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Women Transforming Sonoma County Through Collective Philanthropy - Oct 2019
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THE 2019 FINAL THREE!
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Capacity and succession. These were the key words consuming our discussions during our planned Leadership Team retreat on October 8.
Together, we spent the day clarifying our committee roles, expediting our communication, and laying out next-steps to inform future decisions. I would agree that this is not the most exciting work. However, strengthening our infrastructure is critical to insuring we have the capacity to manage our growth. In that regard, we affirmed the authority of our committees to take charge of their respective tasks. We want to be sure that each of you experiences the value of the time you spend on a committee and that each committee adds unique value to our organization.
We want to make it easy for you to reach out to us with your opinions and questions. We recommitted to finding effective ways to get to know each of you and encouraging you to reach out as well.
Our work was not completed at the end of the day. A task force has been formed to consider new ways to diversify our grants between our five sectors. Another task force was formed to evaluate our future financial needs. Our meeting venues will need to be larger and our record keeping will be more demanding. In addition, we must account for the small everyday expenditures that some of our members have been paying "out of pocket".
Before the day ended, we took time to acknowledge our successes this year least we forget our dedication, commitment and passion for Impact 100 RC. Our facilitator, Dr. Sharon Keating pointed out how much all of us have accomplished this past year. We established an Education Committee and a Next Gen group. We have welcomed approximately 50 members and have done our best to reach out to each one of you through our Cocktails and Conversation, new member orientations, and increasing the frequency of our newsletter. We have heightened our visibility in the community by participating in Women in Conversation. We have also connected with other Women's Philanthropy groups for mentorship and networking. And best of all, we will have awarded over $150,000 in grants by the end of this year.
I look forward to seeing all of you at our Impact Grant meeting on November 9.
Jan Gilman
President, Impact 100 Redwood Circle
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Don't Miss Our Annual $100,000 Grant Meeting
When: Saturday, November 9th 2019
Where: Charlie's Restaurant- Windsor Golf Club, 1320 19th
Hole Drive, Windsor
Time: 9:00am - Noon
It is always exciting to hear the three finalists speak regarding their plans for use of the $100,000 grant. There will be time to socialize and have a light lunch.
Please RSVP to Bev or Charlene at:
impact100membership@gmail.com
Prospective members are welcome to attend, but space is limited and an RSVP with your guest name is requested.
The Event Committee
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New Member Orientation
Saturday, Oct. 26th
9:30 - 11:00 a.m.
At the home of Shirley Ward 3655 Rutherford Way
Santa Rosa
NextGen Event
Wednesday, Oct. 30th
5:00 p.m.
Perch & Plow on Courthouse Square
Annual Meeting*
Saturday, Nov. 9th
9:00 am - 12:00 noon
Charlies Restaurant at Windsor Golf Course
1320 19th Hole Drive
* Impact Grant Voting
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. Please welcome our new members (since July 15):
Kim Agrella
Celeste Austin
Beth Bangert
Suzanne Beach
Niessia Benedetti-Diehl
Christine Bitonti
Judy Bullwinkle
Maeve Clemens
Sarah Dove
Diane Ethier
Debie Faulkner
Linda Leedham
Barbara MacKenzie
Kristin Merrihew
Betz Miller
Harriet Palk
Ginny Pitts
Donna Schafer
Barbara Schlumberger
LaSette Sewell
EloiseTweeten
Amber Twitchell
Nancy Vogl
Robin Warren
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2019 Impact Grant Committee Announces The Final Three!
The Impact Grant Committee is excited to announce to you the names of the three 2019 finalists. This was a difficult process as all the proposals this year were superb. We have included below a short summary of each finalist's proposal (written by the nonprofits) but we STRONGLY encourage you to attend the Annual Meeting on November 9th and hear them for yourself. The 250-word summary does not convey the passion these agencies have for their projects in the same way that hearing them present in person does.
FORGET ME NOT CHILDREN'S SERVICES
Forget Me Not Children's Services helps children ages 3-18 who are victims of horrific abuse and neglect heal from trauma through animal/horticultural-assisted therapeutic interventions. Our evidence-based Farm Therapy Program, located on a 3-acre farm sanctuary and vegetable garden in Santa Rosa, helps young trauma survivors, 60% of whom suffer from physical or emotional disabilities, develop respect for all life forms and create a compassionate way of behaving and relating to others that is the antithesis of their painful life experiences. 
