Dear editor, As I write this letter, I hear the sound of children laughing and playing in the Napa Emergency Women’s Services playroom. I feel grateful their mother is here for help. I think about the violence seen by these children during their young lives and realize the importance of the opportunity NEWS has to make a difference for them.

This brings my thoughts to a lovely evening in June when folks came from all over the world for an incredible night of bidding on magnificent Napa Valley wine under the big white tent at the Meadowood Resort. It was amazing to be in the same spot as Oprah Winfrey and Her Royal Highness Princess Nandi Zulu!

Those who enjoyed the comedy of Jay Leno and the five-star menu may not have realized that their bids translated into a safe place for children who have been exposed to domestic violence. The NEWS Children’s Club program is a place where kids can talk about their fears, they can know they are not alone and understand that when their parents were fighting it was never their fault.

We who work toward an end to domestic violence know that children exposed to the abuse between their parents are at risk to repeat what they experience. Thanks to funding through Auction Napa Valley, NEWS is working to beat those odds. We model healthy communication, we talk to kids about how special they are, help them find ways they can keep themselves safe both physically and emotionally, and we also have fun. Our program gives kids an outlet to express themselves with activities like art projects, cooking activities and nature hikes, and every child receives a backpack filled with school supplies, personal items and even a stuffed animal.

Thank you to everyone at Auction Napa Valley for your hard work and success in putting on a world-class event that makes a significant difference in the lives of children like the ones in the NEWS playroom this morning.

With the help of Auction Napa Valley, we at Napa Emergency Women’s Services will break they cycle of violence for the next generation.

Tracy Lamb, executive director / Napa Emergency Women’s Services