July 9th, 2024 – Atascadero, CA: Vineyard Team is aiming to raise an ambitious $100,000 for the Juan Nevarez Memorial Scholarship. This program provides an invaluable opportunity for the children of vineyard and winery workers to achieve their dreams of higher education, ensuring a brighter future for them and their families.
Recipient since 2019 and recent graduate, Alberto, reflects on the peace of mind the program’s support gave through his collegiate career: “The scholarship has allowed me to focus on school and be the best person I can be.” This spring, he graduated from Fresno State University with a degree in Viticulture and plans to begin his Master’s program next. Like Alberto, 98 percent of this program’s recipients have been first-generation college students.
2024 recipient, Denise, expresses her gratitude to the program’s donors: “I am so incredibly grateful for this opportunity. What an honor!” She has been accepted to Yale University’s prestigious Ethics, Politics, and Economics program, with plans to focus on modern public policy strategies.
With the unwavering support of generous donors and the community, Vineyard Team is confident in achieving its fundraising goal and making a significant impact on even more children of the industry. The Team is immensely grateful for the chance to invest in the future of our industry and community.
Celebrating a Legacy
This program is named in honor of Juan Nevarez, a beloved member of the Central Coast winegrape industry, whose kindness, expertise, and passion shaped many local vineyards. Over the course of his life, Juan immersed himself in diverse roles. Through decades of hard vineyard labor, he amassed valuable insights that empowered him to launch his vineyard management company, Nevarez Farm Labor, and become the proprietor of an impressive eighty-acre vineyard.
Despite Juan’s success, he faced challenges with reading and writing. Because of this, he dreamed of higher education for his children. His daughter Eufemia Nevarez remembers,
“Our Dad had one requirement for all his children: we must graduate from college. It didn’t matter what we wanted to study or where, but he insisted we don’t come home until our diploma is printed and hanging on the wall in the living room!”
Today, Nevarez Farm Labor is run by Juan’s children, ensuring the continued success of the business and the growth of the vineyard. They maintain their support for the scholarship program through financial contributions and time commitment, with Eufemia serving on the Scholarship Committee to select recipients each year. In 2023, the Nevarez family was awarded a Certificate of Congressional Recognition for outstanding and incredible service to the community through the Juan Nevarez Memorial Scholarship.
Get Involved
Vineyard Team is proud to pay tribute to a Paso Robles Pioneer through the Juan Nevarez Memorial Scholarship, supporting families of vineyard and winery employees in their educational pursuits.
To learn more about this cause, witness your impact, and contribute to this incredible program, please visit the new donor page. Together, we can shape a better tomorrow for all!
In partnership with Must! Charities.
About Vineyard Team
Arising from growers’ interest to educate and guide themselves towards sustainable winegrowing practices, Vineyard Team has become an internationally recognized leader in the sustainability movement since 1994.
