Program areas at The Roots Fund Incorporated
4a. Educational Scholarships $206,455.47 (minus enrichment trips)Roots Fund had a monumental year. Our scholarships increased by 50%, with offering into the Court Masters Sommelier, Wine Scholars Guild, and offering college tuition to UC Davis, Cornell, and FIngerlakes Community College. We executed a variety of tutoring programs in English and Spanish for High School and professional adults. This work landed recognition in the NY Times for our contributions to education in wine for people of color.
4c. Enrichment Trips $43,000 (pulled from scholarship number)To be successful in certifications and knowledge you must travel the wine world. Scholars traveled to Burgundy, Champagne, New Zealand, SOuth Africa, Napa, and Fingerlakes. Scholars lived in the regions, studied the culture, ate the food, and drank wines with the best producers in the world. These experiences may have been the first travel excursion for many scholars, but we hope it isnt the last. These enrichment trips bring the book studies to. life.
4b. Career Development 80% of the scholars in our program were placed in careers in wine. Not just jobs, that would require multiple streams of income to survive but lucrative careers. Building extensive career pathways with levels of mentorship and networking has brought guaranteed success. People of color needed the opportunity, education, and support. Our organization has managed to provide all those things for our scholars. 40% of our scholars landed in early management roles that will lead to promotions within 18 months of employment.