Family Service receives $100k grant

Family Service of Napa Valley recently received a $100,000 capacity grant from Queen of the Valley Medical Center and its Community Benefit Committee. The funds will benefit the Mental Health Services Program at Family Service.

Lori Jean Pesavento, executive director of Family Service of Napa Valley, has earmarked the funds to address the community need for additional bilingual and bicultural therapists through recruitment of Master's level social work and counseling students through paid internships.

"We are thrilled to be selected as a recipient of the capacity grant funding," Pesavento announced at a recent board meeting. "This allows us to move forward -- to address the lack of access to affordable mental health treatment in Napa County. This is a growing concern -- as is the need to train culturally and linguistically professional staff members."

Family Service provides a safety net of mental health services for people with limited resources. The services include psychotherapy programs tailored to each client -- child, teen, adult or senior, and individual or family group, and permanent and transitional housing programs that provides housing and support services to formerly homeless adults with disabilities.

The residents of Napa County have benefited from affordable mental health services in both English and Spanish from Family Service of Napa Valley for 60 years.

For more information on Family Service of Napa Valley, please visit www.familyservicenapa.org or contact Pesavento at 255-0966.

Community Projects spreads the wealth

At the September general meeting of Community Projects, Inc., members approved donations totaling $65,316.70 to seven groups requesting financial assistance.

-- Napa Saints Football -- for new helmets and football gear.

-- Napa County Family & Foster Parent Association -- to help fund their Christmas Party for Napa County Foster Kids.

-- River School -- for an outdoor education program at Wonder Valley.

-- Napa County Historical Society -- to sponsor two of their listed programs.

-- Napa High School --10 laptop computers for scientific experiments and demonstrations.

-- Vintage High School Agriculture Department/FFA Chapter -- to purchase pigs to be raised for community food assistance.

-- Stone Bridge School -- to purchase playground equipment.

These donations are made possible by funds raised at the Community Projects Thrift Shop located at 715 Franklin St., Napa. Shop hours are 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Donation hours are Tuesday through Saturday 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Please call ahead for donations of large furniture.

New leaders at Greater Napa Kiwanis

On Sept. 29 the Kiwanis Club of Greater Napa celebrated the 38th annual installation of officers at River City restaurant. Kiwanis Division 8 Lt. Governor Diane Brown officially installed long-time Napa resident Ralph Giannini as club president for 2007-2008. Also installed was Firsy Vice President Cliff Haggenjos, Second Vice President Tim Eggers, Secretary Betsy Loza and Treasurer Dale DiGennaro. Giannini also received the club's 'Kiwanian of the Year' award for his outstanding volunteer service. During the installation of officers, Jack Rands, on behalf of the Kiwanis Club of Greater Napa Board of Directors, presented John Facey the prestigious George W. Hixson Award for his outstanding service and exemplary contributions to the club and to the community. The Hixson Award named after the founder of Kiwanis, is the highest award Kiwanis bestows upon its members.

The Kiwanis Club of Greater Napa meets each Wednesday at 7:30 a.m. at Downtown Joe's Restaurant and Brewery. For info, call Dale DiGennaro at 252-2700.