Support Sonny Tripp – A Tireless Advocate for Our Local Youth and Indigenous Education

Dear friends, family, and community members,

We’re reaching out with love and hope to ask for your support for our dear Sonny Tripp—a devoted father, brother, son, nephew, cousin, friend, and respected community leader.

Sonny is a fierce advocate, a trusted mentor, and a powerful voice for students and families throughout Northern California. As the Indigenous Education Advocate at the Northern California Indian Development Council (NCIDC), Sonny has dedicated himself to improving the lives of all students—helping them feel seen, supported, and celebrated in schools. He has worked side by side with tribal communities, educators, and organizations like the ACLU to push for equity, healing, and culturally relevant education.

Whether he’s stepping in to provide mentorship, guiding school districts toward more inclusive practices, or helping to rewrite the narrative around Native education, Sonny shows up with compassion, strength, and deep cultural knowledge. His advocacy is rooted not just in policy but in personal experience—carrying forward the stories and survival of his ancestors while building a better future for the next generation.

Over the past year, Sonny has been bravely fighting Stage 4 Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. His strength and determination throughout this battle have been truly inspiring. He spent the first few months of treatment in Santa Rosa before being transferred to UCSF Medical Center, where he continues to face the difficult reality of cancer with unwavering courage. As his journey continues, Sonny needs to focus on healing, without the added burden of financial stress.

This GoFundMe was created to help cover medical expenses, travel, lodging, and basic needs during this time. If you’ve ever witnessed Sonny’s generosity, heard him speak truth to power, or watched him lift up a young person who felt like they didn’t belong—you know how much heart he brings to this world. Now is our chance to give that love and care back to him.

Please consider donating if you’re able, and share this campaign widely. Every contribution, no matter the size, makes a difference. Most of all, we ask that you keep Sonny in your thoughts and prayers as he continues this fight—with the same courage and resilience he has shown in everything he does.

With gratitude,

The Tripp Family