10/25/2002 - St. Helena, Calif., October 25, 2002 - In a special ceremony today in Napa, the Napa Valley Vintners (NVV) hosted two major community happenings - the grand opening and dedication of the much anticipated Napa Valley Vintners Community Health Center (NVVCHC) and the distribution of $5.8 million to numerous and varied Napa County charities.
From inception to completion, the Health Center was fast-tracked by an initial $3 million commitment from the Napa Valley Wine Auction in 1999. In less than three years, an additional $6 million was raised; ground was broken in May of 2001 at the 1141 Pear Tree Lane site; and, the tenants moved in September 2002.
"This is the result of lots of hard work and generosity on the part of the entire community," said John Shafer, founder of Shafer Vineyards and board chair of the new Center. "Vintners and residents alike should take great pride in realizing this vision. It's a landmark step in nonprofit management."
The idea of a community health center was presented to the Napa Valley Vintners and Napa Valley Wine Auction board members in 1998. The seed money came the following year from the Wine Auction's Health Care Fund, kicking off an aggressive two-year fundraising and construction project.
Shafer spearheaded the capital campaign, raising an additional $6 million in private, public and corporate donations to help build and pay for the entire facility - there is no mortgage on the building.
The 25,000 square foot Health Center is now home to four important health-related organizations, previously scattered throughout Napa - Community Health Clinic Ole, Healthy Moms & Babies, Napa Emergency Women's Services and Sister Ann Community Dental Clinic. The close proximity of the four agencies will encourage improved client coordination and convenience for clients and service providers.
"Having the four tenants under one roof, sharing resources and collaborating on services to clients is a unique feature of the building and could serve as a model for other communities," Shafer noted.
"Today's opening of the Napa Valley Vintners Community Health Center represents an inspiring moment for all Napa County nonprofits," said Dawnine Dyer, president of the Napa Valley Vintners board of directors. "We've worked hard with the Auction beneficiaries over the years to provide them with the tools and the skills to become more self-sufficient. The new Center demonstrates how smart, creative nonprofits can utilize donor funding to actually increase and improve their ability to provide community services," Dyer added.
Under this unique arrangement in nonprofit management, each of the four tenants will pay monthly rent of $1.06 per square foot to cover the cost of operating the Center - representing a significant savings. Current Napa commercial rent ranges from $1.75 to $2.00 per square foot for existing space and approximately $2.25 per square foot for new space.
The Center, designed by Brandenburger Taylor Lombardo and built by Wright Contracting, is managed by a board of directors that, in addition to Shafer, includes nonprofit management consultant Dan Corsello; Brian Kelly, former president of Napa National Bank; Gary Gates, CFO of the Napa Valley Wine Auction board of directors and Frog's Leap Winery; and, Richard Walton, wine industry consultant.
Distribution of Checks
In conjunction with today's grand opening of the Center, 2002 Napa Valley Wine Auction (NVWA) Chairpersons Kara Pecota Dunn and Andrea Pecota White distributed $5.8 million in checks to more than 20 local Napa County beneficiaries (see attached 2002 Summary of Funding).
"I'm really pleased to say that we're donating a full 95 percent of the total proceeds generated by the Auction last June," said Andrea. "Thanks to a lot of hard working volunteers, and private and in-kind donors, actual costs are kept low. That means we're able to donate the lion's share of the Auction proceeds to deserving local charities," she added.
Kara and Andrea Pecota, daughters and Auction co-chairs along with their father Robert Pecota, distributed checks to 22 local nonprofit organizations - benefiting 27 different programs. Over $2.3 million was awarded to local health care organizations; $690,000 to youth development agencies; $450,800 to affordable housing organizations; and, $195,000 to special projects.
In addition to the millions in direct distributions, $1.7 million was deposited into the Health Care Fund. The Health Care Fund is an account established and maintained by the NVWA to fund special health-related projects and to ensure funding in the event of a future shortfall in Auction proceeds. Each year, a percentage of Auction proceeds are contributed to this fund. As was the case last year, 30 percent of the 2002 proceeds went to the Health Care Fund.
Additionally, the Health Care Fund annually awards two percent of the interest it accrues over the previous year. This year, $100,000 was awarded to both St. Helena Hospital and Queen of the Valley Hospital for their respective capital projects.
For the third year running, a special contribution was set aside for unanticipated community needs that may arise between now and next year's Wine Auction distribution of funds. The set aside this year is $340,550.
This brings total contributions from the 2002 Auction to $5.8 million, bringing contributions by the world's largest charity wine event to more than $42 million since the NVWA's inception in 1981.
2002 Napa Valley Wine Auction Funds Distribution
Summary of Funding
$5,800,000
95% of Auction Proceeds
I. Health- Total Distribution $2,383,650
Behavioral Health Collaborative
ALDEA, Family Service of the North Bay, Hospice of Napa Valley, Nuestra Esperanza and Volunteer Center are the primary mental health providers for underinsured and uninsured children and families in Napa Valley. This collaborative provides a system to evaluate and provide psychotherapy services to children who cannot afford fees for service.
Approved Funding: $300,000
Community Health Clinic Ole
Clinic Ole is the premier provider of health care prevention, education, and treatment services for uninsured and underinsured people in Napa County. Clinic Ole will receive 22,000 patient visits this year. Funding is requested for program support.
Approved Funding: $575,000
Garden Haven Adult Day Center
Garden Haven has been providing adult day services for 20 years to individuals with Alzheimer's Disease. It provides services on a continuum of care that allows people to remain in the least restrictive environment. Funds granted would be applied to hiring a recreation therapist.
Approved Funding: $43,000
Healthy Moms and Babies
This program is the only comprehensive prenatal service program in Napa County offering bilingual case management for prenatal care. Obstetrical care is provided by private practice obstetricians. Nutrition, psychosocial and health education is provided by this entity. Funding would be applied to continued operations.
Approved Funding: $180,000
Hospice of Napa Valley, Inc.
Hospice of Napa Valley is the only community based nonprofit organization that provides hospice and adult day health services for the terminally and chronically ill. Funding would continue outreach, increase health education and provide hospice and bereavement care for the community.
Approved Funding: $121,000
Napa Emergency Women's Services
NEWS is the only provider of domestic violence services in Napa County. Their services include legal advocacy, transitional housing, shelter, counseling, health assessment, and support groups. Requested funding would provide services to address the needs of children who are served in the emergency domestic violence shelter and provide bilingual/bicultural education to the Latino population regarding domestic violence issues.
Approved Funding: $85,000
Queen of the Valley Hospital
Queen of the Valley Hos
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