Tag: our donors

Giving on Autopilot, On Purpose

Posted on: Nov 2, 2026

JJ & Laurel McCarthy, monthly donors since 2020 When JJ and Laurel McCarthy talk about giving, one word keeps coming up: steady. The McCarthys have called Napa home for about 25 years. JJ came to the Valley in 1999 for a career change into wine. Since then, he’s worked in production, sales and marketing, run…

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The Right Time Is Now

Posted on: Nov 2, 2026

Zach Zachowski & Barbara Gabel, in their own words Zach and Barbara are longtime partners of NVCF. They have a charitable Fund with us, and they also put their generosity behind the initiatives we lead for the whole Valley. When we set out to launch the Elaine Jones Safety Net Fund, their lead gift got…

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The College Education She Never Had

Posted on: Nov 2, 2026

Photo caption: Carolina B., who started at Napa Valley College in fall 2025, is one of the students Daisy’s gift is helping today. How Daisy Takahashi Cavalli has helped 46 students forge their futures Daisy Takahashi Cavalli never got to graduate from college, but because of her generosity, 46 Napa Valley students are on their…

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It’s Really About Access

Posted on: Nov 2, 2026

Mary Rezek’s gift for Napa’s future On Napa parade days, Mary Rezek’s home in downtown Napa is buzzing. The Fourth of July parade route runs right past her house, and so does the Christmas parade. By mid-morning the house is filled with friends, food and drinks, and kids underfoot. “My home is a hive,” Mary…

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To Give Is To Receive

Posted on: Nov 2, 2026

Harris Nussbaum celebrates 20 years of giving Harris Nussbaum will tell you he’s “small potatoes.” “I’m not a wealthy man,” he says with a smile. “I’m not poor, but I don’t have millions.” Anyone who meets him knows he has a heart that cares. This year, that caring heart marks a milestone: 20 years since…

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Supporting Those Who Serve: The First Responders Fund 

Posted on: Nov 2, 2026

When troubles come to Napa County, our first responders show up without hesitation, giving everything they can to protect and support our community. Sometimes those troubles affect a single person or family, as is the case with a medical emergency or roadway accident; sometimes those troubles affect us all, which is true for natural disasters.…

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Meet Kent Rasmussen and Celia Ramsay

Posted on: Oct 24, 2025

In their 1885 Napa Victorian home, Kent Rasmussen and Celia Ramsay are surrounded by art, much of it collected at local charity auctions and events—including Nimbus Arts’ NIMBASH. A love of art is just one of the passions Kent and Celia have cultivated over their 40 years of marriage and entrepreneurship. Together, they built Rasmussen…

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Leaving a Legacy: Colleen Clark

Posted on: Oct 24, 2025

“I used to say you have a three-dog maximum,” recalls Mark Clark, thinking back on downtown Napa walks with his late sister Colleen. An outgoing lover of animals, Colleen was likely to stop to pet every dog she met along the way to dinner. Colleen passed away in July of 2024, leaving behind a legacy…

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Leaving a Legacy: Meet “Dr. Joe”

Posted on: Oct 24, 2025

Dr. Joseph Carrillo, or “Dr. Joe” to the thousands of children and families he has cared for over the years, has built a career defined by compassion. As a pediatrician in Napa, he has been a trusted guide for generations of young people, and a beloved figure to their parents as well. A proud Mexican…

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A Gift of Home: Richard and Annie Bennett

Posted on: Oct 24, 2025

When longtime Napa residents Richard and Annie Bennett approached NVCF in 2021, they had a unique and interesting gift in mind: a piece of real estate. Their four-unit apartment complex on Cedar Street in Calistoga presented both opportunity and complexity, and we were honored to help the Bennetts put their vision into action. As we…

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