From Neighbor to National Recognition: Real Resident Inspires Award-Winning Ad
Ave Maria, FL — March 16, 2026 — Ave Maria is proud to announce that one of its residents and print campaign has been recognized among the best in the homebuilding industry, earning a Gold Award at The Nationals, hosted by the National Sales and Marketing Council of the National Association of Home Builders. The Nationals is the premier awards program honoring excellence in new home sales and marketing across North America. Winners were celebrated at the awards gala on February 17, 2026 during the International Builders’ Show in Orlando.
Barbara Mariano, a Del Webb Naples resident, was featured in the ‘Real Stories from a Big Kind of Small Town’ campaign through video and print. The award won the Best Print Ad (55+ Buyer) – Ave Maria’s Real Stories campaign. This award represents authenticity in storytelling and where passion, expertise and creative vision came together to craft something truly remarkable.
“My friends and I we never dreamed we would get a national award! We all came out to be together for the photoshoot, and when I look at the photo in the advertisement and see the ladies’ expressions, all full of enthusiasm, it makes me so happy,” shared Barbara Mariano. “Ave Maria is a special community. It is the friendships and people that make this town. I am so thankful that they were able to share my story through the Real Stories marketing campaign. We have never done this before, so I am super excited and proud of my whole group of ladies,” Mariano said.
ABOUT AVE MARIA, FLORIDA
Ave Maria has sold over 5,500 new homes to date, has been named a Top 20 Master Planned Community in the United States, 2015-2025 Community of the Year, the Top Selling Single-Family Home Community in Collier County, a Blue Zones Certified Community, and its active adult community, Del Webb Naples, has been named a Top 20 Places to Retire. Located in southwest Florida, Ave Maria is a self-sustaining town including shopping and dining, employment opportunities, parks and recreation, and is zoned for all A-rated Collier County public schools. At its build out, the town will include up to 11,000 residences, and 1.8 million square feet of retail, office, and business park uses in its 5,000 acres. Ave Maria is located at the intersection of Oil Well and Camp Keais Roads in Eastern Collier County. The main entrance, on Oil Well just west of Camp Keais, leads to the Town Center. Take I-75, exit 111, follow the signs east to Ave Maria, approximately 25 minutes. For more information, please visit https://www.avemaria.com/ or call 239-352-3903.
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