Community Link
December 2018
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Year-End Giving Ideas, Chapter 3
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Dear Friend,
This is the third and final installment of our series of year-end giving ideas. (If you missed the first two, you can click these links to read chapters
one and
two.)
This week, we bring you a handful of funding opportunities that focus on civic engagement.
The goal here is to involve all residents in the creation of our community, so more people can have a voice in the local decisions that affect day-to-day life in Napa Valley. Effective work in this arena empowers people with the knowledge and skills they need to get -- and stay -- involved in civic life, and can take place in a number of different settings -- like schools, courthouses and museums.
All organizations and projects featured below have been vetted, and all have funding gaps that deserve to be closed, in our view.
If you’d like to support any of them and have a giving Fund with us, you can recommend a grant by logging into your DonorCentral account from the homepage on our
website.
You also can give directly to any of these organizations by contacting their Executive Directors.
Here at Napa Valley Community Foundation, we are very grateful to the constellation of donors that join us to support the good work that happens year-round in our community in service of those in need. Every year, we bring hundreds of ideas like these to our donors and the broader public with one goal: to create a healthier, stronger and more vibrant community.
With best wishes for a joyful season,
Rejane Brito & Julia DeNatale
Philanthropic Services Staff
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Parents learn to be leaders at school and beyond
What's needed: $15,000 for the Napa Valley Parent University (NVPU) program
People served: 1,700 parents of preschool and elementary-aged students
What they do: NVPU was launched in 2009 to build parents’ capacity to support their children’s academic success, and to help parents become leaders, both at their kids’ schools and in the broader community. The program offers more than 100 classes and workshops at six low-income schools in Napa, and targets parents -- many of whom are immigrants -- who may find school and civic involvement daunting. The overarching goal for all of NVPU’s offerings is to build parents’ knowledge and skills in the areas of: healthy child development; effective school volunteerism; advocating for their child at school; and project leadership. Some of the classes dig in to academics, like literacy and language development, or how to help with math homework and computer skills. Others focus on bullying prevention and safety, positive parenting techniques, or nutrition and cooking. All of the classes are offered in English and Spanish at times that are convenient to both working and stay-at-home parents. NVPU’s unique model trains participants up to become future instructors for the program; once parents take enough classes, they can elect to become paid interns or study to teach classes in tandem with credentialed teachers and community professionals.
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Kids and adults use art as a lens for social change
What's needed: $15,000 for education programs
People served: 1,100 kids ages 2-18 each year
What they do: di Rosa was founded in 1997 and incorporated as a nonprofit in 2000 by Rene di Rosa, a prolific art collector. The property sits on more than 200 acres of land, which is protected by Napa County Land Trust. In the last couple of years, di Rosa has focused on transitioning from a private collection to a public art center, with revolving exhibitions, and a more robust education program. The goal? To feature interactive and experimental exhibits that help viewers make the connection between art and their lives. For example, over the last year di Rosa has showcased a two-part exhibition, titled “Be Not Still: Living in Uncertain Times,” in which multiple artists explored current political issues, like citizenship and immigration, societal health and white supremacy. The nonprofit partnered with schools and programs, like Boys & Girls Clubs of Napa Valley, to bring young people into the space and discuss how the themes impact their personal lives, as well as create their own pieces under the tutelage of resident artists. di Rosa also collaborated with Napa Valley College Performing Arts, where students spent time with the pieces, then adapted Shakespearean works, or created original performances and showcased them for community audiences in the gallery. di Rosa’s other educational offerings include: year-round field trips for local schoolkids that tie art to classroom curriculum and societal issues; a toddler storytime that pairs books with hands-on art projects; family workshops led by professional artists on the property; and community open studios.
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Community volunteers advocate for kids’ health and education needs
What's needed: $14,000 for general support
People served: 193 youth ages 0-20 and 52 volunteers
What they do: When parents are unable to create a safe home for their children, the kids suffering abuse and neglect are made dependents of the court and placed in foster care. The court’s goal: for the judge, lawyers and caseworkers to find solutions that would allow the child to eventually be reunified with his or her family. State law requires the court to appoint an adult to be the voice of the child during these investigative and legal proceedings, a time that for the child includes traumatic life changes, like separation from their parents and multiple foster home placements. That’s where CASA steps in. The nonprofit recruits and provides extensive training to volunteers, or Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASAs), who will not only provide the child with a stable adult mentoring relationship, but also will be an advocate for the child’s best interests and wishes regarding healthcare, therapy and schooling. The volunteers, who are often retired school teachers or nurses, must commit to providing support to the child for at least 18 months, during which time they will accompany the child to court and to meetings with the child’s school and doctors. For youth who are aging out of the foster care system, CASAs help them to transition to independence, and help them navigate post-secondary education, like college or vocational school.
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Napa Valley Community Foundation | 707.254.9565 | [email protected] | www.napavalleycf.org
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