Dear SVEF Supporters,
As Chair of the Board of Sonoma Valley Education Foundation (SVEF), I am writing today with the news that Angela Ryan, our Executive Director, will be stepping down from her position as of June 11th, 2024. Angela’s leadership has been truly visionary in identifying and addressing needs of our Sonoma Valley students in ways that demonstrate a relentless commitment to enhancing both the academic and emotional well-being of our children. “Working alongside our colleagues, supporters, and the entire school community over the past five years has been an incredible honor. I am grateful for the deep partnerships, unprecedented collaboration, and extraordinary impact we’ve made during challenging times.” - Angela Ryan With this exciting work underway for our public schools, our Board is thrilled to announce that Sarah Carroll, our current Director of Operations, has been promoted to serve as our next Executive Director. Sarah has worked alongside Angela as a key member of the SVEF team during this inspiring period of growth and opportunity, ensuring continuity and stability for our work in progress. Her valuable insights, strong professional background, and deep commitment to our Valley and its public school students promise to drive SVEF forward in new, impactful ways. "My passion stems from the conviction that all students in our Valley should dare to dream big. I aim to foster a collaborative community where our students feel supported, ensuring they have a range of opportunities and feel empowered, healed, and fully invested to seize them. While some students may not currently feel supported, I aspire for them to dream even bigger, knowing that their community eagerly wishes for their greatest aspirations to be realized!" - Sarah Carroll All of us at SVEF remain grateful to the volunteers, educators, parents, and this extraordinary community of donors for your unwavering support for our students. Your commitment allows us to think creatively, act bravely, and show up for students at every turn. As we embark on this new chapter with Sarah at the helm, we invite you to continue your invaluable support and partnership. We appreciate Angela’s leadership in laying the groundwork for this exciting next chapter, which is filled with boundless possibilities for our students in the years ahead. Thank you, Sherry Preiss, Chair on behalf of our Board of Directors
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THIS WEEKEND
Sunday, March 24th at 9am Viansa Wine Run 5K benefitting Sonoma Valley Education Foundation! Participants are invited to run, walk, or just sip and enjoy Viansa Winery's gorgeous views and tasty wine, all supporting local students. Viansa Winery is generously donating a portion of wine sales on-site the day of the race, and will match all donations to SVEF, doubling the positive impact on our local students! Registration is still open but spots are limited, so sign up today! Join us in person at Viansa Winery or race virtually for 3.1 miles of feel-good and do-good fun! Since the pandemic began, mental health has become the defining health crisis of our time. The bulk of this emergency has fallen on those least prepared to handle its devastating effects: children and youth.
It’s urgent that young people have access to the mental and emotional support they need. However, the ongoing crisis has placed great strain on local resources. Thanks to past financial support from our donor community, SVEF was able to immediately respond to the crisis by partnering with our schools and trusted local organizations and experts to help students most in need of support. We remain steadfast in our efforts and are investing in new programs that directly address the pressing mental health needs of local students. This holiday season, we ask our generous donors to make a special year-end gift (which will be doubled by matching funds) to continue this work. Every student is experiencing the mental health crisis differently, which means we need a robust continuum of care in Sonoma Valley. Your generosity will allow us to expand and launch comprehensive mental health resources to ensure students get the support they need, including:
Your gift will make an immediate impact ensuring that tried-and-true mental and social-emotional wellness programs are available to our students now–when they need them the most. Thank you for helping to ensure that Sonoma Valley students have the healing and support they need and deserve. Sonoma Valley Education Foundation Awarded $100K Sonoma Valley Catalyst Fund Reimagine Grant11/7/2023 Inspired New Grant Enables SVEF to Facilitate Collaborative of Local Youth Nonprofits
Sonoma, Calif. (November 7, 2023) - The Sonoma Valley Education Foundation (SVEF) announced today that it is the proud recipient of the Sonoma Valley Catalyst Fund Reimagine Grant. The Sonoma Valley Catalyst Fund, a fund of the Community Foundation Sonoma County, awards Reimagine Grant recipients up to $100K. The grant program is designed to fill a gap in funding for nonprofits that want to innovate, take risks, and find new solutions to build a more united and equitable Sonoma Valley. SVEF is poised to use this exciting new grant to kick off the Sonoma Valley Ready to Learn Collaborative, a coalition of seven youth-serving organizations that will combine and leverage their expertise and assets to support students socially, emotionally, and academically. “Our vision in how we best serve students has evolved exponentially over the past three years, inspiring a new direction to holistically address the needs of our local youth and ensure that every public school student is safe, healthy, engaged, and ultimately, able to show up ready to learn,” said Angela Ryan, Executive Director of the Sonoma Valley Education Foundation. “We are proud of the collaborative network of the organizations who have committed to fundamentally reimagining how we can bolster our individual strengths and assets to better collaborate and increase our resources on behalf of our students.” The inspiration behind the Ready to Learn Collaborative was conceived out of a separate Catalyst Grant in 2021, which enabled SVEF and La Luz Center to conduct a community survey - Sueños de Sonoma - unveiling opportunities