With the school year well underway and the holidays on the horizon, the moment is ripe to recognize the recent generosity of philanthropic organizations supporting local schools. 

As writer, poet and activist Maya Angelou sagely advised, “When you learn, teach. When you get, give.” This seems to be the case in Sonoma and Napa counties, where the cycle of generosity and learning has continued in recent weeks.

Career Technical Education Foundation (CTE), a career and technical education champion in Sonoma County, has been transforming local education for over a decade. Since its founding, the CTE Foundation has invested over $11 million in schools and programs, shaping opportunities for thousands of students and reinforcing that every student deserves a viable path to success right here in Sonoma County.

For over a decade, the CTE Foundation has been reshaping Sonoma County’s approach to education, pushing career and technical education boundaries to bridge the often-daunting gap between high school and career. At the heart of its mission is a simple yet profound goal: to innovate the education-to-career pipeline, ensuring that students have the tools, knowledge and opportunities to thrive beyond graduation.

By convening stakeholders in K12, post-secondary, industry and workforce, the CTE Foundation designs and implements equitable access for all Sonoma County students to post-secondary education and career opportunities. 

With over 145 courses developed and enhanced across fields such as agriculture, healthcare, engineering, hospitality and construction, CTE has established itself as a driving force in cultivating the region’s future workforce.

In recent years, the foundation has expanded its focus, investing in transformative efforts to create high-quality career pathways across Sonoma County. This involves collaborating with schools and partnering with local industries, post-secondary institutions and workforce organizations to ensure that career readiness is achievable for all students in the county. Since its inception in 2012 by private donors, CTE has poured over $11 million into Sonoma County’s schools and career programs, as can be seen at ctesonomacounty.org.

The Napa Valley Community Foundation (NVCF) has introduced two new scholarships aimed at expanding educational and career opportunities for Napa County students and vineyard workers, reflecting its commitment to fostering growth within the community.

The Coppola Family Travel Scholarship, available to high school students in Napa County (grades 10-12), is designed to inspire academic and personal growth by enabling students to explore new cultures. 

This one-time award, ranging from $5,000 to $15,000, will support students’ participation in a summer enrichment program in the U.S. or Europe. Applications are open from now through Dec. 2. The scholarship seeks students eager to broaden their horizons, offering them a unique chance to pursue immersive cultural experiences that could profoundly shape their futures.

The Robert Alexander Scott Scholarship is tailored for vineyard or winery workers and their spouses and children pursuing educational credentials in viticulture or enology. Offering $3,000 to $5,000 per semester, this scholarship provides essential financial support for students working toward a certificate or associate degree at specific community colleges, with an option to transfer to Cal Poly at San Luis Obispo for a bachelor’s degree. 

Applications for this award are also due by Dec. 2. For many individuals in Napa’s wine industry, this scholarship offers a critical path to career advancement and professional development, empowering recipients to deepen their expertise and build rewarding careers in viticulture.

Expressing gratitude for the generosity behind these scholarships, Lupe Reyes, NVCF’s director of grants & scholarships, remarked, “We are deeply grateful to the Coppola Family and the Scott Family for their generosity. Their support will be life-changing for students and workers in our community, allowing them to pursue educational dreams that might otherwise be out of reach.” 

Reyes emphasized that these scholarships embody the spirit of Napa Valley, where the community rallies to uplift both its young people and its dedicated workforce. The Napa Valley Community Foundation has granted over $106 million in the past 30 years.

Applicants for both scholarships are encouraged to visit napavalleycf.org/scholarships to review the eligibility criteria and apply. These awards are specifically aimed at individuals with financial need, determination and a commitment to their future careers and studies. Questions regarding the scholarships can be directed to Lupe Reyes or Jessica Rodriguez at 707.254.9565 or via email at sc**********@**********cf.org.

In recent weeks, the SONIC Foundation—the giving arm of the national drive-in burger chain—provided $1.25 million to match donations to classroom projects requesting books through DonorsChoose.org/FillEveryShelf, a website that allows people to donate directly to classroom requests submitted by teachers. Since 2009, SONIC has raised over $28 million to fund local classrooms nationwide. 

Among the beneficiaries are two Rohnert Park teachers, who received a combined donation of $3,650. They were Mrs. Harlan of John Reed Elementary School for the “Learning About Our Emotions” project and Rancho Cotate High School’s Ms. Tranfaglia for the project “Every Reader Deserves to See Themselves in a Book.” Likewise, Mrs. Williams at Thomas Page Academy in Cotati received a donation of $229 for the project “Reading in Kindergarten.”

Similarly, in Santa Rosa, funding supported seven teachers who received a combined donation of $3,650 from the foundation, including Ms. Lewis (Bellevue Elementary School for the project “Happy Birthday to You!”), Ms. Osorio (Herbert Slater Middle School for the project “Reading for Success”) and Mrs. Partida (Kawana Springs Elementary School for the project “Books for Every Level”).

Also included in Santa Rosa were Ms. Tait (Northwest Preparatory Charter School for the project “There Are Bookworms in Our Library”), Ms. Nancy (Roseland Creek Elementary School for the project “Fall for Great Books in Autumn!”), Ms. Roya Moslem (Santa Rosa Middle School for the project “Reading in Our Native Language”) and Mrs. Turk (Steele Lane Elementary School for the project “Explore the World!”).

Teachers at two schools in Sebastopol also received a combined donation of $560 from the SONIC Foundation. These included Mrs. Castaneda for the project “Warriors Book Series For Our Brook Haven Warriors!” and “Sports Books Help Us Reach Our Goals!” at the Brook Haven School and Gravenstein Elementary School’s Mrs. Grimm for the project “Love to Read!”