From the Director: You Inspired a Year of Learning, Growth, and Possibility

From the 2025-26 School Year Impact Report

At SVEF, we don’t celebrate the end of the school year with a picnic, field day, or “Pomp and Circumstance—but there’s cause to rejoice, all the same!

In the 2025-2026 school year, students and teachers had more opportunities than ever to learn and grow, thanks to the generosity of SVEF supporters like you. At every public school, classrooms were equipped and teachers had the tools they needed to inspire learning. Students of all ages could explore new experiences—from immersive science field trips for elementary schoolers to after-school job skills workshops for teens.

Campuses across the Sonoma Valley fostered a sense of belonging. Students who struggled in the classroom or in life could find free support from a trained counselor at school—no off-campus appointment needed. Teens could head to study hall and free workshops after the final bell rang, all at the on-campus Empowerment Academy.

All of this was possible thanks to donors like you.

In the year ahead, there’s more work to do to ensure that every student is inspired and prepared to succeed. But when I reflect on the difference you are making, I’m excited for the possibilities that lie ahead.

Thank you for opening doors and broadening horizons for Sonoma Valley students—and inspiring a future worth celebrating.

​With gratitude,

---

Sarah Carroll, SVEF Executive Director