for growth as prioritized by the community itself. In addition, since the pandemic, SVEF has been working collaboratively and creatively with local community partners to develop programs to serve youth in myriad ways, primarily “beyond the bell” or outside of regular school time, where research showed kids needed increased support. Additional priorities for the Collaborative include mental health, social-emotional support, and family engagement. “One of the key aspects of Catalyst’s mission is to fund innovation and solve problems that no one organization can solve alone. This grant and SVEF’s leadership embodies both of those,” said Diana Sanson, Catalyst Fund Grants Chair. The Reimagine Grant program, announced earlier this year, aims to inspire local nonprofits to develop ambitious goals for creating thoughtful and innovative solutions to complex regional issues. The funds, totaling $100,000, will cover all phases of innovation, from capacity building and program development to pilot programs and expanded partnerships. The Ready to Learn Collaborative includes SVEF, Sonoma Valley Unified School District, Boys & Girls Clubs of Sonoma Valley, Sonoma Valley Mentoring Alliance, Sonoma Valley Community Health Center, The Community Mental Health Hub at Hanna Center, and La Luz Center. Each member already has a mission they are uniquely qualified to advance and, together, better leverage their resources and expertise to more effectively and holistically support students in need. Two programs served as case studies and a north star for how Ready to Learn could come to life - Creative Campus, which is a partnership between SVEF, Kimzin Creative, and local organizations that champion student wellness through the arts, and the After School Empowerment Academy, a collaboration between SVEF, the Mentoring Alliance, and the Boys & Girls Clubs’ Teen Services team designed to expand access to in-person after-school educational and social-emotional learning opportunities for Sonoma Valley High School students. Both have proven incredibly successful and continue to serve hundreds of students across the valley. For more information about the Ready to Learn Collaborative, please contact Sarah Carroll at sarah@svgreatschools.org. For more information about the Sonoma Valley Catalyst Fund, please visit https://www.sonomavalleycatalystfund.org. About Sonoma Valley Education Foundation The Sonoma Valley Education Foundation (SVEF) was established in 1993 and has since provided over 20 million dollars to Sonoma Valley public schools through grants to teachers and district administration, sponsored community initiatives, flagship programming such as Preschool For All, and robust partnerships with youth-serving organizations. SVEF strives to cultivate community support and raise funds to enable Valley youth to succeed in the classroom and beyond. For more information, please visit https://www.svgreatschools.org. Inclusive Community Event Celebrated the Valley’s Public Schools and Raised Funds to Create a Thriving School Community The board and staff of the Sonoma Valley Education Foundation (SVEF) were thrilled to welcome another record-breaking crowd to the 2023 Red & White Ball on the Sonoma Plaza on August 26. More than 1,500 guests were on-hand to celebrate the achievements and potential of the Valley’s public school students and the dedicated teachers and staff who make it all possible. Guests were entertained by talented local students, who showed off their music, acting, and dance skills in the Grinstead Amphitheater. In the School Showcase area, community members were able to see student art and school projects, hear from students involved in school clubs, and learn about the projects and experiences made possible by Classroom Grants funded by SVEF’s community of donors. Executive Director Angela Ryan and emcee Nikko Kimzin spoke to the guests from the main stage about the mission of SVEF and their commitment to creating thriving school communities. To cap off the party, the crowd danced the night away to La Gente SF and their infectious latin fusion beats. This was SVEF’s second in-person Red & White Ball since 2019, and continued last years’ successful reimagined format of a picnic-style community celebration, with guests invited to learn about the collective hopes and dreams of the teachers, staff and students of the public schools. And there was no shortage of generosity from the guests, many of whom donated in advance or at the event and, thanks to the matching gifts of event sponsors, had their donations tripled. These gifts created SVEF’s Classroom Grants fund for the school year, which allows teachers to purchase everything from materials and supplies to creative enrichment opportunities for students. All told, proceeds from the event and accompanying fundraising activities totaled $235,000 for Sonoma Valley’s public schools! SVEF Executive Director Angela Ryan shared, “This year’s Red & White Ball was beyond my wildest dreams of what this event could be. Seeing the size of the crowd made it clear that the community is eager to celebrate everything that makes our public schools great. In particular, seeing so many students in attendance was heartwarming and a reminder of why we believe so passionately in connecting the community with the schools. I can’t thank everyone enough for showing up for the biggest, most inclusive and most fun Red & White Ball ever!” Board Chair Graham Smith added, “We’re humbled by the generosity of our supporters and the way they show up every time. It’s an honor to host this inclusive event and see parents, families, teachers and community members united in their dedication to our public schools. I want to express my deepest gratitude to the team and countless volunteers who made this year’s Red & White Ball possible. It’s truly a one-of-a kind event, and I’m thrilled to see the way the community has embraced the new format.” Link to view event photo gallery by Genesis Vondergeest: photobygenesis.shootproof.com/gallery/22323287/ Link to view event video created by Genevieve Smith: youtu.be/u-CE7lzDQS4 Photo credit: Genesis Vondergeest
With only a few weeks to go before the Red & White Ball, we rounded up a few FAQs to help make sure you are ready for a great time.
