WOMEN TRANSFORMING SONOMA COUNTY THROUGH COLLECTIVE PHILANTHROPY | JUNE 2022 | ISSUE 57 |
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2022 Community Grant Recipients |
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Each month your Liaison Committee will bring you an in-depth look at the Community Grant projects we have funded for this year.
6th Street Playhouse
This Community Grant recipient is well known to many Impact 100 Redwood Circle members. According to Jared Sakren, Artistic Director, “This outdoor venue will be a game changer for 6th Street Playhouse. We used to do outdoor Shakespeare productions in partnership with Shakespeare-In-The-Cannery which closed down, and we will again be able to offer those. We will also be able to accommodate larger audiences per show which makes producing shows more focused and financially feasible. This will be a tremendous addition to our overall Strategic Plan.”
The size of the stage will be approximately 100 feet deep by 70 feet wide, depending on budget and practical space.
Attendance capacity range is between 120 – 300 depending on seating arrangement. Performances will include musicals, comedies, Shakespeare, Dance Concerts, and Summer Camp performances. Completion date will hopefully be June 2023, in time for the Summer Camps.
Food For Thought
Food For Thought is so grateful to Impact 100 Redwood Circle for funding our Full Belly Program! Your community grant will bring heathy food to pregnant women who are low-income and food-insecure.
Launched in August 2021, the Full Belly Program brings healthy groceries, vitamins and supplements, prepared meals and nutrition education to low-income, food-insecure pregnant people in Sonoma County. Each client, and any immediate family members living in their household, will receive the following during the pregnancy and up to three months after the birth—all free of charge:
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Weekly groceries and meals: Each order includes enough healthy food for up to 21 meals per person and consists of the clients’ choice of fresh produce, high-quality sources, healthy grains, fresh soups and salads and medically tailored prepared meals.
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Vitamins and supplements: Based on recommendations from health care providers and our on-staff registered dietitian, clients may also receive vitamins and supplements, including prenatal vitamins.
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Household items: We also provide essential items such as diapers, soap, toilet paper and more.
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Individual nutrition consultations and case management: Our registered dietitian regularly works with clients to customize their health plan to their unique medical needs and preferences, as well as help them overcome barriers to proper nutrition and connect them with other resources.
In the words of one of our first Full Belly clients, Grace:
"The Full Belly Program is wonderful! I appreciate the high quality of the food and access to all the healthy fruits and vegetables. The team at FFT makes sure that ordering and pick up goes smoothly. I have a large family and my new born baby is just two weeks old. It is so helpful to have enough healthy food for everyone -- especially now with the high cost of food and gas. It gives me peace of mind to know that my family is getting proper nutrition."
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A Million Reasons to Celebrate! |
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On May 19th Impact 100 Redwood Circle had its first all member, in-person celebration of 2022 at the beautiful Jackson Theater on the Sonoma Country Day School campus. This meeting was a three-part celebration.
First, we celebrated passing ONE MILLION DOLLARS in philanthropic giving in Sonoma County! What an accomplishment for our first 7 years!
Second, we celebrated our 2022 Community Grant awards – 10 of them! Grants were awarded in all four of our focus area to 6th Street Playhouse, Becoming Independent, Santa Rosa Symphony Simply Strings program, Corazon Healdsburg, Elsie Allen Foundation, Circuit Rider, Sonoma County Parks Foundation, Food For Thought, Sonoma County Secure Families Collaborative and Sonoma Family Meal.
Finally, we celebrated being together in-person for the first time in 2022. The mood was upbeat, the catering by Tilted Platter was absolutely phenomenal, and the program was sensational. As a final touch, a small but lovely gift was provided to all members attending in person or via zoom by the Marketing Committee to commemorate this very special occasion.
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2022 Impact Grant Nominations Are In!
Thank you to our 32 members who nominated a nonprofit for our 2022 Impact Grant. We received 28 unduplicated nominations and are in the process of vetting the organizations before the invitations with the Letter of Intent application will be sent out. It appears that some of you took advantage of the new BIPOC-led Nonprofits List and reached out to some of those organizations. Our four Focus Areas are well-represented as well. The Impact Grant Committee is ready to go to work!
Legal Aid Unique Funding Opportunity - Act Now
Legal Aid of Sonoma County has been an Impact Merit Award Grantee for two years in a row. It’s clear that many of you are passionate about the life-changing work they do. They now have an unprecedented opportunity to secure a permanent home for their services by purchasing the building they currently occupy at 144 South E Street. Legal Aid already rents 85% of the space and has been providing services there for the past nine years, so the community they serve knows where and how to get to this location. Owning the building would allow LASC to consolidate all their services under one roof, save over $25,000/year in leasing costs and ensure long term stability for their services. Please consider a legacy gift to help them seize this unique opportunity. They need to raise $500,000 by July 1st to secure the building. Contact Ronit Rubinoff at (707) 688-4034 or email at rrubinoff@legalaidsc.com.
