other helpful information. Engineers can stay abreast of today's exciting product, technology and application news through Mouser's complimentary e-newsletter. Mouser's email news and reference subscriptions are customizable to the unique and changing project needs of customers and subscribers. No other distributor gives engineers this much customization and control over the information they receive. Learn about emerging technologies, product trends and more by signing up today at About Mouser Electronics Mouser Electronics is an authorized semiconductor and electronic component distributor focused on New Product Introductions from its leading manufacturer partners. Serving the global electronic design engineer and buyer community, the global distributor's website, is available in multiple languages and currencies and features more than 6.8 million products from over 1,200 manufacturer brands. Mouser offers 28 support locations worldwide to provide best-in-class customer service in local language, currency and time zone. The distributor ships to over 650,000 customers in 223 countries/territories from its 1 million-square-foot, state-of-the-art distribution facilities in the Dallas, Texas, metro area. For more information, visit About Omron Omron is the world's leading supplier of technologically advanced electronic components. Omron's vast product line includes switches (general, snap-action, control, DIP/SIP, miniature, sub-miniature, and thumbwheel), relays, connectors, optoelectronics, and sensors that are used in consumer electronics, computer peripherals, office automation products, and telecom applications. Omron Industrial Automation supplies the world with advanced electronics and control system components, including switches, relays, power supplies, sensors, calibration equipment, and cable assemblies. Omron is a global leader in RFID technology with their extensive range of reliable products and systems, such as inlays, readers/writers, transponders, development tools, and accessories. Trademarks Mouser and Mouser Electronics are registered trademarks of Mouser Electronics, Inc. All other products, logos, and company names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners. View source version on CONTACT: For further information, contact: Kevin Hess, Mouser Electronics Senior Vice President of Marketing +1 (817) 804-3833 [email protected] press inquiries, contact: Kelly DeGarmo, Mouser Electronics Manager, Corporate Communications and Media Relations +1 (817) 804-7764 [email protected] KEYWORD: TEXAS UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: ELECTRONIC DESIGN AUTOMATION ENGINEERING SEMICONDUCTOR CONSUMER ELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY MANUFACTURING HARDWARE SOURCE: Mouser Electronics, Inc. Copyright Business Wire 2025. PUB: 06/02/2025 11:08 AM/DISC: 06/02/2025 11:07 AM
Yahoo
02-06-2025
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Long-term chief leaves Brisbane to join AFL executive
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