Bianca and Sofia Ruiz at UpValley Family Center
1/15/2020 - The Napa Valley Vintners (NVV) trade association is starting 2020 off by announcing $1.3 million in grant funding for early childhood health and development in Napa County. The funds are made possible by proceeds from the NVV’s annual community fundraiser Auction Napa Valley. To date, the NVV has invested more than $195 million in community health and children’s education in Napa County.
The six nonprofit organizations funded in this first of three phases under community health giving include: Pediatric Dental Care, ParentsCAN, UpValley Family Centers, Liliput, Girls on the Run and Queen of the Valley Hospital. These organizations anticipate serving more than 7,500 children and their families in 2020.
Early childhood development programs are a cornerstone of NVV support. The first five years of a child's life are the most critical in ensuring they have a solid foundation upon which to build a successful future, with research showing that early childhood programs increase overall health and wages earned throughout a precious lifetime.
As an example of support in this category, Niños Activos is one of the many family-strengthening services offered by the UpValley Family Centers in St. Helena and Calistoga. The developmental playgroups offer fun yet simple activities meant to help children of preschool age gain the skills they need to do well in kindergarten.
Bianca and Sofia Ruiz are a mother and daughter who have gained much through Niños Activos. Bianca started to bring her daughter Sofia to the Niños Activos program at UpValley Family Center in Calistoga when Sofia was just 14 months old. Sofia has thrived in this social setting, playing with other children, learning numbers and ABCs, surrounded by caring adults.
“As a result of Niños Activos, we’re seeing kids succeed once they start elementary school: these playgroups are helping to reduce the school success gap between kids who had a preschool experience and those who didn’t,” noted Charlotte Hager, PhD and development director for UpValley Family Centers. “The Napa Valley Vintners has been a crucial supporter of our Niños Activos program for many years, giving children an equal chance at academic success throughout their lives.”
View Sofia and Bianca’s story, as well as other Stories of Impact made possible by NVV funding, visit auctionnapavalley.org/media/videos.
The Napa Valley Vintners nonprofit trade associate has been cultivating excellence since 1944 by inspiring its 550 members to consistently produce wines of the highest quality, to provide environmental leadership and to care for the extraordinary place they call home. Learn more at napavintners.com.
Early Childhood Health and Development Funding
Pediatric Dental Care ($75,000)
PDI provides oral surgery under anesthesia to treat children with severe tooth decay, while offering oral health education, screenings and dental coverage assistance.
ParentsCAN ($155,000)
ParentsCAN offers wide variety of services free of charge to all families raising a child with special needs, with services tailored to meet the needs of each individual and family.
UpValley Family Centers ($400,000)
UpValley Family Centers provides early childhood development programs, youth mentoring, guided referrals and application assistance, case management, legal services, civic engagement, emergency housing assistance, and other services toward self-sufficiency for up-valley Napa Valley residents.
Liliput ($60,000)
Lilliput Children’s Services provides foster adoption services, post-adoption services, workshops and trainings for parents and professional development for child welfare and mental health professionals.
Girls on the Run ($60,000)
Girls participate in a 10-week session to create a stronger sense of self and a life skills tool kit so that they are better prepared to make healthy life choices, avoid risky behaviors and maintain higher self-esteem.
Queen of the Valley Hospital ($550,000)
Approximately 15% of babies delivered in Napa County receive life-saving intervention at the Queen of the Valley in the County's only Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
Contact: Cate Conniff, Communications Manager, 707.968.4229, cconniff@napavintners.com
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