When does the event start? Event check-in and the bars will open at 5pm along the north side of the Plaza. Arrive early to set up your own picnic, grab a glass of wine, and enjoy the event! What should I bring? You'll want to pack your favorite picnic seating and decide ahead if you'll bring a picnic meal from home or purchase a meal onsite from one of our food truck vendors. Please note you that you do not need to print out your tickets, we will be checking guests in by name. What about food? You can bring your own meal, or order from one of our onsite food truck vendors. Plus, a portion of all proceeds will be donated back to SVEF! We are pleased to partner with these delicious food trucks:
A variety of wine and beer options will be available for purchase at the event. We are very grateful to our generous beverage sponsors, who will be providing red, white, and rose wines:
Individual tumblers will be available for sale on site, or you can bring your tumbler from last year's event. Wine and beer will be available for $7 a pour, or $30 for a bottle of wine (cash, credit card, and digital wallets accepted). Can I arrange for my picnic to be set up instead of doing it myself? As of August 22nd, Picnic Potential is SOLD OUT for this year's event. Is there entertainment at the event? This special evening will be filled with fun things for you to do!
You'll receive a wine tumbler and a glass wine (for 21+). By purchasing a ticket, you are helping underwrite the costs of the event and supporting local public schools. What should I wear? Wear your favorite red and white outfit! How does attending the event help support the students? At this year's event you'll learn about the great things happening at our local public schools directly from Sonoma Valley students, teachers, and staff, as well as partner nonprofit organizations. Proceeds from the event will support our Classroom Grants fund for the school year. Through this program, teachers and staff can request grants of up to $1,000 to help cover the costs of supplies, field trips, and other vital classroom needs. Are there additional ways I can support local students? We invite you to join us in a powerful endeavor at the Red & White Ball: fundraising! It's one of the most impactful ways you can directly benefit our schools. It’s easy to help raise funds. All you have to do is share your passion for public education by spreading the word to your friends and family and asking them to make a gift. It’s a fun way to make a real difference! Click here for more information and tips on how to become an advocate for our public schools. What if I need accommodations in order to attend? We strive to host inclusive, accessible events that enable all individuals, including individuals with disabilities, to engage fully. To request an accommodation or for inquiries about accessibility, please contact Sarah Carroll at 707-935-9566 or sarah@sveducationfoundation.org. Discover Three Impactful Ways to Support Sonoma Valley Public Schools at the Red & White Ball!6/5/2023 Attend General admission tickets are $40 and include a reusable wine tumbler and a complimentary glass of wine for those 21 and above. Community tickets are just $10 and help cover event costs. Kids? They're welcome to join us for free! Fundraise One of the most powerful ways of raising funds that go to our schools is to share your passion for public education and to let your friends & family know how they can support YOU in raising money. This is called peer to peer fundraising and we would be honored if you helped us reach our goals! Volunteer
We have many ways to get involved as a volunteer. Fill out the contact form and we will be in touch with volunteering positions! Be sure to check out the latest article from the Sonoma Index Tribune about a Classroom Grant you made possible: dance instructors, enhanced sets and costumes!
‘Shrek Junior’ musical takes the Adele stage with professional dance instruction, new costumes and set designs When the musical ‘Shrek Junior’ is performed at Adele Harrison Middle School this week, it will feature lively dances as well as new costumes and set designs, thanks to the Sonoma Valley Education Foundation. DANIEL JOHNSON INDEX-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER May 16, 2023, 1:53PM Be sure to check out the latest article from the Sonoma Index Tribune about a Classroom Grant you made possible: Books for classroom libraries!
Thanks to the generous support of donors like you, local teachers at multiple campuses were able to purchase new bilingual books to add to their classroom collections and make available to their students. Both teachers and students are thrilled to have these resources at their fingertips! Teachers go above and beyond for students, and to show them how much we appreciate their dedication, SVEF is making a limited number of specially curated gift sets available for purchase. To show your heartfelt thanks, we will hand-deliver a gift set to the recipient of your choice*.
Each $75 gift set includes:
Purchase your gift online before the deadline of April 30 (availability limited). Please be sure to include the name of the teacher or staff at checkout. If you don't have a recipient in mind, purchase one and let us surprise a teacher on your behalf! All proceeds from the sale of these gifts will be invested back into programs that benefit students. Talk about a win-win! *Eligible schools for teacher/staff recipients: Dunbar, Flowery, El Verano, Sassarini, Prestwood, Altimira, Adele Harrison, Creekside, SVHS, Woodland Star, Sonoma Charter, and SVUSD district office. Special thanks to our generous Teacher Appreciation Week sponsors: Safeway, Lucky Supermarkets, Mary’s Pizza Shack, Sonoma Raceway, Highway 12 Winery |