Red & White Ball brings the party to the Plaza
The Sonoma Valley Education Foundation has set its annual fundraising and community celebration event, the Red & White Ball, for Saturday, August 26. Hosted on Sonoma Plaza, the event will follow the more inclusive, picnic-style format introduced last year to better welcome families, donors, and the community to participate in celebrating the public schools of the Valley.
“As the landscape of our public schools evolves, it’s more important than ever that we come together as a community to celebrate the many positive outcomes we’ll see as those changes unfold — increased resources and services for students, as well as interactions with neighbors and residents that may have not otherwise crossed paths,” said Angela Ryan, the foundation’s executive director.
“We hope this year’s Red & White Ball gives space for that celebration and models the unified community that makes our public schools exemplary for the 3,000-plus students who attend them daily.”
The event will take place from 5pm – 10pm on the north side of the Sonoma Plaza, where families and community members can come together and enjoy a picnic in the park that directly benefits Sonoma Valley public schools. General admission adult tickets are $40, including a reusable wine tumbler and a complimentary glass of wine. Tickets are on sale now — kids are welcome and can attend for free — with a sliding scale pricing option to ensure the event is accessible to all.
Attendees will have the opportunity to visit public school showcases to learn about success stories featuring students and teachers, dine from a food truck on-site or enjoy their own picnic, sip wine from sponsors including Benziger Family Winery, Imagery Estate Winery, Abbot’s Passage, and Gundlach Bunschu, and dance the night away to LA GENTE SF , whose brings a unique blend of Reggae, Salsa, and Hip-Hop from all over Latin America.
“We are excited to build upon the relaxed and more inclusive format of the Red & White Ball,” said Gail Chadwin, director of development for SVEF. “This Valley and the public school community are home to a vibrant, diverse group of students, teachers, and families. We aim to ensure this annual celebration reflects the communities it serves.”
The Sonoma Valley Education Foundation (SVEF) was established in 1993 and has since provided over 20 million dollars to Sonoma Valley public schools through grants to teachers and district administration, sponsored community initiatives, flagship programming such as Preschool For All, and robust partnerships with youth-serving organizations. SVEF strives to cultivate community support and raise funds to enable Valley youth to succeed in the classroom and beyond.
— Photos of 2022 event by Sharon Neves
