Naples Children & Education Foundation receives $250,000 grant to expand programs
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Two philanthropic powerhouses have furthered their ties to make sure at-risk children get essential health-care services.
The Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation recently awarded $250,000 to the Naples Children & Education Foundation to expand three of its longstanding initiatives of oral health, vision care, and mental health services integrated at pediatric check-ups.
The Naples Children & Education Foundation, founders of the annual Naples Winter Wine Festival, said 5,100 children will be served, which is 1,000 more than the number of children served last school year through the expansion of the initiatives, according to NCEF.
A big goal is catching up with holds on providing non-emergency services due to disruptions from Hurricane Ian after it hit last Sept. 28 and the COVID-19 pandemic that spanned three years. The federal government declared the pandemic officially over in April.
“NCEF chose these three healthcare initiatives because they are life-changing and high-demand areas in our community, especially integrated healthcare, which combines pediatric care with mental health services in one setting,” Maria Jimenez-Lara, chief executive officer of NCEF, said in an email.
Despite Collier’s image of being an affluent community, the reality is much different for many of the children.
A 2022 child well-being analysis by NCEF consultants found 29% of Collier children live at or below 200% of the poverty level, which is an income of $51,500 for a family of four in 2019, while the rate is 33% of children statewide live at that poverty level.
Children who live in chronic poverty are more likely to struggle with malnutrition, to not do well in school, to be victims of abuse and to engage in risky behavior.
The two foundations have prior ties
The Schulze foundation, established in 2004 by Best Buy founder Dick Schulze who now lives in Naples, has provided support to NCEF in the past.
Since 2017, the Schulze foundation has provided a total of $1.6 million, including the recent grant, to NCEF.
One example includes the launch of Collier CARES in 2021, a mobile and web-based app to connect families to services. A third partner on the Collier CARES is the Collier Community Foundation.
The Schulze foundation invests in social services and other programs in Minneapolis, where Schulze and his family previously lived, and in Southwest Florida.
It recognizes the track record of NCEF with its “innovative and collaborative approach” and its focus on measurable outcomes, according to Mary Beth Geier, Florida director of the Schulze foundation.
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Since NCEF was founded in 2000, it has provided critically needed services to more than 300,000 children in four broad categories of child advocacy, early learning, health care, and out-of-school time.
Proceeds from the annual wine festival is the primary source of program funding and has generated $269 million since 2001.
“By investing wisely and holding its grantees to the highest of standards, NCEF makes a true impact on the lives of children in Collier County, Geier said in a press release.
What are the three initiatives?
Proceeds from the annual wine festival are awarded to a long list of nonprofit organizations in Collier that go through a rigorous application review.
In addition, NCEF has seven initiatives that are long-term projects based on findings from child well-being studies like the one done in 2022.
Earlier studies were done in 2005, 2010, and 2017, which helps measure progress and identify developing needs.
The NCEF board opted for partnerships with local nonprofits and other organizations to develop solutions for the long-term initiatives.
The other four initiatives not on the receiving end of the recent Schulze foundation grant of $250,000 are early learning, health care, hunger and out of school time.
Jimenez-Lara said the initiatives selected are a perfect fit for the funding priorities of the Schulze foundation.
The money will enable 1,000 children to get eye exams, 425 children will receive prescription glasses, 425 children will receive dental exams and sealants, and 3,250 children will receive integrated healthcare screenings and services, she said.
“There is no new niche need but overall demand has increased, especially in the integrated care system and the focus on mental health given the heightened stress among children because of COVID-19 and Hurricane Ian, on top of their challenges of living in poverty,” she said.
Details of how the three initiatives work
The integrated care model, called Beautiful Minds, addresses findings that one in five children in Collier who live in poverty have a mental or behavioral development disorder.
Partners are the David Lawrence Center, Florida State University College of Medicine, Golisano Children’s Hospital, Healthcare Network of Southwest Florida, and NAMI of Collier County
Total funding since 2012 for the initiative is nearly $9.6 million and more than 55,000 children have benefitted.
The oral health initiative addresses findings that 65% of third graders in Collier have tooth decay.
The partners in the oral health initiative are Florida SouthWestern State College, Healthcare Network, and the University of Florida College of Dentistry.
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Physicians Regional Healthcare System at Collier Boulevard provides procedure rooms for children who need sedation for dental services.
Roughly $10.5 million has been spent on the initiative since 2006. The NCEF Pediatric Dental Center on the campus of Florida SouthWestern has provided 135,000 dental visits since its opening in 2008.
The vision care initiative is based on findings that one in four school-aged children have vision problems.
Partners are Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Bonita Springs Lions Club Foundation, Florida Lions Eye Clinic, Florida’s Vision Quest, and Lighthouse of Collier County.
Roughly $4.5 million has been spent on the initiative since 2012, which include full eye exams, more advanced eye care services, and 29,000 pairs of glasses have been provided. Roughly 20,000 children are screened each year.
This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Grant to help with oral health, vision care and mental health
