Giving Success Stories
Since inception in 1981, Auction Napa Valley has given nearly $78 million to healthcare, youth development and affordable housing non-profits in Napa County—what's raised in Napa, stays in Napa. Here are some personal stories from the clients of Auction grant recipients. Thanks to the vintners, the bidders and the volunteers, Auction Napa Valley makes a difference to the people in our community.
Health Category Vignettes
Juan, an 8 year old boy, and his mother came to Aldea Children & Family Services over a year ago due to his poor performance and behavior in school and at home. Juan had been in three schools in less than a year due to his behavior. Juan and his mother received a thorough evaluation from an Aldea therapist and he was referred for a medication evaluation by Aldea's child psychiatrist. Over the past year Juan has received ongoing psychiatric services and medication management from the child psychiatrist. His family also received support through family therapy where they developed a behavior management plan. The Aldea therapist also worked with Juan's teacher in her interactions with him. Now, more than a year later, Juan is doing well in school and was voted the "Star Student" by his teacher and classmates. Not only has Juan's behavior improved, but he is also reading in the most advanced reading group in his class. His improvements are also noticeable at home. "I knew he was not a bad boy," Juan's mother said. Submitted by Aldea Children and Family Services
Hilda is 74 and lives on her own, with help from her daughter. She suffers from depression and panic attacks, and has injured her hip. She shows some signs of dementia, and is hard of hearing. Hilda was born in Europe and had an unstable childhood, traveling with gypsies and later on her own as a teenager during the war. She was married young, to a man who was both abusive and an alcoholic, and is resentful about much of her life. She is beginning to develop trust in her Family Service therapist, and together they are focusing on relieving her depression and making sure her medication issues are addressed. Submitted by Family Service of Napa Valley (lead agency) for "Bridges" - A Behavioral Health Committee Project. A collaborative effort of the following partner agencies: Clinic Ole, Cope Family Center, the Calistoga Family Center, the Parent-Child Advocacy Network, American Canyon Family Resource Center, Napa Emergency Women's Services, St. Helena Family Resource Center, and Family Service of Napa Valley.
Sara is a single mom in her 30s, trying to raise her kids on a low-wage job. She is dealing not only with the daily stress of life, but also with her history of physical abuse and drug use. The psychotherapy she receives at Family Service provides Sara with support and a safe environment in which to address her complex personal issues. Access to professional counseling for $5 makes it possible for her to afford the help she needs to maintain emotional stability for herself and her children. Submitted by Family Service of Napa Valley (lead agency) for "Bridges" - A Behavioral Health Committee Project. A collaborative effort of the following partner agencies: Clinic Ole, Cope Family Center, the Calistoga Family Center, the Parent-Child Advocacy Network, American Canyon Family Resource Center, Napa Emergency Women's Services, St. Helena Family Resource Center, and Family Service of Napa Valley.
Tami was a teen with two children and she had not yet graduated from high school. She was non-compliant about her appointments and had legal, personal and transportation issues. After much tenacity by her HMB case manager, however, she made an 180° turn. Her children are now in daycare and she has learned how to take the bus to school. Submitted by Healthy Moms and Babies
Jack is a veteran in his 40s. Grappling with schizophrenia, alcoholism, and physical problems, he entered the Family Service supportive housing program after many episodes of homelessness.
Now, a few years later, he is attending junior college, staying on medication, is determined to stay housed, and is helping other homeless people to improve their lives. Jack stays in regular contact with his case manager, but he is functioning at a higher level of independence than ever before in his adult life. Access to long-term emotionally supportive housing services completely changed his life. Submitted by Family Service of Napa Valley (lead agency) for "Bridges" - A Behavioral Health Committee Project. A collaborative effort of the following partner agencies: Clinic Ole, Cope Family Center, the Calistoga Family Center, the Parent-Child Advocacy Network, American Canyon Family Resource Center, Napa Emergency Women's Services, St. Helena Family Resource Center, and Family Service of Napa Valley.
