Jane Mead: A Legacy of Compassion and Community


Jane Mead’s deep connection to Napa continues through her generous legacy gift to NVCF. Her bequest established the Fund for Napa Valley, which will make grants to the community she loved for years to come. Jane, a poet, teacher, author, and rancher, passed away in 2019. We spoke with her sister, Parry Mead Murray, who…

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Meet Preston Greene, Napa Valley Community Foundation’s First Fund Holder


In 1995, after reading a story about our emerging Foundation in The Napa Valley Register, Preston Greene became the first donor to open a fund at NVCF. When Preston first encountered the idea of a community foundation, it was entirely new to him. “In Virginia, I'd never heard of a community foundation,” he shares. “There…

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Meet our Donors: Edward and Sara Kozel


When Ed and Sara Kozel moved to Calistoga in 2017, they noticed something missing—a place for the community to gather and celebrate the arts. Over the past five years, the Kozels have been anchor donors behind the effort to open the Brannan Center, a nonprofit performing arts venue and community meeting space in Calistoga. The…

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Meet our Donors: Dann and Susan Boeschen


When Dann and Susan Boeschen moved to St. Helena in 1999 from their home in Issaquah, Washington, they planned to retire. “We really flunked retirement big time,” shares Susan. A few years into their idyllic Napa lifestyle, they went from dreams of planting a rose garden to building a winery — eventually opening Boeschen Vineyards.…

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Leaving a Legacy: Elaine Honig


When Elaine Honig turned 50, she realized she was, someday — hopefully long in the future — going to die. “I started really thinking about what this all means. I’m just on this planet for this brief time,” says Elaine. “I’ve worked hard. I’ve been a good saver. Thinking about my resources going to something…

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Meet our Donors: Larry Turley and Suzanne Chambers


Suzanne Chambers and Larry Turley first met at the Kapalua Wine & Food Festival in Maui more than 30 years ago. They discovered a shared passion for wine and helping others, a commitment they continue to embrace today. “My parents were teachers, and Suzanne’s parents understood the value of education. It’s hard to do well…

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