The Education Foundation of Collier County – Champions For Learning is pleased to announce a charitable grant of $225,000 from the Naples Children Foundation, founders of the Naples Winter Wine Festival. Grant funding will be used to support students in the Pathways to Success Program during Fiscal Year 2027. Champions For Learning has been a proud grant recipient of the Naples Children Foundation (NCF) since 2016.
Pathways to Success falls under NCF’s’s Out-of-School Time service category, which are programs that serve children grades K-12 during previously unsupervised non-school hours such as before-school, after school, holiday breaks and summertime that promote future opportunities and build confidence. Students enrolled in Pathways to Success helps students in grades 8 through 12 navigate pathways for post-secondary success with opportunities for college and career coaching, mentorship, engaging workshops, hands-on lab sessions, off-site learning experiences, and scholarship awards upon high school graduation. Pathways to Success equips and prepares students to achieve their future academic and career goals.
“Champions For Learning is so grateful to the Naples Children Foundation for their investment in our work with students in Collier County,” said Eric Williams, President and CEO of Champions For Learning. “This grant changes countless lives. Many of our students are the first in their families to consider college or technical career training. They don’t know how they will be able to afford post-secondary education. The Naples Children Foundation’s continued partnership and support is essential in carrying out our mission to serve as a catalyst for educational success.”
Since making its first grant to Champions For Learning in 2016, the Naples Children Foundation has invested $1,774,000 to support our work with students.
“When students have access to the right guidance and opportunities, they’re empowered to shape their own futures,” said Sarah Zaiser-Kelly, SVP of Grants and Community Impact at NCF. “Our investment in Champions for Learning reflects our commitment to ensuring every child has the resources and support needed to pursue the path that’s right for them—whether that’s higher education, a meaningful career or another opportunity that leads to long-term success.”