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Women Transforming Sonoma County Through Collective Philanthropy - Nov. 2020
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When sheltering in place was announced last March, effectively cancelling a lineup of Impact 100
RC events (Cocktails & Conversation, Summer Social, etc), we really wondered how well we could hold our membership together. If we couldn't meet in person, would we drift apart and see dwindling membership numbers? Would our ability to make a collective impact in Sonoma County erode?
Well, as you are no doubt aware, the absolute opposite happened. Thanks in large part to the efforts of the Marketing Committee, led by Ann Marie McGee and Mindi Lewis, we continued to offer more and more virtual Zoom events, providing greater connection to the nonprofits who have received our grants and introducing prospective/new women to the group.
Our membership has GROWN over 10% so far this year, so we'll have even more money to grant next year. This has been a true success story. We must simply acknowledge that we have an absolutely amazing organization!
2020 isn't over, and neither is our lineup of events. This month we're trying out a new Spotlight series on "The Intersection of Business and Philanthropy", with speakers from two of our past Community Grant recipients. We'll hold our last Cocktails & Conversation of the year on December 3rd (great time to reach out to prospective members to join us before calendar year end).
What do we anticipate for 2021? Predicting the future is impossible, but here is what we do know for sure...
- Until May 2021, we will continue to offer all our events and gatherings over the virtual Zoom platform. Then, if it makes sense, we'll explore options for convening in-person or hybrid virtual/in-person for Summer and Fall. Rest assured we'll keep you in the loop.
- Our Community Grant Committee kicks off this month. Over the first few months of 2021, they will guide us in the nomination process and select the best grant proposals for our consideration and vote. The winners will be announced in May 2021.
- In January our Racial Equity Study Group will begin Phase Two of their work, educating themselves on what other organizations are doing, nationally and locally, in the areas of diversity, equity, and inclusion. They will be researching best practices in the areas of grant making, membership recruitment and diversity, and other practices. They will work with various Committee Co-Chairs to see how some of these best practices might be incorporated into Impact 100 RC.
- And before you know it, the Impact Grant Committee will be starting up again
Yes, 2020 has been quite a ride and we have every reason to believe that 2021 will be better yet. Keep spreading the word, keep inviting women you know or meet to consider joining us, keep looking for ways to stay connected with us. Remember, together we are transforming Sonoma County through the Power of Collective Philanthropy.
Jan Gilman & Suzy Marzalek, Co-Presidents
Impact 100 Redwood Circle
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Stay connected by attending these upcoming
Spotlight: The Intersection of Business & Philanthropy
Tuesday, Nov. 17
4:30 - 5:30 p.m.
Letitia Hanke, Founder and ED, the Lime Foundation
(2019 Community Grant Recipient)
Cocktails & Conversation
Thursday, December 3
6:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Open to members & guests who want to learn more about Impact 100 RC
Spotlight: The Intersection of Business and Philanthropy
Thursday, December 10
4:30 - 5:30 p.m.
Colleen Carmichael, ED
Reach For Home (2020 Community Grant recipient)
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Help Us Reach
$1 Million in Grants
Did you know that the monies budgeted for our 2021 Impact and Community Grants will be based on how much we raise by the end of this year-12/31/2020. And wouldn't it be great if we could grant $1 million dollars total by the end of 2021? To make this happen, we need to have $235,000 "in the bank" by the end of this year. We need to challenge ourselves over the next 6 weeks. - JOIN or RENEW your membership by 12/31/2020
- Encourage your friends and colleagues to join
- Invite them to the remaining 2020 events
- Consider switching from a dyad to a full member
Who thought that we could overcome all the obstacles created by Covid? Well, we did it, and, in many cases, we did it better! We have the knowledge, the connections and the passion. Let's challenge ourselves to hit that $1 million mark for 2021!
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An Annual Meeting to Remember!
Planning for our annual meeting started way back in July, when the Impact Grants, Events, Marketing and Membership committees formed a coalition to determine how to possibly produce a compelling, informative, fun event - virtually!
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"Best use of theme" Carol Newman
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As the Impact Grants Committee worked diligently to pare down 32 LOI submissions to the final three, the other team members were preparing for Nov. 7th. Members were provided with a "save the date" card, e-blast and newsletter reminders and an Impact 100 RC scarf, delivered right to our homes! Training was provided to members who may not have felt "Zoom savvy", the balloting process was developed and tested, the final three nominees were video-taped and the presentation was created. The registration process was developed and managed and the team held practice sessions to assure the Nov. 7th meeting went smoothly.
