WOMEN TRANSFORMING SONOMA COUNTY THROUGH COLLECTIVE PHILANTHROPY | NOVEMBER 2022 | ISSUE 62 |
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Topping off Our Million Dollar Year!
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Members Choose Jewish Community Free Clinic for $100,000 Impact Grant
Over 160 members, guests and speakers attended the much-awaited 7th annual Impact Awards Celebration on November 5 at Sally Tomatoes in Rohnert Park. Whether one attended in-person or via Zoom, attendees were feeling the love as they anxiously awaited the announcement of the 2022 Impact and Merit Grants.
The program began with a heartfelt sendoff by Co-President, Mindi Lewis for retiring Co-President, Cindy Schmidt. Guests then heard from representatives of three past Impact Grantee organizations. Carol Rathmann of Forget Me Not Farms and Jill St. Peter of 4Cs spoke of overcoming challenges presented by the pandemic. They were followed by two graduates of the The LIME Foundation’s NextGen Trades Academy. One could hear a pin drop as each shared how their NextGen experience changed the trajectory of their lives. Speakers Mariah Broussard and Victor Hughes brought the audience to tears and received a resounding standing ovation.
With the stage set, the Impact Grant Committee announced the two Merit Grant recipients – KBBF Public Radio and VIDAS Legal – who each received $10,000. Merit Grants recognize the excellent work of the organizations and may be used as discretionary funds to support their core mission.
The program culminated with the “Big Reveal” — the announcement that members voted to award our 2022 Impact Grant to the Jewish Community Free Clinic. Executive Director Donna Waldman and Director of Clinical Services Deborah Roberts celebrated with tears and a hug. Funds will be used to implement an electronic healthcare records (EHR) system which is widely adopted by most health care providers in Sonoma County. Through this partnership, Impact 100 Redwood Circle will support JCFC in its commitment to advancing health equity for all.
With the 2022 cycle granting a total of $220,000 in Community, Impact and Merit grants, our cumulative grant making total reached $1.21 million, awarded to 47 Sonoma County nonprofits.
Impact Grant Committee Co-Chair, Ina Chun, closed the meeting on a high note with a simple “Thanks a Million!” Congratulations one and all, and onward to 2023!
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Liaison: Elsie Allen Foundation
Improving Music Education - New marching band uniforms
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Elsie Allen High School Music Department is grateful for the grant it received from Impact 100 Redwood Circle. The initial step and plan is replace its 30-year-old uniforms.
Elsie Allen’s music director, Efrain Nava, recently moved to Santa Rosa from Los Angeles where he led a middle school band program that performed at such storied venues as the Disneyland Parade, the Christmas Parade and the Los Angeles Dodger Stadium.
Nava explained that obtaining 120 band uniforms is a 5-7 month process. He is currently working with the uniform consultant at Stanbury Company in Missouri and plans to have the uniforms for the Butter and Eggs Parade in Petaluma in the spring as well as other parades during the year.
Student musicians asked about their thoughts on new uniforms responded:
“Wearing new uniforms will allow us to have confidence and perform with ease.”
“Receiving new band uniforms will not only increase our school spirit but it will
make our band feel important and unique. Our current band uniforms, over 30 years
old, have been worn and presented to the community time and time again. This
makes us, as a band feel unappreciated and unimportant.”
Upcoming Elsie Allen musical performances will be advertised so that all Impact 100 Redwood Circle members may attend.
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Liaison Event: 6th Street Theater
A Raisin in the Sun
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The Liaison Committee has arranged a theater night at 6th Street Theater, our 2022 Community Grant winner. We have a block of 35 tickets that are on hold for us to see A Raisin in the Sun for the matinee performance on Sunday, March 19. Tickets are typically $39/adult and $37/senior. We have arranged with the theater to have a reception and a discussion with the actors after the show for our members.
