Napa Valley Vintners Invests $1.8 Million to Support Student Health at Schools Across Napa County

Vanessa was a Napa Valley Unified School District freshman struggling academically, feeling isolated and losing her sense of belonging. But regular check-ins with a youth outreach coordinator at an on-campus wellness center helped her build friendships, attend class and eventually seek therapy. By her senior year, she was bringing other freshmen into the center and sharing what the space had meant to her. She told them, “This place saved me when I was exactly where you are.”

Today, 55% of Napa County public high school students use an on-campus wellness center, demonstrating how integral these resources have become to student life.

Napa Valley Vintners (NVV) said it is investing $1.8 million in five Napa County nonprofits that provide wellness services on school campuses across the county.

Because schools are where students spend most of their time, it is often where early warning signs are first recognized.

“We tend to be their first form of contact with a trusted adult, and students feel comfortable telling us what’s going on in their lives. We can then provide students with the support they need,” said Jessica De Leon, a Youth Outreach Coordinator with On The Move at the Wellness Center at New Tech High School.

This round of grants will support local, non-profit organizations including Mentis, Napa Valley Education Foundation, Aldea, On The Move and UpValley Family Centers. Together, these partners bring different areas of expertise to on-campus wellness centers, creating a coordinated network of care for students. The centers offer everything from a quiet place to reset during the school day to counseling, peer support and connections to additional resources.

Since 1981, funds raised through Auction Napa Valley have enabled Napa Valley’s vintner community to invest in Napa Valley’s children and families. To date, NVV has given $245 million back to the Napa Valley community.