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Events
Santa Rosa Cocktails & Conversations (C&C): June 29, 5-6:30 PM
Register yourself and a friend or two here for our next C&C in the lovely garden of one of our members. Your friend(s) will meet current members, network with interesting women and learn about Impact 100 Redwood Circle.
Petaluma C&C: July 13, 5-6:30 PM, Ayawaska Petaluma
Here’s another opportunity to introduce friends to our group. Join us for appetizers and a no-host bar where guests will network with members and hear about the impact we continue to make in the community. Register yourself and your guest(s) after June 29 here
Two New Programs on Offer!
Employer Sponsorship Program:
Read about this new program here:
Please contact Sarah Dove at sarah.dove@sonoma.edu with your contacts at local banks, accounting firms, law offices, insurance companies, etc. who should know about this program.
Speakers Bureau:
We can offer a 20-minute presentation (plus Q&A) tailored to the audiences of any local organizations who should know about Impact 100 Redwood Circle. Please send recommendations to Kim McEachron at mcevans5@comcast.net.
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NEW! Grant Making Task Force |
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A new Grant Making Task Force has been created with two purposes. First, to review and learn about the current and emerging grantmaking philosophies, innovative approaches, and trends of other philanthropic organizations in the United States. Second, to recommend refining our current grantmaking practices and grantee engagement practices.
The task force goals include researching
- how organizations have implemented DEI values in grantmaking and grantee engagement
- best practices from philanthropic organizations that will empower Impact 100 Redwood Circle to broaden our reach into the nonprofit community and deepen our impact.
If the task force makes recommendations to change our current grantmaking practices, they will make a case for that change to the entire membership.
Finally, any changes proposed will be considered under the lens of efficiency and effectiveness and with the knowledge that we are an all-volunteer organization.
The Impact Grant Co-Chairs have already completed much work regarding some innovative grantmaking approaches. That work is much appreciated and will be leveraged to kick start the task forces’ research.
Members of the task force include people who have led or been members of the two grant making committees, the liaison committee, and the DEI committee. The task force intends to make any recommendations for change to the Leadership Team between October and December 2022.
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Beyond The Check - Tour Catholic Charities' Carnitas Village |
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We have all read about the construction of Caritas Village, Catholic Charities bold new project to address the homeless crisis in innovative new ways. The Village is comprised of Caritas Center and Caritas Homes and due to open in September.
The Center’s 46,000 square feet will include a family shelter, childcare center, drop -in center, and recuperation shelter, as well as a new health clinic partnership with Santa Rosa Community Health. The Village is completed with Caritas Homes, 128 affordable homes, managed by Burbank Housing.
We Impact 100 Redwood Circle members have the opportunity to preview Caritas Village on Tuesday, June 28 and Wednesday, June 29 thanks to Impact member Margie Pettibone who is employed by Catholic Charities. Tours will be offered on both days at 3:15 and are limited to 12 people each day.
Please call or email Barbara Hopp (707) 538-3313, barbarahopp123@gmail.com to reserve your spot. Details will be provided when you register.
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Leadership Opportunities! |
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The Nominating Committee is requesting member recommendations for our 2023 executive leadership team. Positions include:
- Co-President
- Vice President of Governance
- Vice President of Nominating
- Secretary
- Treasurer
If you are interested or want to recommend someone else for one of these positions, please contact Eloise Tweeten, Nominating Committee Chair, at (707) 484-8818 or eloisetweeten@gmail.com.
Thank you!
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Join The Women in Conversation Experience - July 17 |
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Bring a friend to our Impact 100 Redwood Circle exhibit table. Everyone will have an opportunity to share “If I could Donate $100,000 to a Sonoma County nonprofit, I would give it to……” How fun is that!
Mark your calendars for Sunday, July 17 from 12 pm to 4 pm. This fun afternoon on the lawn at Luther Burbank Center celebrates local women from all backgrounds – Including dozens of exhibitors, demonstrations, activities, and food trucks. Tickets are $20 per attendee. For more information and/or to purchase tickets - visit www.socowomenevents.com
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Impact 100 Redwood Circle Says "Good-bye" to our Editor |
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Jan Houts is retiring and moving “out-of-state” to Mexico! Jan is a founding member and initial volunteer to step up and produce our monthly newsletter, The Communique. The Communique has always been our vehicle for sharing all leadership information with our general members. We probably started with emails, but we cannot remember when there wasn’t a Communique. Through thick and thin Jan has met the challenge of gathering articles, announcements, and Presidents’ letters for every monthly issue. And, with our growth in members and activites, this has really been a challenge!
Jan, there is no way we can truly express our appreciation for all that you have done for our Circle. But, we can say it:
Thank you
We wish you an enjoyable retirement and wonderful adventures in your new life.
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