Naples Winter Wine Festival live auction dedicated to kids’ health
Editor’s note: This story corrects the spelling of Nena Beynon, 2026 co-chair for the wine festival.
The countdown to the Naples Winter Wine Festival is on, and the Naples Children Foundation has decided to focus the festival’s charitable funding on children’s healthcare.
The Naples Children Foundation, the foundation organization of the Naples Winter Wine Festival, hopes to address critical gaps in access to mental, oral, vision and primary healthcare services for children through its annual Fund a Need auction initiative at the wine festival, according to a press release.
This year, the auction is called “The Picture of Health.
“Every day in Collier County, children face heartbreaking health challenges,” said Nena Beynon, 2026 co-chair for the wine festival, in the release. “Without a foundation of good health, there is no future.”
The Naples Winter Wine Festival well be held at the Ritz-Carlton Naples on Jan. 30 to Feb. 1, with the live auction taking place on Jan. 31.
Those who are unable to attend the live auction but would like to support Collier County’s children are encouraged to participate in an online auction that will take place from Jan. 23 to Feb. 3.
This festival was established in 2001, offering “three days of the very best in wineand food and ranks as one of the most successful international charity wine auctions in the world,” the press release said.
The festival has raised more than $336 million for children in need in Collier County.
Last year, 2025, the Naples Children Foundation celebrated its 25th anniversary, and in doing so, the Fund a Need auction was dedicated to funding all seven of its goal areas: early learning, healthcare, hunger, mental health, oral health, vision care and out-of-school time.
This year, the foundation chooses to recognize childrens’ ability to thrive when their health and wellbeing is in check, the press release said.
Between 2017 and 2022, Collier County saw a 100% increase in suicide deaths among local children ages 10-19.
Nearly 85% of Collier County at-risk/disadvantaged Title I students have untreated vision problems.
And with 65% of Collier County Public School students qualifying for free lunch, it is clear to the Naples Children Foundation that many low-income families likely face barriers and limited awareness regarding access to healthcare, the press release said.
“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 wellbeing,” said Sue Bieker, foundation 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'”.
Tayeba Hussein is a breaking news reporter for The News-Press & Naples Daily News. Reach her at [email protected].
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