A Core Family Value
Philanthropy is a core family and business value that has always been at the heart of our operations. Annemarie and Ernie Gemperle instilled these values into their daily lives and their seven children. The seven Gemperle siblings, Mike, Steve, Susan Anita, Rich, Heidi and Peter continue their family legacy of selfless giving.
Mike, Steve, Susan Anita, Rich, Heidi and Peter. Our family members have a long history of service to our community, leading and serving on dozens of charitable boards and committees.
Supporting the Community with Food Security
Gemperle Family Farms donates between 350,000 to 500,000 eggs each year through free lunch programs, donations to food banks , Christmas Baskets and donations to service organizations to ensure that those in need have healthy eggs included in their family diets.
The United Samaritans Foundation is the largest provider of emergency food to communities throughout Stanislaus County. Gemperle Farms donates over 250,00 eggs per year and a sizable financial contribution each year to help with food insecurity in the valley. This has been an ongoing donation since the 1990s.
Ernie Gemperle the patriarch of Gemperle Family Farms was one of the co-founders of United Samaritans. Michael Gemperle now serves on the board of directors.
Supporting the Community in Education
Education was always encouraged in the Gemperle family. We now choose to continue our parents’ legacy of supporting education because we believe that education is athe gift that keeps on giving. When you change someone’s life with the gift of education, you not only change his or her circumstance, but you have an impact for generations to come. They will inspire their children and then those children will inspire others. Education and the arts help weave the culture in the Central Valley. Some highlights include:
- A significant contribution to the One Purpose endowment at California State University Stanislaus, in 2015. This seed gift serves as an inspiration for investment in scholarships for student success through One Purpose. In the future, earnings from the endowment will add to the funds raised by volunteers, providing additional dollars that will be awarded as scholarships.
- Gemperle Family Farms College Scholarship fund in conjunction with the Stanislaus Community Foundation Established in 2015 to help fund higher education for children and grandchildren of Gemperle Farms employees.
- California State University Stanislaus Foundation. Ernie T. Gemperle the patriarch of Gemperle Family Farms served on the Foundation board for CSUS. Local business leaders, who admired Ernie, helped create the Ernie Gemperle Endowed Chair of Finance. Ernie Gemperle was also instrumental and generous during the construction of the Gemperle Lecture Hall. Many students have benefited from scholarships made by Gemperle Family Farms.
Supporting the Community in the Arts
Gemperle Family Farms is one of the largest donors to the Carnegie Arts Center. Family members worked diligently in helping the Carnegie Arts Center get off the ground. It’s second largest gallery is named in honor of Annemarie and Ernie Gemperle. As one of only a handful of arts centers in the Central Valley, the Carnegie Arts Center in the City of Turlock is an arts center that is both local and regional in its perspective. The Carnegie’s programs include exhibitions, education classes and programs, lectures, and activities in artistic genres as diverse as dance, music, theater and more.
The Turlock Community Theatre is now a 1000-seat professional performing arts theatre, which presents nationally and internationally acclaimed artists and is dedicated to enriching the cultural life of the region. Located in the heart of Turlock, the theatre supports local and regional arts organizations and offers rich opportunities for people of all ages to enjoy the performing arts. Gemperle Family Farms was the largest contributor to the rebuilding of the historic theatre ravaged by fire. We continue to support this fine institution and many family members have served on its board.
Supporting Our Family of Employees
In today’s economy when most farm employees are worried about living wages, job security and a safe working environment. Gemperle Family Farms prides itself on an excellent safety record, providing good living wages, medical coverage and a pension plan to all of our regular employees.
The majority of our employees have been with us for over 5 years. Visit our employment page for more information.
Supporting Local Business
By supporting our local business partners and providing secure local jobs we can ensure the economic sustainability of our local community. Family members have Gemperle on the board of the Turlock Chamber of Commerce. Annemarie and Ernie Gemperle were the first couple to be named Citizens of the Year. They were a philanthropic force within the community and all of their children continue the practice of philanthropy and community involvement.
Supporting Community Youth
Turlock Regional Sports Complex at Gemperle Fields. When Gemperle Farms was blessed with having one of its orchards chosen as a site for a local school, Annemarie and Ernie Gemperle decided to give back to the community. A sizable portion of the land was gifted to the City of Turlock for use as a regional sports facility. Gemperle Family Farms employees and children volunteer and enjoy soccer and this world-class facility.
Greater Yosemite Council Boy Scouts. Gemperle Family Farms has been a strong supporter of Soccer and Scouting, an after school program designed to provide exercise and the scouting program to Hispanic youth. Family members have served on the council board and served as president. The Gemperle family has hosted a fundraiser dinner at the family home for 40 years. It has been a tradition that the family serves the meal and was the first family to be honored and Distinguished Citizens of the Year by the Greater Yosemite Council.
Supporting the Environment for Future Generations
In 2019, the Gemperle Family expanded their philanthropic giving in the areas of preservation of natural ecosystems and the diversity of plant and animal species. The Gemperle Family felt like they needed to do more beyond their local farms and community to preserve our Earth’s ecosystem for current and future generations. The Family started the #PreserveNatureDonations challenge which calls on all businesses to join forces in the preservation of our ecosystem and its vital contributions to the world population. Businesses can do this by funding worldwide non-profit organizations doing sound science and community-based projects such as Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation .
