Napa Valley Vintners Gives Additional $1.8 Million to Help Children

News submitted from Napa Valley Vintners:

The Napa Valley Vintners (NVV) trade association announced today an additional $1.8 million in grants from Auction Napa Valley proceeds to nine local nonprofits who help children. The organizations provide an array of services that foster academic achievement, provide teacher training, support mentoring and relationship building, offer parental education and inspire healthy behaviors and leadership development for youth.

Today’s announcement follows other recent investments by the NVV toward classroom-based programs and youth development, including: $2 million for construction of a new Boys & Girls Club and Community Center in American Canyon; $2 million for construction of a new Boys & Girls Club facility in Calistoga; and an additional $1 million for the NVV’s Early Learning Initiative established last year to ensure that every child in Napa County enters kindergarten ready to learn.

“The NVV’s strategic focus of funding youth-based programs for vulnerable populations through Auction Napa Valley proceeds is transformative for Napa County,” remarked Alissa Gentille, executive director of On the Move. “In providing critical opportunities for youth who are facing barriers of many sorts, the social return on investment in our children not only improves the quality of life for an individual child’s lifespan, but also strengthens the fabric of our community as a whole.”

The NVV also released today several “Stories of Impact” from individual children about how Auction Napa Valley funding is making a significant difference in their lives:

• Laura graduated from high school because Napa CASA helped her build resiliency in navigating a dozen social workers and foster homes.
• Lupita jumped from being a below average student to enrollment in three AP and college preparatory classes through guidance from On the Move’s Leadership Academy.
• Antonio was the first member of his family to attend college because the Boys & Girls Club of St. Helena and Calistoga helped him make the transition from an unstable background to dramatically improving his grades and getting involved in school sports.

Additional stories can be found at auctionnapavalley.org/giving..

“Today’s announcement builds on the investments we’ve made recently to ensure a positive future for the youth of Napa County,” noted David Duncan, chair of the NVV’s Board of Directors and president and CEO of Silver Oak and Twomey Cellars. “We’re proud of our commitment to use Auction Napa Valley proceeds to help local children reach their full potential.”

The organizations funded in today’s announcement include:

• Big Brothers, Big Sisters Of the North Bay
• Boys & Girls Club of Napa Valley
• Boys & Girls Club of St. Helena and Calistoga
• CASA, A Voice for Children
• Child Start, Inc.
• Community Resources for Children
• NapaLearns
• On the Move

• Summer Search North Bay

--Photo courtesy of Al Francis of NapaSonomaPhotos.com

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