Helping Students in Sonoma County Get To & Through College Since 2009
Sunday, December 7, 2025
An Evening Celebrating the Power of Community
With over $330K raised for Sonoma County students & programs, our Sonoma Changemakers Celebration was truly an evening to remember—overflowing with gratitude, laughter, generosity, and inspiring stories of perseverance from our alumni.
It's not too late to support Sonoma County students!
Hear Katrin Ciaffa, 10,000 Degrees Regional Director of Sonoma & Napa, highlighting the event on Wine Country Radio!
10,000 Degrees helps students from low-income backgrounds get to and through college and into meaningful careers. Since 2009, we have awarded more than 2,600 Sonoma County students with nearly $11 Million in scholarships!
Meet Our Alumni Speakers!
Riley Palmer
10,000 Degrees Alum
Riley graduated from Santa Rosa High School before attending SRJC and eventually earning her bachelor’s degree from UC Berkeley. As the oldest in a low-income family where resources mostly went to supporting her brother with special needs, the idea of college felt daunting. 10,000 Degrees awarded her a scholarship that helped her finish college and pursue a journalism career where she has since reported on issues like homelessness, school violence and mobile home tenancy rights in Sonoma and Napa counties. Now working as a local government reporter in Sacramento for CapRadio, she hopes to shine a light on how city decisions affect vulnerable populations.
Oscar Villalobos Campos
10,000 Degrees Alum
A proud first-generation college graduate, Oscar grew up in Santa Rosa’s West End, witnessing the impact of poverty, violence, and systemic barriers, but also the strength of family and neighbors who never gave up. Those early experiences inspired Oscar to dedicate his life to service, healing, and advocacy. Today, as a Victim Advocate with the Sonoma County District Attorney’s Office, Oscar stands beside survivors with empathy and strength. He’s served on the Board of Latino Service Providers and as a Community Ambassador with the Santa Rosa Police Department, always leading with compassion, care and corazón.
With Gratitude to Our Sonoma Advisory Board
Bhupinder “Sonu” Singh Chandi, Chair
Jay Abbe
Lorez Bailey
Lisa Carreño
Dr. Amie Carter
Hector Delgado
Herb Dwight
Sara Geber
Mitch Greenberg
Katie Jackson
Dr. Gerald Jones
Dr. Mariana Martinez
Dr. Darlene G. Miller
Steve Page
James Pardieu
Marty Stein
Ruby Steinbrecher
Wrynn Valentine Reynoso
Janelle Walker