Youth Haven is honored to announce it has been awarded a $500,000 grant from the Naples Children Foundation (NCF) during its annual grant ceremony held in March. This generous and vital funding for fiscal year 2027 supports Youth Haven’s mission of providing home, hope and healing for youth who have experienced abuse, neglect or homelessness.

“Through NCF’s investment in Youth Haven, we are not just funding programs; we are restoring stability, dignity and hope for children and teens in our community,” said Maria Jimenez-Lara, chief executive officer of the Naples Children Foundation. “We are proud to support their work, helping ensure every young person who comes through their shelter has a future filled with possibility.”

As Collier County’s only emergency and residential shelter for children and teens ages 6 to 21, Youth Haven serves approximately 150 youth annually, providing more than 24,000 nights of care across its campus. This investment from NCF sustains the highly trained professionals who deliver individualized therapy, case management, academic support and life skills programming through Youth Haven’s Emergency Shelter, Residential Program and Rob’s Cottage Transitional Living Program.

With many youth requiring extended care due to the severity of trauma and lack of stable alternatives, consistent, long-term support is critical to their healing and development. This funding ensures that each child receives the stability, structure and personalized care needed to overcome challenges, build resilience and move toward a brighter future.

“At Youth Haven, we see every day how transformative consistent, trauma-informed care can be for children who have experienced unimaginable hardship,” said Linda Goldfield, chief executive officer of Youth Haven. “We are deeply grateful to the Naples Children Foundation for this generous investment, which allows us to continue providing the critical services, compassionate care and stability our youth need to heal, grow and succeed.”

Naples Children Foundation plays a vital role in strengthening the network of care for vulnerable children in Collier County through strategic investments in high-impact organizations like Youth Haven.

Youth Haven’s comprehensive therapeutic campus offers a safe, nurturing environment where children and teens can begin to rebuild trust, develop coping skills and rediscover a sense of hope. Through a holistic, trauma-informed approach, Youth Haven provides not only shelter, but also the tools and support youth need to achieve long-term stability and independence.

For more information, visit youthhavenswfl.org or call 239-774-2904.

About Youth Haven

For more than five decades, Youth Haven has served as a sanctuary in Southwest Florida, providing home, hope and healing to children and teens experiencing abuse, neglect and oftentimes, homelessness. As a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and Collier County’s only emergency and residential shelter for boys and girls ages 6 to 21, Youth Haven provides far more than shelter, delivering comprehensive programs including therapeutic services, trauma-informed holistic care, foster and transitional housing, and enrichment initiatives that help every child realize their potential and have a bright future. Youth Haven is accredited by the nationally recognized Council on Accreditation, licensed by the Florida Department of Children and Families, and is a partner of Children’s Network of Southwest Florida. Rated 4-star (excellent) by Charity Navigator and Platinum by Candid/Guidestar, Youth Haven is a beneficiary of the Naples Children Foundation. For more information or to schedule a tour, please visit youthhavenswfl.org or call 239-774-2904. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

About the Naples Children Foundation

The Naples Children Foundation, the founding organization of the Naples Winter Wine Festival, creates transformational change and improves educational, emotional and health outcomes for vulnerable children in Collier County. Through its annual grants and strategic initiatives, NCF has impacted nearly 90 of the most effective nonprofits in the local community, providing 385,000 children with the services and resources they need to succeed. Through bold investments, collaborative partnerships, and data-driven solutions, NCF supports programs that ensure every child can thrive. NCF’s unique approach, which bridges public and private resources, has become a blueprint for how to transform a community – one issue at a time. To learn more, visit napleschildrenfoundation.org.