The Altruist Awards
Here at Markham Vineyards, our roots run deep in Napa Valley. Our historic stone cellar, located in St. Helena, was built by pioneering vintner Jean Laurent in 1879, and would ultimately become the heart of Markham Vineyards in 1977. We wanted to find a way to honor our connection to the Napa Valley community and the many great people who make it such a wonderful place to live and work. Taking inspiration from the name of our acclaimed Bordeaux red blend, The Altruist, in 2024 we launched our first-annual Altruist Awards, which honor local heroes who selflessly devote themselves to the betterment of our community.
For our inaugural award recipients, we selected two individuals who exemplify altruism through their tireless work within our community. Mary Stephenson is one of the founders and emeritus board member of Our Town St. Helena, an acclaimed local non-profit addressing the lack of affordable housing in St. Helena. Our second awardee was Coach Bailie, who works to support the mental health and well-being of Napa’s LGBTQ+ community as the director of training for LGBTQ Connection. In addition to acknowledging the tireless work of these remarkable individuals, we provided $1,000 donations to each honoree’s organizations on their behalf.
“Markham has been a part of the fabric of Napa Valley for nearly a half century,” says long-time Head Winemaker Kimberlee Nicholls. “This is where we grow our grapes, live, and raise our families. There are a lot of selfless individuals here who care deeply about the Napa Valley community. The Altruist Awards are Markham’s way of honoring individuals like Mary and Coach Bailie who exemplify the qualities of an altruist and are striving to better the lives of the people who live and work here.”
We look forward to celebrating two new honorees later this year. If there is someone making a lasting positive impact on our community that you think should be considered for the 2025 Altruist Awards, tell us about them at charmainel@dvwp.com.
Until then, here’s to a 2025 filled with empathy, kindness and cooperation.
About our 2024 Altruist Award Recipients
Mary Stephenson - Our Town St. Helena
As a co-founder and former board president of Our Town St. Helena (OTSH), Mary Stephenson worked for over a decade to provide affordable housing through developing new and preserving existing rental and home ownership units for the workforces that are vital to the character, safety and wellbeing of St. Helena. Through Mary’s efforts, OTSH completed the Brenkle Court townhomes in 2022, which allowed eight families with incomes between 40-90 percent of the Napa County median income to become first-time homeowners. As part of the Brenkle Court project, each homebuyer worked 32 hours per week building their home for nearly three years, in addition to their regular employment. Despite a US government shutdown, area wildfires, the COVID pandemic, and global supply chain challenges, the project was finished on budget.
Coach Bailie - LGBTQ Connection
As the director of training for LGBTQ Connection, Coach Bailie is an educator building community around the core ideas of safety, health, equity, belonging and justice for LGBTQ+ individuals in Napa County and beyond. Despite growing diversity in Napa Valley, LGBTQ+ residents still face challenges with acceptance, safety and security. Supporting the mental health and well-being of Napa’s LGBTQ+ individuals is essential to creating a welcoming and sustainable Napa Valley. Each year, LGBTQ Connection trains 500 providers from local organizations across Northern California to increase the safety, visibility and well being of LGBTQ residents. In Napa County, the program provides LGBTQ community centers, supporting underserved LGBTQ youth and elders. Coach Bailie also trains organizations and businesses to foster a culture in which staff are better equipped to connect with, affirm, and empower LGBTQ+ individuals, while supporting inclusive hospitality to those visiting our wine country home.
