 Students collaborate at an Empowerment Academy Study Jam last spring. (Photo courtesy Boys & Girls Club of Sonoma Valley) On September 4, Cris Fonseca and Andrea Ayala boarded a time machine on the campus of Sonoma Valley High School.
No sci-fi magic was involved. Instead, Cris and Andrea stepped into their futures courtesy of the Empowerment Academy, an after-school program open to all high schoolers that’s funded by your Red & White Ball contributions. With your support, we’re partnering with Sonoma High, the Sonoma Mentoring Alliance and Boys & Girls Clubs of Sonoma Valley to provide support and programming teens need to be successful students, employees, and citizens Access to essential life skills right on campus has been a game changer for Cris, a senior. He says, “You don’t have to travel all the way across town to get help, and you don’t have to leave campus and come back – it’s all right here.” Last spring Cris took a Money Matters class at Empowerment Academy that helped him make the most of the paycheck he earns as a Boys & Girls Club culinary intern. The class covers basics of personal finance, including how taxes work, credit and debit cards, and spending decisions. For Andrea, a junior, taking online driver’s education classes on-site at the Empowerment Academy last spring helped her engage more fully with the material than if she’d logged in by herself at home. She says, “Here, I could really look at the assignments and stay on task – and with driver’s education, it’s stuff you really have to know so you can drive safely, so that’s important!” Andrea and Cris plan to make the most of the Empowerment Academy’s offerings this year, from English-language peer tutoring to job skills training. On opening day of the Academy, they and a dozen other students gathered in the informal drop-in space to chat, play pool, and review homework with support from Mentoring Alliance staff. In a nearby classroom, Boys & Girls Club staff led the semester’s first Keystone Leadership class, which helps students develop interpersonal skills and promotes civic engagement and advocacy. Space to connect, study support, and new life skills – the Empowerment Academy’s innovative format provides a launch pad for student success. With your support, their dreams can take flight toward a bright future.
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 Interns Rashon Talton, left, and Kelsey Middleton at the SVHS Wellness Center. (SVEF Photo) Anxiety, friendship issues, panic attacks, the loss of loved ones: Sonoma Valley children carry heavy psychological burdens – part of a nationwide mental health crisis that’s taking a toll on students.
But local students of all ages have access to immediate help, thanks to generous supporters like you. Funds raised through the Red & White Ball are helping underwrite free one-on-one counseling, group sessions, and even family therapy for students in need. With your support, in collaboration with the school district and other community partners, we’re bringing mental health care providers directly onto school campuses – minimizing barriers to access. Students can seek help with or without a referral from a teacher or staff member. The care team includes six interns, Master’s degree students completing their training who will work at all the district’s public schools, with oversight from the district’s two full-time licensed clinicians. The interns have been hired with funding from SVEF and our generous donors. Although the school year just began, the interns are already working hard to support local students. For intern Kelsey Middleton, the assignment is a form of paying it forward, after having found help in high school for their own mental health challenges. Kelsey specifically requested to work with adolescents, and is already helping students harness the potential for self-discovery during a rich period of emotional highs and lows, exploration, and new experiences. “Teens are finding themselves and learning how to be their own person. It’s really cool to see,” says Kelsey. Intern Rashon Talton is working at Adele Harrison, Altimira, and Sonoma Valley High School and will carry a caseload of up to 20 students at any given time. Applying what he’s learned in the classroom to help adolescents solve real-world problems is a rewarding challenge. “How teenagers think is completely different from younger children or adults,” he says. “I love the out-of-the-box nature of their thoughts. They’re blunt and tell you like it is.” This understanding and compassion gives students the encouragement they need to confront their mental health challenges. Thanks to your support, students have the help they need to find their strength and emerge ready to learn and thrive. For middle schoolers, learning sciences from textbooks alone can be a bore. But your support has brought science to life for local students thanks to a classroom-based miniature ecosystem that kids can study up close.
A bonus for the kids: Poop plays a starring role! In Becky Perkins’ science classroom for sixth-, seventh-, and eighth-graders at Sonoma Charter School, a classroom aquaponics system that you funded presents a unique opportunity for students to develop their skills as environmental stewards, scientists, and problem solvers. Purchased through a Classroom Grant that Red & White Ball donors like you made possible, the system creates a closed-loop environment. Fish waste – aka poop – provides nutrients for plants, and plants help filter and clean the water for fish. This real-time, visual representation of ecological principles not only makes complex concepts more accessible but also fosters an engaging and interactive learning experience. Students gain hands-on experience growing plants and raising fish; tinkering skills come into play building and maintaining the system’s hydraulics; and they practice collaboration by working together on the project. “The Classroom Grant is helping us create a dynamic and engaging learning environment where students can explore the exciting intersection of science and sustainability,” says Mrs. Perkins. “We are incredibly grateful for your belief in the power of education and for investing in the future of our students.” When students experience how abstract scientific concepts intersect with everyday life, they’re motivated to learn. Thank you for making this innovative project possible for local students! We were thrilled to welcome more than 2,000 community members to the Plaza on August 24 to support our local public schools at the 2024 Red & White Ball. We had a blast mingling, dancing, and marveling at the student performers who wowed the crowd. Whether you came to dance, bought a ticket, sampled food and wine, made an online donation, or volunteered, your support makes a difference. Funds raised at the event are already being invested in vital programs and resources:
All told, the event and related fundraising activities exceeded the original $90,000 goal to bring in more than $120,000. This community support helps fill critical funding gaps and makes a huge difference in the lives of our students. When they succeed, we build a better future for the entire Valley. We can’t thank you enough! View the event photo gallery from Genesis Vondergeest View the photo booth snapshots and videos - password "Sonoma" Annual fundraiser kicks off the new school year; cultivates support for student success.
