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Category: Stories

A Journey from El Salvador to CSU Chico: Mariela’s Dream to Become a Nurse

Posted on: Jul 18, 2023

Mariela Rivera-Moreno, an 18-year-old pre-nursing student heading to California State University, Chico, has always dreamed of going places. Born in Pennsylvania, raised for some time in El Salvador, and finally settling in Napa, Mariela has developed a passion for travel, learning, and giving back to her community. Her journey is now receiving a significant boost,…

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From Michoacán to UC Davis: Abril Martinez’s Pursuit of the American Dream

Posted on: Jul 6, 2023

Abril Martinez, fueled by a profound sense of purpose and a close bond to her family, vividly recalls her move from Michoacán, Mexico to Napa Valley at age 8. Faced with learning English in a school where she couldn’t converse with her teachers or classmates, Abril harnessed her inner strength. “I used to tell myself,…

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Unity in Diversity: The Impact of LGBTQ+ Connection in Napa Valley

Posted on: Jun 20, 2023

Pride Month, celebrated each June, shines a spotlight on the diverse experiences, triumphs, and challenges of the LGBTQ+ community. In Napa Valley, a program of On The Move called LGBTQ+ Connection is diligently working to foster an environment where these narratives are not just heard but honored, particularly focusing on adolescents and young adults. The…

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Robert Alexander Scott Scholarship Fund Awards $50K to Students

Posted on: Jun 15, 2023

The Robert Alexander Scott Scholarship Fund at Napa Valley Community Foundation (NVCF) today announced inaugural awards totaling $50,000 to support six promising students pursuing careers in winemaking, vineyard management, and enology this Fall. The scholarship fund was established in memory of Robert Alexander (Alex) Scott. Alex was a passionate family man and a key contributor…

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From Napa to Stanford: Victor Chen’s Journey Fueled by the Dave Smith Scholarship

Posted on: Jun 12, 2023

Stanford University’s admit weekend was in full swing, and Victor Chen was soaking up the college experience when he got the exciting news: he’d been awarded a scholarship from one of Napa Valley Community Foundation’s scholarship funds. The news turned his exciting weekend—one where he got to immerse himself in the potential of his future…

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Big Support for Napa County Small Animals  

Posted on: Mar 28, 2022

Napa Valley Community Foundation (NVCF) is honored to distribute $225,000 from the David and Jane Gotelli Family Fund to support nine Napa County nonprofit organizations and public agencies whose work improves or sustains the welfare of small animals throughout the Valley. This year’s round of grants will fund the following organizations: Jameson Humane      Friends of Napa…

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Creating a stronger community one new citizen at a time

Posted on: Feb 14, 2022

When our 2012 immigration study revealed that Napa County has 9,000 citizenship-eligible Legal Permanent Residents (LPRs), aka Green Card holders, but many were not taking the important step towards achieving citizenship due to an absence of a robust legal services infrastructure, we launched the One Napa Valley Initiative (ONVI), a campaign to create new citizens and…

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Our Response to the Fires in Napa County

Posted on: Oct 20, 2021

  The Napa Valley Community Disaster Relief Fund is responding to the 2020 wildfires in Napa County. Read our Open Letter to the Community on the one year anniversary of the fires to learn about expenditures and activities to-date. On August 18, 2020 and September 28, 2020, respectively, Governor Newsom declared states of emergencies for…

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Our response to COVID-19 and help available

Posted on: Oct 4, 2021

The Napa Valley Community Disaster Relief Fund is responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. So far, about $5.4 million has been distributed to provide emergency financial assistance to more than 1,700 local families and farmworkers, and help more than 25,000 Napa County residents with essential recovery services, like medical care and counseling,  groceries, hot meals, legal and housing…

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Wildfire doesn’t discriminate

Posted on: Dec 3, 2020

November 10, 2020 by Terence Mulligan Wildfire doesn’t discriminate. It burns a Napa Valley estate and a mobile home park with equal devastation. What isn’t equal are the resources that survivors have for recovery once the disaster is over. All wildfire survivors go through trauma, but people who are poor, elderly, sick or undocumented tend…

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