Meet the Kids Day on Friday kicked off the annual Naples Winter Wine Festival, now celebrating its 24th year.
The theme this year is “Generosity in Full Bloom” with Friday’s program taking inspiration from a garden of possibilities for growing a better future on behalf of Collier County’s underprivileged kids.
A presentation inside Artis—Naples’ majestic Hayes Hall featured kids ranging from cute, costumed tots to teens and successful college post-grads who shared moving, heartwarming stories about how the Naples Children & Education Foundation, the nonprofit behind the Festival, impacted their lives for the best.
Following the two-plus-hour presentation, we spoke to this year’s Festival chairs, Ralph and Shelly Stayer of Johnsonville sausage fame, asking them what makes this specific facet of the Festival important.
“Today is the culmination of what we do. The children and how many lives we change are everything. We love seeing the impact that our organization is having,” Ralph Stayer said.