Sonoma, Calif. (July 8, 2024) - The Sonoma Valley Education Foundation (SVEF) announced today that it will host its signature event, the Red & White Ball Community Picnic, on August 24th in the Sonoma Plaza. This inclusive community-wide celebration will feature a picnic-style dining experience, student performances, live music by local band Funk Fatale, and an opportunity to support local students' inspiring potential and celebrate the dedication of hardworking teachers. "It’s been an inspiring three years watching this annual event evolve into a welcoming, unified community experience,” said Sarah Carroll, Executive Director of the Sonoma Valley Education Foundation. "It’s heartening to see teachers, administrators, donors, and families unite to create a meaningful, positive impact on our students while enjoying themselves and fostering stronger community connections. We hope to see even more friendly faces and participation this year!” The event at Sonoma Plaza runs from 5pm to 10pm. General admission tickets cost $50, including lawn seating and a complimentary beverage. For a premium experience, the Champions of Education package is available for $2,500. It features a table and chairs for four, meals from an on-site food truck, wine or beer, and a special shoutout from the stage. Champions of Education packages are limited, so early purchase is recommended. SVUSD students, families, faculty, and children under 18 attend for free. "Transforming the Red & White Ball into a more inclusive, community-oriented event was inspired by the belief that this format not only enhances accessibility but also underscores how even small acts of support can make a significant impact," explained Gail Chadwin, Director of Development of the Sonoma Valley Education Foundation. "We want guests to know that whether it’s purchasing a ticket, donating $5, or enjoying a glass of wine at the event, every contribution matters and positively affects the lives of our students." Tickets are on sale now; all proceeds from the event will benefit Sonoma Valley public school students and teachers for the coming 2024/25 school year. For more information on the event and how to participate, please get in touch with Gail Chadwin at [email protected] 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  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! I have a secret.
After five years at Sonoma Valley Education Foundation, I anticipated that writing the annual report would feel familiar and, dare I say, a little redundant. And you know what? It was. In the best way possible. In a world of uncertainty and constant change, the depth of your generosity and dedication to local students have established a predictable, unwavering lifeline of certainty for Valley youth. Your steadfast certainty allows our students to dream big, knowing their community is behind them and that they’ll have what they need to arrive at school ready to learn. This report celebrates the strides you’ve enabled in evergreen offerings, like preschool and Classroom Grants, and the conception of the Ready to Learn Collaborative, which empowers SVEF to work strategically across seven youth-serving organizations to creatively combine resources and expertise to serve student need at the highest level. Ready to Learn, which officially launched in November of 2023, has been instrumental in increasing resources and programming for students who need social-emotional and mental health support and has come to life through the following programs: Creative Campus is an innovative arts program for elementary school students that provides high-quality arts and social-emotional programming at lunch, as well as during and after school. Empowerment Academy combines the expertise of the Mentoring Alliance and the Boys & Girls Club of Sonoma Valley to provide tutoring, mental health services, and SEL programming after school at Sonoma Valley High School. Sonoma Valley for Healing Justice is a transformative program that equips local teens with essential personal and community healing tools and insights. Awakening Wisdom offers an empowering series of workshops designed to increase student self-belief, break cycles of anger and impulsivity, and strive to embody greater self-awareness, self-esteem, empathy, and responsibility. Alliance for Youth Wellness provides on-campus one-to-one and group mental health clinical services through Sonoma Valley Therapy, SVUSD, and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Sonoma Valley. These examples, and many more underway, are just the tip of the iceberg for what is possible when this community and our Ready to Learn Collaborative unify in the name of students. It’s worth repeating that without you, there would be no us or these meaningful programs and resources for students. Thank you for being a beacon of dependability and support for the students of this valley. We appreciate you! Angela Ryan, Ph.D. Executive Director While it’s never preferable to play favorites, it’s hard to deny that Classroom Grants is a leader in the clubhouse when it comes to your positive impact on student learning.
A fun intersection between our teachers’ creativity and your generosity, what was previously a once-a-year opportunity to fund unique projects, field trips, and extended learning opportunities is now a monthly benefit afforded to our teachers and students. This past year, you helped fund over 70 diverse projects requested by hardworking teachers, positively impacting hundreds of students across all grade levels. Among the unique learning opportunities afforded to our students were the following:
Thank you for ensuring our teachers can provide students with the materials, resources, and immersive experiences they need to thrive! “I can’t do fun, engaging projects without the support of people like you! You’re making our community a better one. Thank you for investing in us!” — Mrs. Brandy Melendy, El Verano Elementary School A record-breaking crowd turned up—and out—in celebration of Sonoma Valley’s public schools!
August 23, 2023: Laughter filled the air, friends greeted each other warmly, and the infectious Latin fusion beats of La Gente SF rang through the Plaza. What could have been mistaken for a jazzy Tuesday night market was the culmination of over 1,500 community members joining together to celebrate the achievements and potential of Sonoma Valley public schools. The newly evolved picnic-style format delivered a welcoming energy made possible by the parents, families, students, teachers, and community members who came out to celebrate and stand united in support of our local schools. And while wine and dancing were ever-present, so was the generosity of guests and donors. Thanks to friends and supporters like you, proceeds from the event and accompanying fundraising efforts totaled $235,000 for Sonoma Valley’s public schools! Between performances from talented local students and an engaging showcase of all the incredible programs, hopes, and dreams of students and teachers alike, Red & White Ball guests got a glimpse of the magic that makes our schools and this Valley the special place it is. We can’t wait to welcome everyone back out this August 24th for another night of sipping, supporting, and, let’s be honest, dancing ourselves into some blistered feet and sweaty red and white attire in support of students. |
