Scholarship Gala helps recipients to ‘Dream Big'

Dream big. That was the message delivered by Damacio, Danny and David Diaz, the three brothers who inspired the Disney film, “McFarland USA,” during the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Sonoma County’s Dream Big Scholarship Gala.

The brothers shared their story about working in the fields in the Central Valley and the challenges they faced going to college with a soldout crowd of more than 300 who turned out Saturday for the gala, held in the grand ballroom of Rohnert Park’s DoubleTree by Hilton Sonoma Wine Country hotel.

Scholarships were awarded to 10 high school and college students from Sonoma County. All but one of them are the first in their families to go to college, said Sylvia Lemus, a chamber board member who served as chairwoman of the gala committee.

Emceeing the event was Damian Trujillo, a Bay Area news reporter, host and producer of the long-running program, “Comunidad del Valle.” Rep. Mike Thompson, D-St. Helena, made opening remarks at the gala, which included performances by flamenco dancers and local acoustic guitar player Mateo Guzman. State Sen. Mike McGuire hosted the live auction to raise money for future scholarships.