May 4, 2026 (Napa Valley, CA) — The Napa Valley Grapegrowers (NVG) has received a substantial donation of $500,000 from Pulido~Walker Estate Vineyards & Winery to support the Napa Valley Center for Grape Growing and Farmworker Education capital campaign. This support is in addition to the $500,000 Mark Pulido and Donna Walker previously donated, bringing their support to $1 million and the project to a significant milestone – now achieving over 90% of total project funding needed to complete the campaign.
“Donna and I have always been strong advocates of a viable Napa Valley agricultural community, and that starts with education and advocacy which will be the cornerstone of the Center,” stated Mark Pulido, NVG Board Member and Capital Campaign Co-Chair. “We’re happy to increase our support in order to help ensure the long-term success of grape growing in the Napa Valley, and we encourage additional support from like-minded community members.”
With this vital financial support, The Napa Valley Center for Grape Growing and Farmworker Education will be uniquely positioned to lead by elevating viticultural best practices and will enable NVG to connect the community to the vineyard, promote sustainability, protect natural resources, and enhance quality of life across the valley.
The Center will sit on 2.2 acres in Oakville and will become the first permanent home for the organization. It will feature a demonstration vineyard, hands-on training space, classrooms, and community meeting facilities to support NVG’s year-round work in education, industry research, and advocacy.
“Mark’s leadership, vision, and commitment to this project as co-chair of the capital campaign has been absolutely critical to us achieving this milestone,” stated Karen Cakebread of ZIATA Wines and President, Napa Valley Grapegrowers. “Mark and Donna not only invest their time into our community, they lead by example. We are lucky to have them in Napa Valley!”
The project will break ground in late spring 2026.
For more information or to make a gift, please contact Chloe Tyer at ctyer@napagrowers.org or visit centerfornapagrowers.org. Napa Valley Grapegrowers is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization.
About the Napa Valley Grapegrowers
For 50 years, the Napa Valley Grapegrowers, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, has strengthened Napa Valley’s reputation as one of the world’s premier winegrowing regions. Its mission is to cultivate viticultural excellence and environmental stewardship, representing more than 600 growers and related businesses throughout Napa County. Learn more at napagrowers.org and follow on Facebook and Instagram.