Clearly, a tremendous amount of work went into planning this "virtual" Annual Meeting....perhaps providing a model for other Impact 100 groups around the country.
Meeting recap
Transformed by Covid & Better Than Ever!
By 10:00 a.m., 166 members had logged in to Zoom (201 registered). Jennifer Girvin (Events) kicked off the meeting with a fun "chat" session where we found out how many attendees were Founding Members, how long each of us has been a member and if we found it hard to decide on our 2020 Impact grantee. Next, we broke into groups of 6-9 so we could introduce ourselves and have a bit of "in person" time with members that we may not know.
Jan Gilman & Suzy Marzalak (co-Presidents) were next. They marveled that, by 12/31/19, after only four years as an organization, we had 224 members and raised enough to award $200,000 in grants for 2020. Amazingly, even though 2020 was a year different from any other, we added 46 new
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Members celebrate via Zoom
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members and had an 82% retention rate. And in five years, we have given out a total of $765,000 ($535,000 in Impact Grants, including finalists, and $230,000 in Community Grants).
After a great "fun & games" quiz, based on famous women in history, Sharon Beckman (VP Nominating) introduced our 2021 Executive Leadership Team and Committee Chairs.
Finally, the moment we'd been waiting for...Suzy Marzalek & Vicki Groninga (Impact Grant Co-chairs) announced that 4C's of Sonoma County was awarded this year's $100,000! In addition, the two runners up, Legal Aid and The Climate Center, would each receive $10,000.
Back in July the thought was, "how can we possibly create an effective annual meeting during Covid?". With creativity, research, cooperation and teamwork, I think we can all agree that our Impact 100 RC coalition not only produced a better-than-ever event, but truly made an Impact on US....the members!
A BIG thanks to everyone involved!
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And the 2020 Winner is!
4C's Sonoma County, Child Care Initiative Project (CCIP) Expansion
The Community Child Care Council (4Cs) has been working since 1972 to ensure every child in Sonoma County has the care and early education they need. The organization links families with the right care, trains care providers, administers financial assistance, sponsors the child nutrition program, and advocates at the local, state and national level on behalf of families and children. They also operate 11 preschools in Sonoma County.
Upon receiving the news that 4Cs was voted the 2020 winner, Executive Director, Melanie Dodson was choked up. "This amazing grant, together with the funds recently received form the City of Santa Rosa, will enable us to double our resources. It will create 500 new childcare spots in Sonoma County, give 60 women the opportunity to get licensed for new businesses and provide additional resources for training and support, which in turn supports our economy. Your investment will ensure that child care is here now and after the Pandemic".
Runners Up Each Receive $10,000
Legal Aid of Sonoma County and The Climate Center each received $10,000
Legal Aid's mission is "to support social justice and advance basic human rights for vulnerable people in our community. Grant monies will support their new Homeless Prevention Projects which helps tenants facing imminent homelessness in the eviction process, and helps homeless people obtain housing, by removing financial and legal barriers that keep them on the street.
The Climate Center's grant will support "Powering Santa Rosa's Low-Income Communities with Clean Energy Resilience". By August 2022, this program will provide "islands" of clean power (solar combined with battery storage) capable of maintaining power reliability during outages, independently of PG&E, for two community facilities located in a lower-income neighborhood of Santa Rosa.
STAY TUNED for updates on these three terrific programs from our 2021 Liaison Committee.
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Membership Committee
Nov/Dec Critical for Renewals!
The next two months will be very important for getting good renewal numbers and for turning guests from the Nov. 7th meeting and the upcoming C & C into members.
Cocktails and Conversation Event
The year-end Zoom C & C will be Thursday, December 3, from 6-7PM. December is the last month to JOIN Impact 100 RC or to RENEW your membership, in order to take advantage of the 2020 TAX DEDUCTION for your membership fee donation. 
ALL MEMBERS: Please seriously consider asking one or more guests to join you for this event. We need the support from all of our members in our final 2020 recruiting efforts. Click here to register.
Renewals for Membership
Many of our members have November or December RENEWAL DATES. A few members who did not renew in October are now in their Month Grace Period. We are hoping for continued high renewal rates at a time when our community is in such great need of our support.
