Fort Myers News-Press
A Naples family has donated millions to a local environmental group that’s been a part of the local community since 1964.
John and Carol Walter gifted a $25 million grant to the Conservancy of Southwest Florida recently, enough to completely redo the organization’s nature center while also funding key work in the future.
“It’s the largest gift in our history and is one of the larger gifts in our community,” said Rob Moher, president and CEO of the Conservancy. “It’s a magnificent gift, particularly for a conservation organization. It’s probably unheard of, but it’s actually a grant and it comes down to their generosity and their family’s feeling to support our community and our mission. This was a family decision, a generational decision to leave a legacy.”
John Walter served on the Conservancy board of director for years.
“Making a commitment like this is putting a lot of trust into our vision,” Moher said. “I felt very proud and I look forward to executing this over the next five years.”
Read the full article on naplesnews.com.
Dave Osborn | Naples Daily News
The Naples Winter Wine Festival reached a milestone this weekend.
At the 25th anniversary of the event, those attending the Jan. 25 live auction in a tent outside The Ritz-Carlton Naples, Tiburón, bid on 52 auction lots and help raise more than $34 million.
This brings the total amount raised by the Naples Winter Wine Festival to more than $336 million since its inception in 2001. The money goes to nonprofits that support at-risk and underprivileged children in Collier County.
What were some of the winning bid and auction lots
One couple took home a 2025 Bentley Continental GT Speed Convertible with a winning bid of $1.7 million. The lot also includes a four-night VIP Bentley experience at Monterey Car Week from Aug. 14-Aug. 18, beginning with roundtrip, first class airfare from any major city in the United States or Canada to the California Bay Area.
Read the full article and see video of the event on naplesnews.com.
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Gina Birch | Special to naplesnews.com
The sun may’ve been golden, but the festival was silver representing its 25th anniversary. Saturday afternoon at The Ritz-Carlton Naples Tiburon, festival goers dressed to impress with lots of designer sparkling and sequined tops, skirts, bags, and jackets, along with shiny silver boots, and stilettos.
One end of the Grand Tasting tent was lined with tables burgeoning with rare and vintage wines, many that are seldom accessible to the general public.
At the other end of the tent was a massive dessert display filled with creations that were works of art. Wowing the crowd was a 35-inch paella pan filled with apple pie. Along the perimeter, top chefs from around the country served a variety of exquisite savory bites.
Next, the Gulf Coast High School Drum Line led the group into the auction tent with its lively beats. The energy under the auction tent was explosive as auctioneers took turns coaxing the crowd to open their wallets to support the Naples Children & Education Foundation (NCEF).
Since its inception, the foundation has raised some $302 million for underserved and at-risk children in Collier County.
See lots of photos and read the full article on naplesnews.com.
Diana Biederman | Naples Daily News
Emeril Lagasse.
Nancy Oakes.
Charlie Palmer.
Bryan Voltaggio.
Those prominent names comprise merely four of America’s most recognizable celeb chefs secured by The Naples Children & Education Foundation (NCEF) who are heading our way for the Foundation’s 25th Naples Winter Wine Festival set for Jan. 24 to 26.
But wait, there’s more
Other top toques on this all-star power roster joining the Festival’s honorary “Chef de Cuisine” Angelo Auriana of The Factory Kitchen and Brera Ristorante include Michelin-star winners, food TV personalities and James Beard Foundation (JBF) Awards winners and finalists.
Angelo Auriana is ‘Chef de Cuisine’ for the Naples Winter Wine Festival’s 25th anniversary.
Josiah Citrin of the two Michelin-starred Citrin and Mélisse in Santa Monica, California.
“Chopped” Grand Champion Stephen Coe of Dangerous Eats and The Early Bird Café in Plymouth, Massachusetts.
JBF’s Best Chef in the Southeast Award finalist Cassidee Dabney of The Barn at Blackberry Farm in Walland, Tennessee.
Read the rest of the list of power chefs who will be at the 2025 Naples Winter Wine Festival on naplesnews.com.
