Leaders honored at Kid Scoop News event

Victoria Campbell, Vickie Soulier, Gwen Watson and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Sonoma Valley will receive awards for their efforts to boost reading skills at the Third Annual Kid Scoop News Wine County Literacy fundraiser next week.

The event, “One Inspiring Evening 2025” — which is set for 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Viansa Winery in Sonoma on Thursday, May 8 — will also include a reception, dinner and live auction. Tickets cost $295 and can be purchased at kidscoopnews.org. (click on “What We Do” and then “Community Events”)

“Kid Scoop News serves the Sonoma Valley community teachers, students, families, parents and partners dedicated to youth and adult literacy with its consistent and reliable informative, fun monthly content for supporting students to read,” said Michael Mulcahy, CEO of Kid Scoop News. “We want to celebrate annually donors, educators, vintners, businesses, mission partners and leaders by honoring their contributions.

“This (event) is a unique and innovative way of recognizing this leadership annually while raising money and awareness for the cause. Learning to read is essential to becoming a productive member of society in one’s community.”

Mulcahy said that Viansa Winery is an excellent venue for the event.

“The partnership, generosity and leadership of Viansa as a legacy vintner and venue, together with its location, make for a fabulous setting,” he said. “The staff are incredibly involved.”

The event will begin with a reception at 5:30 p.m., followed by a signature dinner at 7 p.m. designed by chef Ari Weiswasser and his staff at Park Avenue Catering.

“It will include the finest local wine country cuisine, carefully selected for this event,” Mulcahy said.

A live auction will also be offered, featuring items such as private dinners at The Moon House Antiquarium Museum in Glen Ellen, a special culinary wine and food experience from Stone Edge Farms and Enclos restaurant, a one-of-a-kind custom piece by renowned artist Jock Petersen and a summer Pinot Paella Lobster event for 50 at Nicholson Ranch winery in Sonoma.

Campbell, the director of events at Adair Family Wines, will receive the 2025 Vintner Hospitality Service Award.

“Victoria is a legend in the hospitality service community, with her competency and leadership skills, knowledge and connection and service to people,” Mulcahy said. “It was a very good choice for us and expands the vintner award category.”

Vickie Soulier will be given the 2025 Philanthropy Leader Ambassador Award.

“Vickie was chosen as an incredible leader in philanthropy in the Sonoma community, with a dedication to youth, performing arts, education and literacy, and those who creatively use language to entertain, critically think and write,” Mulcahy said. “Her passions and very synergistic.”

Watson will receive the 2025 Literacy Educator Award.

“Gwen is extremely dedicated to reading and writing and uses Kid Scoop News extensively in her teaching and work with students,” Mulcahy said. “Her teaching style is gracious and engaging while embracing the uniqueness of each student, teaching each student in the ways they learn best.

“This award celebrates her teaching leadership in Sonoma Valley and is a lifetime recognition of inspiring the love of reading in students.”

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Sonoma Valley will be given the 2025 Mission Partner Award.

“Their shared leadership and commitment to literacy and partnership with Kid Scoop News are remarkable,” Mulcahy said. “We deeply value their commitment to our mission — serving students who need our support and assistance. They partner with us daily in their after-school power hour and collaborate with our Family Legacy nights.”

Kid Scoop News raised more than $250,000 during the first two years of this annual fundraiser and hopes to raise more than $450,000 this year, since more attendees are expected, Mulcahy said. The event attracted 100 people in 2023 and 140 in 2024, and he hopes to draw 160 this year.

“The money will be used to go deeper with our service in the wine country in terms of students served and directly help to expand our bilingual and bicultural Parent Engagement Program for the Latinx community,” Mulcahy said. “We aim to be the catalyst for solving the community literacy crisis by playing a leadership role in a county-wide initiative led by the county superintendent (of schools).”

Kid Scoop News provides interactive, engaging and relevant age-appropriate materials for elementary school children that is designed to boost their reading.

“It is designed to bring joy and excitement to the reading experience through fun reading games, vocabulary puzzles, word searches and lively paragraphs about interesting people,” Mulcahy said. “The newsprint format of Kid Scoop News captures student interest, especially that of struggling readers who may find reading a book challenging.

“When children experience the magic of reading, the Kid Scoop mission, they discover what reading can do for them throughout their lives. The Parent Pages, in both Spanish and English, give parents specific ways to help their children succeed in reading.”

Mark Ibanez, who will serve as the master of ceremonies at the May 2 event, is well aware of the importance of developing reading skills.

“Mark struggled with reading as a child and clearly embraces our mission,” Mulcahy said. “He has a Bay Area/wine country draw and is a 40-year veteran in sports news broadcasting, with a strong connection to the family of Stephen Curry (of the Golden State Warriors), which is dedicated to literacy.”

Reach the reporter, Dan Johnson, at [email protected].