If you have never been to 6th Street Theater, this is a wonderful chance to get to know one of our premiere local theaters. If you are a long time theater goer, this classic drama is a “not to be missed” performance.
Please tell the box office that you are a member of Impact 100 Redwood Circle when you call for tickets so you may be seated in our section.
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ED TALKS: Recap
Melissa Struzzo, Substance Abuse in Sonoma County
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Did You Know:
- Someone dies from a drug overdose in Sonoma County every 2 days, and 91% of opioid overdoses in Sonoma County are from fentanyl.
- There are 2000 drivers currently taking DUI “re-education” training in Sonoma County.
- There are no non-profit treatment centers for youth with addictions in Sonoma County, or even in Northern California. Youth are often sent to Southern California for treatment.
We are experiencing a public health crisis of substance use disorder. Deaths are increasing for all groups, but most dramatically among black and Latinx residents. Seniors have outpaced youth for higher rates of substance use in Sonoma County.
Communities with the fewest resources have higher opioid deaths. Increased isolation, lack of community and decreased access to treatment are major contributors. Stigma remains our biggest enemy. And, there is a lack of access to mental health services, youth and young adult residential and outpatient treatment, medically-supervised withdrawal management, Narcan and other harm reduction evidenced-based strategies, programs in more rural parts of the County, and services for co-occurring disorders.
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Community Grants Committee Invitation for 2023
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Invitation to Join the Community Grants Committee for 2023
The beginning of the 2023 Impact 100 Redwood Circle Community Grants (CG) cycle is approaching. One of our first orders of business is forming a committee. A number of continuing CG committee members are already onboard to serve for the upcoming cycle. We’d like to extend the invitation to all Impact 100 Redwood Circle members who may have an interest in getting involved. If you are interested in serving on the 2023 CG committee--or would like more information--please let us know by responding to impact100communitygrants@gmail.com no later than November 30.
Community Grant committee members are asked to commit to several meetings from January through mid June 2023 that will include an overview of the CG process, information about evaluating and scoring applications, and ways to incorporate the Impact 100 Redwood Circle core values and DEI. The main work of the committee is to read and evaluate qualified grant applications in the spring and select finalists to present to the Impact 100 Redwood Circle membership for voting.
Last year committee members read and scored 35 grant applications and submitted 20 finalists to the membership for voting. All four of the Impact 100 Redwood Circle focus areas (Arts and Culture, Education, Health & Community Betterment, and Environment, Parks & Recreation) were represented in the 10 grants awarded to Sonoma County non-profit organizations.
Community Grant committee membership is a meaningful way to increase your involvement with Impact 100 Redwood Circle. We hope you will consider joining us.
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New Members
Elece Hempel
Nancy Just
Patricia McGinty
Deborah Perel
Carol Washburn (Employer Sponsored by Exchange Bank)
Offer Your Home for a Cozy C&C (Coffee or Cocktails!)
C&Cs are scheduled 4-5 times/year to introduce friends, family, and colleagues to Impact 100 Redwood Circle. We’re exploring the idea of hosting some in our own homes. Who would be interesting in offering their home for this event in 2023? For details, please contact Sharon Beckman now at skuroki@sonic.net .
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Busting Bias: A New Group is Beginning
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Beyond The Check: Voices Youth Center
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Opportunity to Help our 2015 Impact Grant Winner Voices Youth Center
Voices Youth Programs was Impact 100 Redwood Circle's first Impact Grant winner in 2015. Since that time some members have contributed food for its Thanksgiving feast. This year they will have 50 young adults attending their meal. Food items needed are:
- mashed potatoes
- gravy
- stuffing
- green bean casserole
- dinner rolls/bread
- veggies/salad/some kind of green dish
- pumpkin pie
- other sweet treats or pies
Items can be delivered to Voices Youth Programs at 714 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa on Wednesday November 25 between 9 and noon. If you can contribute an item, please email Gail Perry at: gprpt@sonic.net to let her know what you can bring.
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