eUpdate - January 7, 2019
Your Generosity Brightened the Holidays for Verde School Children!
Thank you for helping North Richmond kids
Our 20th Annual Verde Elementary School Book & Hoodie Drive in North Richmond was another great success, thanks to the outpouring of community support. 

Thanks to donations from West County residents, businesses, nonprofits, and others, we were able to provide books, tote bags, toys and custom school spirit hoodies to all 350 students and teachers at the school.  

In December, we hosted a party at the school with the help of parents, teachers and volunteers. Here are some great  photos that capture the kids' joy and appreciation.  

All of the students at this inspiring school come from low-income families who are working hard to support their children's success. 

The custom hoodies were purchased from a local business, Leftside Printing, owned by community leader Diego Garcia.  West County READS! provided the books; Chevron donated the tote bags; Travis Credit Union gave financial education-themed coloring books; and CHDC of North Richmond served as our nonprofit fiscal agent to accept checks. 

We raised funds at our office's Holiday Party and Open House in December, where we had a great turnout. Community members enjoyed food from superb local restaurants like Los Moles, Uncle Wong's, Gangnam Tofu Korean Cuisine, and Galaxy Desserts.  Here is a photo gallery of our party.  

I'm proud to represent a community that comes together to help others, especially our children and families in greatest need. 

I'd like to acknowledge each and every one of you who donated this year to support the children of Verde Elementary School in North Richmond. You are part of a special coalition of supporters from throughout our County. 

You are all greatly appreciated for supporting our youth!  


$1,000+ donors: Verde Superstars
  • Richmond Elks Lodge No. 1251
  • Mark Howe/MSH Group
  • Chevron Richmond
  • Don N. Fowler 
$500 to $999 donations: Verde Gold Stars
  • Joseph Pulido Jr.
  • Verde School PTA
  • Republic Services/Shawn Moberg & Bielle Moore
  • Contra Costa County Public Defenders Association
  • K-VAC Environmental Services, Northern California
  • Rotary Club of Marin Evening Foundation 
  • Sims Metal Management 
     
$100 to $499 donations: Verde Silver Stars
  • American Medical Response of Contra Costa County
  • County Supervisor John Gioia
  • Luz Gomez
  • Linda L. Minor 
  • Peter Weiner 
  • Marva Martin Canada
  • Lynne and Alan La Pointe
  • Mary L. Rogers 
  • Joseph Doser
  • Fowler Hoffman LLC
  • Jimmy Prater
  • Lillian Fujimoto and David Hampton
  • Sunnyside Organic Seedlings LLC
  • Rodney Kenneth Paul and Sarah Joanne Paul
  • Ebony Elites Northern District/Brenda Shaheed
  • Gilbert G. Patchett
  • Arthur W. Walenta and Susan Walenta
  • Holly and Joseph Yee
  • Julie Bueren and Ralph Chappell
  • YES Nature to Neighborhoods/Eric Aaholm 
  • Sean Casey
Donations up to $99: Verde Community Stars
  • Mary Frazier
  • Dr. Henry Clark
  • Judith Tannenbaum
  • Robert and Katie Rogers
  • Kenneth Hempel
  • Anthony Sustak and Margaret Browne
  • Kate Sibley and Cindy Beitman
  • Nancy Schiller
  • Susan and Robert Frederick
  • Julie Sinai
  • Jeffrey S. Inglis and Sherry Ann Stanley
  • Janis Hashe
  • Michael Nye
  • Mr. and Mrs. Michael Lyons
  • Stephanie Ny and Lien Chau
  • Guadalupe Morales
  • Tania Pulido
  • Nancy Burke and Judith R. Weatherly
  • Ken Lindgren and Darlene Drapkin
  • Al and Karla Perez
  • David Craig McCoard
  • Robert A. Young Jr. and Elizabeth S. Lindgren-Young
  • Leah D. Becker and James A. Becker Jr. 
  • Martha Lincoln
  • Joanna Klaseen Pace
  • Michael Peritz
  • Norma Martinez-Rubin
  • Marilyn M. Doss
  • Donald E. Bastin
  • Nel D. Benningshof and Nick Despota
  • Suzanne Johnson
  • Amalia Cunningham and Michael Cunningham
  • James B. McMillan
  • James Ottem/Travis Credit Union
  • Jon L. Forrest and Anne M. Forrest
Sincerely, 
 
John Gioia
Supervisor, District One 
Contra Costa County 
11780 San Pablo Avenue, Suite D 
El Cerrito, CA  94530 
510-231-8686 Phone