Honoring a Local Family’s Legacy: How the Musser Family’s Gift Will Empower Petaluma Students’ Future

The Petaluma Education Foundation (PEF) is honored to share the story of Gene Musser’s extraordinary $200,000 scholarship fund—a lasting tribute to his parents, Wayne and Roberta Musser, and his brother Jon, whose lives were marked by hard work, community service, and quiet generosity.

More than a sum of money, Gene’s gift is a promise: a promise that generations of Petaluma students will have opportunities to thrive, learn, and dream bigger. At PEF, we know that education transforms lives, and thanks to the Mussers, countless young people will see doors opened that might otherwise have stayed closed.

We extend our deepest gratitude to the Musser family for this profound act of love, remembrance, and community investment. Their story embodies the best of what PEF stands for: neighbors helping neighbors, families supporting families, and a shared vision of building a stronger, more equitable future for all our students.

The Mussers: A Family Devoted to Education and Community

The Musser family’s legacy is woven into the very fabric of Petaluma. Wayne and Roberta Musser were known for their steadfast work ethic, warm hospitality, and commitment to helping others. Wayne spent his career at Golden State Lumber, where he was admired for his deep knowledge and generosity of spirit, always ready to lend a hand or share a joke. Roberta was equally devoted, remembered for her kindness, involvement in the PTA and local schools, and the open door she kept for neighbors and friends alike.

Their home was the kind of place where community happened naturally, whether it was raising their children with strong values or volunteering quietly behind the scenes. They taught Gene and his brother Jon, along with their sisters, that real success is measured in service to others. Jon carried those same values throughout his own life, remembered for his big laugh, compassion for friends in need, and a willingness to drop everything to help someone.

Though Wayne, Roberta, and Jon have all passed on, Gene Musser chose to honor them in the most meaningful way he could imagine: by opening doors for young people in their name. Through this scholarship fund, he is ensuring that students who need support the most will have the chance to pursue higher education—whether at a four-year university, a two-year college, or in vocational training.

This is more than a gift. It’s a living memorial to a family who believed that communities are built one neighbor at a time, one student at a time. Their values of hard work, caring for others, and quiet generosity align perfectly with PEF’s mission to create opportunities that foster critical thinking, creativity, well-being, and lifelong learning for all of Petaluma’s students.

Gene’s act of generosity reflects his family’s unshakable faith in education’s power to transform lives—and in PEF’s ability to deliver real, lasting impact. It stands as an invitation to us all: to honor those we love by helping others in their name, leaving a legacy that will echo for generations.

The Impact of PEF Scholarships: Changing Lives, One Student at a Time

Gene Musser’s $200,000 gift will go into immediate use, funding scholarships that empower students today. This is the essence of PEF’s mission.

For over 40 years, PEF has put education first, serving more than 12,000 students annually across 35 local schools—public, private, and charter alike. Through donor-supported scholarships and grants, we strive to level the playing field and ensure every student can access opportunities to learn, grow, and lead.

Consider the scale of our scholarship program:

In 2025 alone, PEF will award $300,020 in scholarships to 276 graduating seniors, drawn from 94 separate managed scholarship funds.
Since 1990, we’ve awarded over $5 million in scholarships to Petaluma students.

These awards aren’t just numbers. They’re stories of:

Students who are the first in their family to attend college.
Young people inspired to pursue science, the arts, trades, or health care because of someone else’s generosity.
Future leaders who feel seen, supported, and encouraged at the most pivotal moment in their journey.

Amber Almond, a proud PEF alumna, credits our scholarships—and earlier PEF grants that provided technology and innovative classes in her schools—for launching her path into communications and event planning. From Chromebooks in her elementary classroom to volunteering at PEF’s office in high school, Amber’s experience is a perfect example of the ripple effect a single grant or scholarship can have on a life.

Investing in High-Impact, Transparent Programs

One reason the Musser family entrusted their gift to PEF is our commitment to transparent, responsible stewardship. We take that trust seriously.

PEF’s Fund the Future initiative channels donations into Impact Grants and scholarships that serve real, demonstrated needs in our schools:

In 2024-25 alone, PEF awarded $436,378 in grants, supporting literacy programs, arts and music education, robotics and engineering classes, health and wellness centers, STEAM education, and much more .
We don’t receive government funding. Every dollar comes from local individuals, businesses, and foundations who want to make a difference.
We manage over $5.4 million in endowed funds to ensure sustainability and stability for generations to come.

Our scholarships aren’t one-size-fits-all. Donors can establish single-year awards, multi-year commitments, or permanent endowment funds. They can define the criteria that matter most to them—academic achievement, need, specific fields of study, community service, or personal challenges overcome.

This flexibility ensures that every fund truly reflects the donor’s vision while meeting the needs of our diverse student body.

A Legacy That Inspires Us All

Gene Musser’s gift is powerful not only for what it will do, but for what it represents. It’s a reminder that when one family gives, an entire community grows.

We see it every day in the smiling faces of students who get the news they received a scholarship. In teachers who can offer new programs because of PEF Impact Grants. In the families who know their child has a real chance at higher education and a brighter future.

Gene’s gift is a testament to love—love for his family, love for this community, and love for future generations. It’s the kind of legacy that will be felt for years to come, in ways big and small, in classrooms and workplaces and neighborhoods throughout Petaluma.

How You Can Support PEF’s Mission

We invite you to join Gene Musser and countless other generous donors in creating your own legacy of learning.

Establishing a scholarship fund is just one meaningful way to make a difference. There are many ways—big and small—to support Petaluma’s students and ensure every child has the opportunity to thrive:

Fund the Future: Support our general grants, ensuring flexible funding for the greatest needs in our schools.
Establish a Scholarship: Honor a loved one, promote a field you’re passionate about, or remove barriers for students facing financial challenges.
Planned Giving: Include PEF in your will or estate plans, making education part of your legacy for generations to come.
Volunteer: Help with our events, committees, or Alphabet Soup Benefit Thrift Stores, where proceeds support PEF’s mission.
Partner with Us: Local businesses can become Annual Partners in Education, demonstrating their commitment to the community while making a meaningful difference.

Your contribution is more than a donation. It’s your story woven into the fabric of Petaluma’s future.

Let’s Talk About Your Legacy

If you feel inspired by the Musser family’s gift—and want to explore how you can make your own lasting impact—please reach out.

📞 Call: (707) 778-4632

📧 Email: maureen@pefinfo.com

🌐 Visit: pefinfo.com/get-involved

Together, let’s empower tomorrow’s leaders with a solid education—and leave a legacy that truly matters.