Our Therapy Program serves 280 low-income children suffering from extreme trauma. Your funding and partnership will allow us to expand our program to serve an additional 100 children from the Roseland School District. Sonoma County's child welfare officials have determined that these elementary school children need our therapeutic program to help them heal from trauma inflicted by their gang-impacted neighborhoods, the devastation of family separation, the unconscionable realities of human trafficking, and the ongoing reality of post fire recovery. Our trained staff and committed volunteers will help these young children manage their suffering through weekly therapeutic sessions that involve feeding, grooming, and walking rescued farm animals and working in our garden to plant and harvest vegetables, prepare food made from the organic vegetables they grow, and organize boxes of produce for them to take home to enjoy with their families. Our expectation is that by providing animal/horticultural-assisted therapy for these children now, we can help them overcome the negative impacts of trauma and guide them toward a successful future. https://forgetmenotfarm.org/
SANTA ROSA COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERING PREGNANCY
Santa Rosa Community Health (SRCH) is proposing to use the Impact 100 RC funding to implement an innovative, evidence-based program called Centering Pregnancy at our newly re-built Vista Campus that was destroyed in the fires of 2017.
As part of our comprehensive services to low-income women, SRCH provides full-scope obstetric care to more than 700 women each year. This includes prenatal care, delivery, and post-partum care. The model of Centering Pregnancy is based on a program designed and researched by the Centering Healthcare Institute that provides prenatal care in a supportive group setting. It moves the health care experience from 15-minute appointments to two-hour group appointments with up to ten couples and/or individuals in each group. Women of similar gestation meet regularly to receive medical care, health education, share concerns, and support each other. Patients also receive one-on-one time with their provider and learn to participate in their health assessments. The same group of women meet throughout their pregnancy and post-partum, forming long-term bonds and community support that last.
Our goal is to develop a prenatal program for low-income women that supports their healthy pregnancy, birth, infant bonding, and breastfeeding that results in long-term benefits for the whole family. In addition to improving birth outcomes for SRCH pregnant women it will improve health literacy about pregnancy, breastfeeding, and infant care, strengthen pregnant women's empowerment, and self-efficacy with respect to their health and the health of their children, and strengthen pregnant women's engagement in a supportive community and sense of belonging.
SOCIAL ADVOCATES FOR YOUTH (SAY)
For almost 50 years, Social Advocates for Youth (SAY) has been the recognized leader in serving homeless, disconnected, and at-risk youth in Sonoma County. We focus on the most vulnerable youth and families-those who fall through the cracks-and provide support, opportunities, and hope through crisis stabilization, housing, counseling, and career services.
SAY is asking Impact 100 Redwood Circle to help us reach the most agonizingly vulnerable young people in our community: youth victims of sex trafficking. As a founding member of the Sonoma County Human Trafficking Task Force, our staff have the knowledge to identify and support victims -- but we are only one organization, with funding largely dedicated to supporting victims after we have  found them. This grant would allow us to build a curriculum and train 300 front-line service providers (e.g. ER nurses, police officers, hotel staff) who have the rare opportunity to interact with victims despite the isolating measures traffickers take. Through this program, we would be able to turn these interactions from lost opportunities into chances for freedom. In the truest sense, that is what the success of this project is based on: the number of young people who escape sexual slavery for a life of freedom and independence. If you can help us find them, we are ready and able to help them through the long and difficult process of recovery. You can find out more about our programs at our website: www.saysc.org
Again, we hope to see you ALL on November 9th...one of the highlights of the year for Impact 100 Redwood Circle members!
Suzy Marzalek & Vicky Groninga, Co-Chairs
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The Simply Strings program - part of the Santa Rosa Symphony's Youth Education Program - was a 2018 Impact 100 RC Community Grant winner in the Arts & Culture sector. The program uses music to foster academic success, emotional health, and prosocial skills. Its goal is not only to improve  access to music education, but to spark positive, community-wide social change. Simply Strings has a robust schedule of upcoming performance's, including:
- Three concerts will at Piner High School at 6 PM on Nov 15, Feb 28, and May 15.
- Free concerts for youth with the Aspirante Youth Orchestra at Weill Hall, Green Music Center on Feb 6 and April 30.
- An all Santa Rosa Youth Symphony Showcase Concert at Weill Hall at the Green Music Center on March 15 @ 3 PM
For the complete schedule of Simply Strings concerts, visit: https://www.srsymphony.org/Education-Community/Youth-Ensemble-Concerts
Marcy Clausen, Impact 100 RC member
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Follow Impact 100 Redwood Circle on Social Media
If you are a Facebook, Instagram or Twitter user, be sure to add Impact 100 RC. This is an easy way to stay up to date on our grant recipients, upcoming Impact 100 RC events, learn about activities in other Impact 100 groups across the country and follow the growing impact of women and collective philanthropy. Simply click the icons below and like or follow us.
Ann Marie McGee, Marketing Chair
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NextGen Update
First Scholarship Awarded!
