“I Continue to Be Impressed”
Local Vintner Makes a Longstanding Commitment to Cope
Jo Ann Truchard, Owner of Truchard Vineyards and a philanthropist in Napa Valley
Decades before her life as a Napa Valley winery owner and philanthropist, Jo Ann Truchard was a school teacher in Austin, Texas. “My first year of teaching, I taught 3rd grade in a low income part of town,” recalled Jo Ann. “I’ll never forget a little girl named Barbara. She was overweight and every time she would make a mistake, she’d say things to herself, like ‘Oh, you’re so clumsy. You are just like a cow.’ When I asked her why she said that, she responded, ‘People always say that to me.’ I told her that wasn’t true, that she was a special gift from God. It was so sad. I’m sure her parents loved her, but they weren’t very kind to her.”
After they were married, Jo Ann and her husband Tony moved to Dallas. “In contrast to my first school, I taught in a wealthy school district where the parents were very involved and supportive. Parents have a tremendous impact on their children’s well-being. It all goes back to what the child thinks of themselves. The parents can help or hurt that. Often, the parents want to help but their situation makes that difficult. They may be working two or three jobs to make ends meet. They may not have time to take care of the child.”
As a teacher, Jo Ann saw how one person can change a child’s life. “That’s why I support Cope,” she explained. “For the past twenty years, I have been involved with Cope and I continue to be impressed with all they do. I’m very happy to support their work.”
"Every child is important and whatever you can do to help a child is important."
“Every child is important and whatever you can do to help a child is important. Cope has so many ways to help parents take care of their children. When a family needs help, I always refer them to Cope. I tell them, ‘There’s a great organization in Napa. Go to Cope. They can help you with temporary supplies and connect you with additional help.’ ”
Jo Ann recognizes the value of understanding how a parent’s own experiences impacts their parenting. “Sometimes a child can overcome adversity and thrive but sometimes their experiences in childhood can be what holds them back. Cope’s home visiting program is so important because it helps the staff understand how their clients were raised and how they can help them overcome their challenges so they don’t repeat the cycle.”
“I know it’s hard to ask for help,” Jo Ann said. “I am very proud of the parents who go to Cope for help. And I have great respect for everyone who works there. The staff is so compassionate and they care deeply for their clients. They are outstanding.”
We applaud Jo Ann’s commitment to families and children and are grateful for all she does in our community.
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This story is featured in our 2017 Impact Report. You can view the full digital report to learn more about Cope's impact and read more featured stories like Jo Ann's.