NCF Announces 2026 NWWF Special Fund a Need Focus on Children’s Healthcare

“The Picture of Health”

Donations to our 2026 Fund a Need will open the door to essential care – primary, oral, vision, and mental health services that catch problems early and restore children’s well-being,”

The Naples Children Foundation (NCF), the founding organization of the Naples Winter Wine Festival (NWWF), today announced that its annual Fund a Need for the 2026 Naples Winter Wine Festival will focus on children’s healthcare, addressing critical gaps in access to mental health, oral health, vision and primary healthcare services.

Every dollar raised for this special call to action live auction lot named “The Picture of Health” will support NCF’s comprehensive approach toward opening the door to essential healthcare at an early age and ensuring that local children receive the critical resources and services needed for them to grow and thrive. Without help, these children endure unnecessary pain, fall behind in school, and too often end up in emergency rooms for conditions that could have been prevented.

Established in 2001, the Naples Winter Wine Festival offers three days of the very best in wine and food and ranks as one of the most successful international charity wine auctions in the world, raising more than $336 million for children in need in Collier County. At the 2026 festival, patrons will have the chance to show their support through an exhilarating live auction on Saturday, January 31, while supporters who are unable to attend the festival can make a direct gift to NCF or participate through an online auction from Friday, January 23 to Tuesday, February 3.

NCF recognizes that a child’s ability to learn and thrive is deeply connected to their health and well-being. It’s about nurturing the whole child-ensuring they have access to essential healthcare that supports not only their physical health, but also their academic success, emotional growth, and future potential. That’s why, for this year’s Naples Winter Wine Festival, the foundation is placing a special emphasis on children’s healthcare through its annual Fund a Need initiative.

“Every day in Collier County, children face heartbreaking health challenges,” said 2026 NWWF Co-Chair Nena Beynon. “Without a foundation of good health, there is no future.”

Together, we can fill in the gaps and provide the essential resources that children in Collier County need to overcome the current realities they face. Here are some startling statistics:

• Mental Health: From 2017 to 2022, there was a 100 percent increase in suicide deaths among Collier County children aged 10–19.

• Oral Health: 80 percent of children screened through the NCF Pediatric Oral Health Initiative had tooth decay due to a lack of treatment.

• Vision: Up to 85 percent of Title I* and at-risk students have undiagnosed or untreated vision problems, affecting how they learn, grow, and thrive.

(*Title I refers to schools with high numbers or high percentages of disadvantaged children)

• Primary Health Care: 65 percent of Collier County Public Schools students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, showing that over half of children come from low-income families facing barriers like limited awareness, transportation, and access to care.

“Donations to our 2026 Fund a Need will open the door to essential care – primary, oral, vision, and mental health services that catch problems early and restore children’s well-being,” said Sue Bieker, NCF Trustee and 2026 Grant Committee Chair. “With our patrons’ generosity, barriers come down, and every child has the chance to grow up as the true Picture of Health.”

Every dollar raised through “The Picture of Health” auction lot will go to support NCF’s strategic initiatives to focus on the future of children in our community. To learn more about NCF’s impact in supporting local children, visit napleschildrenfoundation.org. For additional information on the Naples Winter Wine Festival or to donate, visit napleswinefestival.com.