The Monterey County Vintners & Growers Foundation is committed to supporting our local community.
Our Mission
The Monterey County Vintners and Growers Foundation generously donates our time, talents, and financial resources to support the community.
FOCUS
Our primary areas of focus are providing scholarships for high school seniors from families that work in the Monterey wine industry and funding research focused on issues relevant to the Monterey wine industry. We also help to respond to community emergency needs.
COMMUNITY SUPPORT
We also step forward to support our community and the wine industry in other ways. In 2016, we helped to raise over $100,000 for the Big Sur Fire Relief efforts, and in 2020, we similarly raised funds for fire relief for those impacted by the fires in our community. In 2020, we stepped up to help our industry and the entire county get COVID information, testing, and vaccinations. We helped to raise funds for CA Wine Strong fundraising efforts to help those impacted by the fires in the Northern CA wine regions of Mendocino, Napa, and Sonoma counties.
ENDOWMENT
In 2017, the Board of Directors announced their intent to start the Monterey County Vintners & Growers Foundation Endowment. Raising enough money to provide a permanent, self-sustaining source of funding for the Foundation's scholarship and research efforts.
ABOUT THE FUNDS
Richard Smith Memorial Research Fund
Rich made a difference - personally, professionally, and in the community. In honor of his commitment to the wine industry he loved, we have established the Richard Smith Memorial Research Fund. The Fund supports viticultural research that fosters the advancement, sustainability, and productiveness of Monterey County vineyards.
Rich had a passion for viticultural research. In honor of him, this Fund will contribute to the identification and monitoring of specific issues that affect our industry through the UC Cooperative Extension Program, Monterey County (or other research programs as identified).
PETER FIGGE MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP FUND
In honor of our dear friend Peter Figge, the Peter Figge Memorial Scholarship Fund supports the educational advancement of students and professionals in the wine growing and winemaking industry. Our program provides scholarships to college-bound high school seniors whose families work in the agriculture, winemaking, business, or tourism aspects of the Monterey wine industry.
Many of these scholarship awardees are the first person in their family to attend college. These students inspire us - they meet the qualifications of demonstrated scholastic ability, community involvement, leadership, and a determination to succeed.
The Monterey County Vintners & Growers Foundation is a 501c (3) non-profit organization. All donations are tax deductible as allowed by law.