Dear editor, In this season of Thanksgiving, the board of directors, staff and participants of Puertas Abiertas Community Resource Center are filled with gratitude to the Napa Valley Vintners association for its generous grant from the 2009 Auction Napa Valley. It is truly gratifying to be included among the various local nonprofit agencies that the vintners funded as part of their commitment to “the preservation and enhancement of the valley’s land, wine and community for future generations.” Similar to the vintners’ goals, the Puertas Abiertas (Open Doors) mission is “to work hand in hand with Napa Valley Latinos to inspire and achieve healthy living, self-sufficiency and opportunities for leadership and community engagement” to the end that the “Napa community becomes a rich tapestry of traditions and cultures living in harmony with opportunity and respect for all.”

The Auction Napa Valley grant was awarded to Puertas Abiertas to expand “Middle School Connections” in collaboration with CyberMill, Inc. The program educates and empowers Spanish-speaking parents to assist their at-risk middle school children to make informed, healthy choices for their futures and to achieve academic success. The contribution from the vintners’ grant for this important project will definitely make a difference for Latino families and for the entire Napa Valley community.

Additional thanks to Community Projects, Inc. and the Napa Valley Community Foundation, Joseph Phelps Fund, for recent donations to Puertas Abiertas. Support from these local funders is not only extremely timely in this challenging economy, but also very deeply appreciated.

Happy Thanksgiving in the truest sense of the holiday!

Frances Ortiz-Chavez, director

Rejane Brito, executive administrator

Puertas Abiertas Community Resource Center