About Us

About our students | A History | Our Board

What does a community do when it discovers that a significant segment of its youth are going unnoticed, unsupported and don’t quite fit the mold of the college path focused student?  In Napa County a group came together to create the If Given a Chance Foundation. 

Our first set of priorities included encouraging adults: teachers, parents, probation officers, counselors, and even police officers to take notice when young people begin to take significant steps in righting a life that may have gone sideways, down the wrong path or gotten lost all together.  Next we wanted to provide an incentive for these young people to encourage change and inspire hope.  We wanted to insure that their newly awakened dreams have a chance to come true.  All of which results in a dynamic individual and a fully engaged contributing member of our community.

We accomplish the first goal by making it a requirement that adults in the community nominate the students we honor and support.  We fulfill the second by honoring the students at a community awards dinner where they receive resolutions from the California Assembly and Senate as well as the United States Congress.  In conjunction with the second piece of the puzzle, we provide the students with a scholarship for up to 5 years, and support through our Student Liaison, an LCSW.

We discover, we encourage, we hold them accountable, and we support the fulfillment of their dream.  We have been doing so since 1995 averaging 25 new students per year.  We currently have 92 students in 34 colleges across the United States.  They attend community colleges such as Napa Valley College and major universities such as Brandeis and Stanford.

About our Students

Our students include the kid who never speaks, just sits in the back of the class room does not participate, may appear depressed, and often avoids all contact. They just show up.  Others have made some choices that have lead them to gangs, drugs, and/or alcohol.   Still others are fighting debilitating diseases or injuries that have created roadblocks to their success.

We are there when the silent begin to participate and engage, when the gangbanger begins to turn his back on his mistakes and begins to work towards a future of opportunities, and we are there when the injured or ill fight back to health and hope.

57% of or recipients have been abused, 27% have been raised in foster care, while others have overcome cancer, multiple sclerosis and many other challenges.  Many of our students have been the primary caregivers of their parents and/or siblings. All have shown great courage in the face of adversity while overcoming the obstacles before them.  We believe in them, their future and assisting them in fulfilling their dreams, If Given a Chance.

A History

In 1994 the founder and now Executive Director of If Given a Chance, Jim King, was asked to join a group of community leaders; educators, law enforcement, elected and appointed officials who were seeking answers to youth violence and gang activity. A series of community meetings were held to both educate and listen to the citizens of Napa County.

The first round of meetings focused on informing and educating attendees about gangs. The second round explored the response proposed by law enforcement. The third round focused on listening to the community and developing alternative outlets for young people such as sports, theater, and other positive activities. A young man, a known gang member, stood up to address the assemblage. He said, “You all actually care. You are willing to provide more soccer, teen theater, and other stuff for us. What bothers me though is that there are over 300 people here and you are here be cause of what we’ve done wrong. How many of you would show up if we did something right”.

This question bothered Jim and lead him to think of those students who usually get in trouble, cut class or tend to be disruptive in their behavior. What if they started showing up, their grades began creeping upward, their class participation changes from disruptive to constructive? Would we notice and what would we do? What about that quiet student who is barely there? They almost never speak and want as little attention as possible. These are often the behaviors of an abused child living in fear, lacking any remnants of self-esteem. Do we notice when they begin to speak, participate or begin to rise in the ranking of their class?

Jim pulled together social service, law enforcement, parents, and others to help him build the vision for what would become If Given a Chance. The first step was to create a program which would assist teachers, counselors, law enforcement, probation and parents in identifying these young people as they began to refocus their lives and more forward in a positive way. The next step was to create an event “with over 300 people” who would honor these young people and their courage for beginning to “do something right”. Lastly, a program was created that both acted as an incentive for young people to turn their lives around and provide them with a pathway to move beyond their mistakes, pain, or worse.

If Given a Chance has awarded over 300 young people with scholarships to college or training. In 2007 92 young people attended 34 colleges across the United States. If Given a Chance provides other funds to assist these students in times of need or to help them overcome obstacles such as car repairs or need for internet service. More than 200 laptops have been given to the students to aid in their success. In addition, a Student Liaison, an LCSW, was added to work with the students and provide support and guidance. In 2008 a new program, CAN, (Communicate, Advocate, Navigate), will become a part of our support for our students. All students will go through a program in conjunction with Napa Valley College that will impart independent living skills and college campus/services navigation skills to enhance the possibility of success for those If Given a Chance serves.

Today, with a dynamic working Board of Directors, great community support, and a vision to move into the future, If Given a Chance is poised to be a force in the healing and rebuilding of young lives. One man’s idea has evolved to a community vision and what an evolution it has been. In 1995 12 students were awarded $1,000 each. Now If Given a Chance awards an average of $150,000 each year in scholarships of $2,500 each, per year, for the duration of the recipient’s college attendance.

If Given a Chance has been recognized by the Assembly and Senate of the State of California as well as the U.S. Congress.