Maria, 34, was the mother of three children and admitted to being very depressed. "My dreams are over," she told her Case Manager. As her pregnancy progressed, however, they talked frequently about the importance of her goals. Although the father of the baby insisted she wasn't bright enough to return to school, Maria seemed to regain some respect as her due date neared. Following delivery, she re-enrolled in college, completed her classes, and donated her text books to be given to other mothers. Submitted by Healthy Moms and Babies
Tarah was eight months pregnant, barely out of her teens, struggling to maintain her sobriety and sleeping on the floor of a friend's home before she came to Rainbow House for help. To this day, she marvels at what a difference it made just knowing she had a safe place to sleep and could come back to the next night. That basic stability proved to be the starting point for Tarah's rebuilding her life. She overcame an addiction to methamphetamines and has been sober for nearly two years. From Catholic Charities, she learned to parent, to set and achieve goals, and to create a strong future for herself and her child. Tarah is now a graduate from the Napa Valley College LVN program volunteers at the Queen of the Valley Hospital, has purchased a car, is waiting for her LVN license from the state, and has recently moved into her own apartment with her two sons. Submitted by Catholic Charities
Patricia, a young grandmother, called Cope Family Center obviously distressed. Her daughter passed away from an unexpected brain hemorrhage, leaving Patricia the sole guardian to her two young grandchildren. She was dealing with significant personal crisis, and if this tragedy wasn't enough to handle, just six months earlier, she had exhausted all of her financial resources when their house burned down and left the family homeless. Patricia had had used all of her sick/vacation time at work and personal financial resources as a result of the fire. Patricia had no money for funeral expenses, or the increased costs associated with raising the family with a single income. Upon receiving Patricia's call, Cope sent a Home Visitor to help the family deal with the urgent crisis at hand. After taking care of their immediate needs for rent and funeral arrangements through our Emergency Aid Program, the Home Visitor worked with Patricia to identify other programs in the community that could help her and her grandchildren through the grieving process and manage day to day activities. In addition to helping Patricia secure guardianship, Cope's Home Visitor helped the family enroll in social security for the children, providing the grandmother with the income she needed. Through Cope's professional resource-sharing partnership, the entire family received counseling from a private therapist and the children were enrolled in Hospice's bereavement program to deal with the loss of the mother. Submitted by Cope Family Center
"I recently moved to St. Helena with my forth grade son. Spanish is our original language and speak very little English. I found out about the Boys & Girls Club of St Helena because it is located at the school when my son attends. The Club has been good for him. He gets help with his homework and his English. The staff people encourage him to join in on all the other activities. It has been easier for him to make new friends. My son's English is improving and is better than mine. I feel luck to have found a safe place for my son while I'm at work." Mother - Boys & Girls Club of St Helena
"I'm a member of the Boys & Girls Club Teen Center and also went to the Boys & Girls Club at the Calistoga Elementary School. I'm 13 years old. Normally I'm a good kid, however, a while back I got into trouble for doing graffiti. The staff people helped me understand that what I did was wrong and suggested I start going to the SMART Girls meetings. I like talking with the other girls about what's going on in our lives and the staff leader helps all of us. I really like the Club and I am feeling much better about myself and my future." Club Member - Boys & Girls Club of Calistoga Teen Center
Carmen and Tony moved into Napa Valley Community Housing's Mayacamas Village in 1994 from a crowded apartment. With six children, living in larger quarters has made their lives better. Carmen has gotten involved in tenant activities, organizing celebrations and neighborhood clean-ups. She took the Leadership class and learned about strategic planning and the most organized way to do things. "I like a lot of things about living here," says Carmen. "All the neighbors are very nice and we can live comfortably. The Von Brandt Center is like my second home." Submitted by Napa Valley Community Housing
Inez and her four children have been at Mayacamas for seven months. Her last apartment cost more than $900 for two bedrooms. "Our apartment here is spacious, pretty and economical. There are nice people living here. I come every day to the Von Brandt Center to socialize, read books to the kids and use the computers. On Fridays we have lunch and sometimes speakers. Our kids have more room and can play safely with nice friends. I've met a lot of people." Submitted by Napa Valley Community Housing
Special Projects Category Vignettes
Maria, a young Mexican woman, brought illegally into the United States as a child and then abandoned by her parents, was granted lawful residency, thanks to a new federal law and the assistance of Legal Aid of Napa Valley's Immigrant Legal Services Program. "Maria is Legal Aid's first client to be granted legal residency under the new law protecting abandoned immigrant teens," said Diana Dorame, Legal Aid's Executive Director and Supervising Attorney. "Her future, once so uncertain, is now full of hope." Legal Aid took Maria's case free of charge. Her application for "adjustment of status" or legal residency was approved in August. Maria is now a proud holder of a "green card" - it's actually white and blue - that allows her to remain legally in the United States and gives her hope for a better life. In time she will be eligible to apply for American citizenship.
