Napa County Landmarks Receives Grant from Opportunity Fund!

The grant, in the amount of $250, from Napa Valley Community Foundation’s (NVCF) Opportunity Fund is for general support. Thanks to this generous grant, Napa County Landmarks (NCL) will distribute A Napa Coloring Book. This professionally illustrated coloring and activity book promotes Napa’s history and cultural heritage and represents our first bi-lingual publication aimed at youth, Spanish speakers, and families. NCL annually distributes copies to all Napa Valley Unified School District 3rd graders in May, for National Historic Preservation Month. We are also making them available to other area schools that express interest in receiving them, and while copies last.

Conceived of and created by Marie Dolcini, a freelance writer with a B.A. in History and Napa County Landmarks former board member, and illustrated by Mary Ann Henderson, an award-winning Bay Area artist, the 36-page book spans prehistory to the present day in a compelling introductory format that’s appealing to all ages. We sponsor this project to help raise awareness of Napa County’s rich history, inspire kids to dig further and increase their appreciation of this place we call home.

We also created a sample lesson plan based on the question: “What Is a Landmark” to supplement and help provide local context for educators teaching California history curriculum. In October, 2015, the State Office of Historic Preservation selected A Napa Coloring Book for a Governor’s Historic Preservation Award, one of eleven projects named state-wide as demonstrating significant achievement in preserving California’s heritage.

As a nonprofit organization, NCL is grateful for this grant used to continue our mission “to foster appreciation and preservation of historic buildings, sites and districts through education programs, public policy, research and technical assistance”.