Members up for renewal will receive timely email notifications. Membership Committee members are continuing to reach out to make sure emails have been received. For renewal questions or assistance, call Bev Curry: 707-571-1672.
WHEN RENEWING, please do not forget to mail in your renewal application with your renewal fee donation. Click here for renewal applications and information.
Charlene Staples & Bev Curry, Co-Chairs
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Education Committee
Recap of Nov. ED TALK
We are very fortunate to have public and private behavioral health services in Sonoma County that support individuals and families living with challenging issues. We were so happy to have Mr. Bill Carter, LCSW, Behavioral Health Division Director, Sonoma County Department of Health Services, as our featured ED TALK speaker in October.
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Mr. Carter spoke about the services his division provides directly and through partnerships with local nonprofits. The Behavioral Health Division (BHD) continues to provide a spectrum of mental health and substance use disorder services even in the face of funding challenges, wildfires and a pandemic. Bill described his division's response to these crises as basically "all hands-on deck", including the formation of a new COVID-19 unit. He was also candid about existing service gaps and his division's goals for the future. DID YOU KNOW: - In the spring of 2021, BHD will be opening a 16-bed psychiatric crisis stabilization unit that will accept Medi-Cal, reducing county costs by 50%.
- Since 2011, the Mobile Support Team (MST) mental health professionals have partnered with law enforcement to respond to emergency situations. With a recent increase in budget, MST has expanded its hours and services to include the towns of Healdsburg and Cloverdale.
- Suicide rates in Sonoma County are higher than the state average, especially among older males. The BHD is launching a new project in an effort to address this issue.
- Our 2016 Impact Grant recipient, VOICES Youth Center, partners with BHD with the Alchemy Project, focusing on prevention, early intervention and increased youth engagement.
To learn more about Sonoma County Behavioral Health Services and recent Health Data:
To view the ED TALK slide presentation, click here. We look forward to seeing you at our next ED TALK in January!
Laurie Parrish & Thea Hensel, Co-Chairs
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New! Spotlight Series
Intersection of Business and Philanthropy
This month, Impact 100 RC is launching a new spotlight series. The goal is to further position ourselves to professional women and younger members and to provide fresh content for our social media platforms. The series will be evaluated after the first two Spotlights:
Tuesday, Nov 17, 4:30 p.m.
Letitia Hanke, Founder and Executive Director for the Lime Foundation
Letitia will be sharing the inspiration that led her from envisioning a music career to her 24 years in the roofing industry. Letitia's vision to advocate for the disadvantaged inspired her to start
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The LIME Foundation. While her day job is CEO for ARS Roofing employing 24 full-time people, her goal is to spend the rest of her life encouraging others to never give up on their dreams.
Letitia has been recognized numerous times in recent years, including the 2017 Entrepreneur of the Year award by the National 100 Black Women Council, 2018 North Bay Business Journal Nonprofit Leadership Award, 2018 4Cs Champion of Children-Empowering Youth Award and 2018 Walmart Community Playmaker award by the Golden State Warriors. Her 2020 recognition includes features on Mike Rowe's Returning the Favor, the Kelly Clarkson show and receiving the 2020 North Bay Spirit Award.
Thursday, December 10, 2020, at 4:30 p.m
Colleen Carmichael, Executive Director (former), Reach for Home
While serving as the ED of Reach for Home, Colleen dedicated her time to partnering with people who are struggling with or at risk of losing housing. She launched the organization in
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2014, and successfully transitioned the agency from an all-volunteer base to a team of eight with over $2M in assets in just over five years.
Prior to her role at Reach for Home, Colleen held several executive-level positions, including being the first female CEO of a $34M Credit Union at the age of 27. She has over 25 years of experience in the financial services industry, and has served on several boards and committees, including the California Department of Business Oversight, and the California and Nevada Credit Union Leagues. She has also played a role in several nonprofits and service organizations including Rotary, Corazón and North Bay Credit Union.
All of us, including the business community, benefits from philanthropy in contributing to a stronger more vibrant community. Colleen will be speaking about her crossover experiences in teaming with local community partners to provide the best possible outcomes for the Reach for Home participants. Colleen has been known for her "out of the box" approach to finding solutions and was responsible for launching the first Street Medicine team in 2019 as well as the first Navigation Center in 2020.
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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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