We are thrilled to announce our first NextGen scholarship has been awarded to LaSette Sewell. She works at Catholic Charities and has been involved in Sonoma County non-profits for 5 years, beginning with a one year stint for Americorps. She's looking forward to jumping into the philanthropic side non-profit work and is excited to meet the powerful and seasoned women in our circle. We're looking for additional recipients. Do you know someone who might like to learn more about our group and the scholarship? Please send introductions to Robin Wendler, NextGen Chair, rwendler@rocketmail.com 707-889-4497.
October Social Event
We invite Impact 100 RC members who are in their 20's, 30's or 40's to join us at a special NextGen focused social event on Wednesday, October 30 at 5:00 at Perch and Plow on Courthouse Square. This is also a great outreach opportunity and all members are welcome to bring a younger friend they'd like to introduce to our circle. It will be an informal social event to talk about Impact100 and NextGen, and to get to know each other better.
Committee Seeking New Members
The NextGen Committee is seeking new members. Would you like to help us find and cultivate younger women for our circle? We both recruit younger women and provide enhanced experiences for them once they are members. We're a new committee - so jump and join us with your ideas and energy. Contact Robin (above).
Robin Wendler, Chair
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If I Could Donate $100,000, I Would Give It To.....
We asked women attending our exhibit at The Experience at Women in Conversation at the Green Center on September 18, to share their answer to that question. And Impact 100 RC volunteers
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Charlene Staples with the responses
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shared how they could be part of donating $100,000.
A very successful and fun afternoon, followed by an evening of interesting presentations and discussions by authors, Cheryl Strayed and Tara Westover.
Thank you to all the members who volunteered to help staff our exhibit. Valorie Bader, Sharon Beckman, Karen Fass, Jan Gilman, Vicki Groninga, Barbara Hopp, Melissa Kelley, Ann Marie McGee, Kathryn Raimondi, Charlene Staples, Ellen Wear and Robin Wendler.
Ann Marie McGee, Marketing Chair
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Recap of our third ED Talks on the health sector
About 40 Impact 100 RC members attended the third in a series of ED Talks, hosted by the Education Committee. This event, highlighting the Health sector, was presented by the former CEO for Kaiser Foundation Hospital & Health Plan, Sonoma-Marin Service Area, Judy Coffey. Judy, who has recently joined Leap Solutions Group, Inc., a business management consulting firm as a leadership coach and mentor, provided members with an overview of the status of community health in Sonoma County.
We reviewed the results of the most recent Community Health Needs Assessment, and learned that Sonoma County ranks 11th in overall health in California. We learned that "Where You Live Matters", as it relates to life expectancy and the social determinants of health: Economy, education, transportation, social, neighborhood, clean environment, housing, and health care access. We were able to see the statistical variances in life expectancy by city within our county as a result of these determinants, with Healdsburg having the highest and the Russian River the lowest. The results of the next study, to be published in January, are not expected to be significantly different and will not yet fully reflect the impact of the 2017 wildfires.
The good news is that the overall mortality rate within Sonoma County for both males and females has decreased by 11% over the previous study, and the overall desirability of Sonoma County as one of California's healthiest communities. Judy stressed the importance of transportation, and educational programs for children, and outreach to Latino males, who frequently neglect their own health while deeply concerned about the welfare of their families.
Increased homelessness among the elderly is a future concern, as well as the reduced mortality projected for today's youth due to drug usage, unintended injuries, suicide, and other factors. Interestingly, learning to read, thus giving access to information about health care, is one of the most important tools we can provide children, and a community. Once again, we see the interconnectedness of the various sectors we support, and the building blocks we create through our Impact and Community grants each year.
NEW!! ED Talks presentations available on our website
Visit this addition to our website and see the presentations provided by ED Talks speakers at:
Katherine Taylor, Education Committee Member
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Membership Continues to Grow!
Our current Impact 100 RC membership is up to 219! The next New Member Orientation is
Saturday, October 26, from 9:30-11:00 AM at the home of Shirley Ward, 3655 Rutherford Way, Santa Rosa. There will be information presented on the grant's process and various committee  functions, with time for any questions about Impact 100 RC. Please RSVP to Lynn McIntyre at lynnscv@sbcgloval.net or phone her at (707)239-4967.
Our Cocktails and Conversation casual get togethers in July and September were tremendously successful and many of the guests have become new members. Please watch for an email blast announcing when and where the next C & C will take place.
All Impact 100 RC members in good standing as of October 15th will be eligible to vote for our 2019 Impact Grant recipient at the November 9th General Meeting. If you are unable to attend the meeting, you will be able to vote by Proxy or Absentee Ballot. The RSVP's received so far indicate we will have a very good turnout for the General Meeting. Hope to see you there.
Bev Curry & Charlene Staple, Co-Chairs
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Contact our Newsletter Editor:
If you have questions or suggestions for The Impact 100 Redwood Circle Communique, please contact Editor, Jan Houts at impact100newsletter@gmail.com
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