Vincent A. Keeys, a long-time Naples resident and community activist, has once again been recognized for his deep and tireless commitment to “serving the underserved” in Southwest Florida.
He received the 2025 Distinguished Leadership Award, handed out by Greater Naples Leadership.
The award recognizes the significant contributions Keeys has made to civic and charitable organizations, not just in Naples, but across Collier and Lee counties. He was honored at the group’s annual meeting, held at the Sugden Community Theatre on March 24.
Keeys has served as president of the Collier County NAACP since 2016.
Vincent Keeys accepts the GNL’s Distinguished Leadership Award for 2025.
After Hurricane Ian, when River Park – a historically black, low-income neighborhood – was devastated by storm surge, Keeys swung into action, swiftly coordinating food and clothing donations from churches and other nonprofits, arranging temporary shelter for displaced residents in motels, and securing money to help them cover rent payments.
On top of that, he facilitated the donation of building materials and furniture and organized skilled labor to restore homes at no cost, and helped secure $2.5 million in hurricane relief funds to elevate coastal homes to reduce flood risk in the future, with work still continuing.
In 2022, Keeys, a former railroad worker, obtained a $400,000 state grant to restore the historic baggage car at the Naples Depot Museum.
The Keeys family celebrates Vincent’s Distinguished Leadership Award. Pictured, from left to right, are son Anwar Keeys, with Vincent and his wife Diann, grandson Omarley Keeys, and son Omar Keeys.
For more than a decade, Keeys has been an active member of the Naples-on-the-Gulf Kiwanis chapter. Through his involvement, he helped raise money for a grant-giving initiative that supports needy children, including providing a custom wheelchair to a disabled child. He will assume the role of chapter president next year.
Keeys volunteers his time and talents with other area nonprofits.
In a statement, leadership President Donna Messer said: “GNL is proud to honor Vincent Keeys for his dedication to making a meaningful difference in the community. His commitment to community service is what GNL is all about.”
The group’s mission is to “educate and inspire a network of service-minded leaders to impact positive change in our community.”
Vincent Keeys with wife, Diann, at the Sugden Theatre, where he received the GNL’s Distinguished Leadership Award for 2025.
After receiving this year’s Distinguished Leadership Award, Keeys said: “I truly appreciate this honor and all that I have learned from the GNL program and network. This is an opportunity to shine a spotlight on our service to help others and better our community. As Helen Keller once said, ‘Alone we can do so little, but together we can do so much.'”
This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Vincent Keeys receives 2025 Distinguished Leadership Award