March 24 – Annual Meeting and DLA Award Celebration

We are pleased to announce that Vincent A. Keeys, Class XXV, has been selected to receive the 2025 Distinguished Leadership Award in recognition of his significant contributions to civic and charitable organizations throughout Naples, Collier, and Lee Counties.

Vincent will be presented The Distinguished Leadership Award on March 24 at the GNL Annual meeting.

Vincent Keeys has displayed a deep commitment to the underserved in this community. He recognizes the need well before others and leads the necessary resolution or remediation. He’s a caring community member, effective networker, and responder to needs of the community.

Vincent has been President of the Collier County NAACP since 2016 and has achieved several important accomplishments. During Hurricane Ian when River Park, a traditional African American neighborhood, was inundated with water from the surge, Vincent was instrumental in coordinating relief and recovery for the safety of residents. He rapidly organized food and clothing donations from churches and other nonprofit organizations and worked tirelessly for long hours many days.

In addition, he developed temporary shelter with motels and hotels in the county and obtained funding to pay for the rents where needed. And finally, he organized donations of building materials and furniture, and led teams of building professionals to do the repair work for free.

Post Ian, he was instrumental in getting $2.500,000 in hurricane relief funds to support mitigation efforts to elevate the homes for coastal communities above the floodplain. This work continues until this day.

Vincent obtained $400,000 in grant funding from the state of Florida for the restoration of the historical baggage car at Naples Depot Museum that was among the jobs of African American railroad porters.

Vincent, a member of Kiwanis for 10 years, founded a group of people focusing on needy children. This group meets weekly to determine fundraising and grant- giving plans that can meet the needs of children. The need might be as specific as paying to have a custom wheelchair to be designed and built.  He is the current Membership Chair and is slated to be President in 2026.

Vincent is also involved in the aviation program at Immokalee and Lely High Schools in partnership with the aviation crew at Naples airport. The goal is to spark interest in aviation. The students receive excellent training in math, science and technology.

Vincent has collaborated in and been involved with many nonprofits. For example, he has been appointed a volunteer member of the Citizens Foster Care Review Board which reviews cases related to children being removed from their families. The Board works to have adoptions approved and makes recommendations to the Circuit Court. In addition, Vincent is a member of the board of Fun Time Early Childhood Academy and the Pathways Early Childhood Education.

In recognition of his outstanding efforts in the community he received the Collier Community Foundation Celebration of Philanthropy award in November of 2023. He also won the Excellence in Civic Leadership Award for his outstanding contribution to the community in the wake of Hurricane Ian.

Congratulations to Vincent on an honor well deserved!

Please join us for the Distinguished Leadership Award at the Annual Meeting at the Sugden Community Theatre on Thursday, March 24.