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Members Enjoy Touring Forget Me Not Farms Children's Services!
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Women Transforming Sonoma County Through Collective Philanthropy - July 2020
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This is not the summer we expected. Vacations have been cancelled, birthday/wedding celebrations postponed, and virtual concerts attended from home. Added to these life changes is the compelling cry for racial awareness and justice we are all being challenged to answer. No surprise that many of us are concerned about where we will be as a country in 2021.
Suzy and I, your Co-Presidents wanted to explore how the conversations about racial awareness could change our own group of Impact 100 RC women in 2021 vis a vis the issues of diversity, equity and inclusion. We wondered how it might inform our grant making and our membership composition? We sent you an invitation to join us in looking deeply into the issues from a personal and organizational perspective.
Twenty of you signed up for our study group with the goals of:
- Stage 1. Explore what Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) mean to us personally and how we might better understand and change our attitudes and behaviors.
- Stage 2. Research how other organization are implementing practices and policies to increase DEI.
- Stage 3. Recommend best practices and policies for our organization with the added goal of welcoming all members into the conversation.
Our initial work will respect the privacy of each study group member's personal journey. We will keep you informed as we progress from stage to stage. Upon request we can also provide you with the materials that we are using in our study. Do stay tuned.
In other news, we hope you can all take advantage of the generous opportunity to tour Forget Me Not Farm Children's Services, our recent Impact Grant winner. We think you will be proud we awarded our grant to this small sized non-profit that makes a large "impact" on the lives of children.
Stay well and enjoy our beautiful Sonoma County weather.
Jan Gilman & Suzy Marzalek, Co-Presidents
Impact 100 Redwood Circle
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Stay connected by attending these upcoming
virtual**
events
Meet our 2020 Community Grantees
Thurs, July 23
Tues, August 4
Thurs, August 20
Tues, Sept. 1
Each is from 4:30 - 5:30 p.m.
Cocktails and Conversation
Thurs, August 6
4:30 - 5:30 p.m.
Open to members & guests who want to learn more about Impact 100 RC
Register here
ED Talks
Tues, August 25
12:00 noon
Presenter: Oscar Chavez,
Assistant Director, Sonoma County Human Services
Register info. coming soon
Special Opportunity
Take a tour of Forget Me Not Farms Children's Services, offered on six upcoming dates.
Click here for more info.
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Membership
Please welcome the newest member of our circle:
Phyllis Lowe
Staci Pastis
Anne Kennedy Peterson
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Marketing Presents our 2020 Community Grant Recipients
 Meet them through Zoom!
In previous years we invited our Community Grant recipients to attend our General Meeting and share highlights of their organization in person. Obviously, that was not possible this year, but we are pleased to announce that we have set up four virtual events to feature the eight recipients (in pairs) for a closer look, for all interested Impact 100 RC members. Each event will feature speakers from only two organizations for a more in-depth presentation. All zoom meetings will be from 4:30 to 5:30. Zoom information will be sent in all registration confirmations.
Thursday, July 23 - 4:30 - 5:30 p.m.
The Bird Rescue Center the Museum of Sonoma County
Please join Ashton Kluttz, Executive Director for The Bird Rescue Center (BRC) who will be discussing their essential service of emergency medical care for the native wild birds of Sonoma County during the shelter in place order. Despite having to cancel its monthly public educational programs, for those most helpless, BRC remains their shelter and their doors are still open to receive birds in need and their new long-term lease.
The Museum of Sonoma County
Also join Eric Stanley, Associate Director and Curator, and Maggie Stockel, Development Manager, for the Museum of Sonoma County. Our generous support in the Museum's Community Grant was used in the current exhibit - From Suffrage to #MeToo, which extends to September 20, 2020. Over 20 local women are highlighted in the exploration of the expectations, challenges and obstacles to inclusion that women have faced. Register here
Tuesday, August 4 - 4:30 - 5:30 p.m.
Friends in Service Here (F.I.S.H.)
The second of Impact 100 Redwood Circle's Community Grant events focuses on addressing food and shelter in Sonoma County, in addition to the challenges faced due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Please join Kaarin Lee, Executive Director of Friends in Service Here (F.I.S.H.) This volunteer run food pantry served 6,000 people each month. Last year, F.I.S.H. itself was faced with being homeless, but has been able to find bigger, better digs. This year's challenge was caused by the pandemic and the shelter in place orders, but F.I.S.H. has now opened its doors on a limited basis.
Reach for Home
Also join Colleen Carmichael, Executive Director of Reach for Home. Located in Healdsburg the organization partners with numerous organizations to help northern Sonoma County residents who are struggling with, or at risk of losing housing. This non-profit engages their clients in action plans and provides opportunities and support for clients to work toward self-sufficiency, independence and permanent housing. Register here
Future events are - August 20 - Burbank Housing and SRJC Next Up and Bear Cub Scholars and September 1 - Verity and Jewish Community Free Clinic. Watch for registration information in a few weeks.
Ann Marie McGee & Mindi Lewis, Co-Chairs
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Updates From Our Grant Recipients
Catholic Charities
The Value of Volunteers
Catholic Charities' Community Engagement Manager (and Impact 100 RC member) Emily Rose Thiessen, reached out to the organization's 1,200+ volunteers via a video message to thank them during 2020's volunteer appreciation week (summarized below).
"Since I began working with our volunteers in 2018, I've had the privilege to work alongside over 1,200 volunteers who supported our community programs. Our volunteers help in unbelievable ways, from data support to donation sorting to cooking for our shelter residents.
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Emily Rose Thiessen |
No matter where they helped, they all had one thing in common: a compassionate desire to serve and support our community. To adapt to new community needs, our volunteers have made it possible to expand:
- Home food delivery to seniors in Sonoma and Lake Counties
- I'm Home Alone daily wellness phone calls to isolated seniors
- Food Distributions to meet social distancing guidelines
I want to take a moment to say thank you to all our volunteers, those who are staying home and those who are still helping with our essential services. Please click the link below to hear my message to you.
I miss each and every one of you. You can expect a big hug from me just as soon as it is safe to do so. Thank you again for your ongoing support, smiles and love during this difficult time".
Sonoma County Museum
Virtual Exhibit Available
Our co-president Suzy Marzalek visited the Sonoma County Museum to see the exhibit "From Suffrage to #Me Too". The museum was reopened on June 4-5 for members and on June 9 for the general public. Suzy reports that Impact 100 RC is listed on the exhibit signage as a supporter because of our recent community grant.
The Museum is hoping to remain open, however the ever-changing COVID-19 conditions make it uncertain. Impact 100 RC member Staci Pastis, who played a part in bringing the exhibit to life, wants us to know there is a virtual tour of the exhibit.
"I think it is so important for us to remember how many groundbreaking women we have had in Sonoma County over the years," says Staci. "The virtual tour gives a really good feel of what the exhibit is like....I hope Impact 100 RC members will view it, especially if the museum has to close down again."
Forget Me Not Farms Children's Services
Additional Tours Scheduled!
Due to the popularity of tours onsite by our 2019 Impact grant recipient, Forget Me Not Farms Children's Services has graciously offered more tours to members who were unable to attend the tours previously scheduled. We strongly urge those members not to miss this opportunity and sign up early. Please only sign up for one tour and please do not show up without registering since staffing levels are based on registration.
Monday July 20, 10:30 am - 12:00 noon RSVP on or before Friday, July 17
Register Here
Monday, July 27, 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 noon RSVP on or before Friday, July 24 Register Here
LOCATION: FMNFCS is located at 5345 Highway 12 West. Their offices are in the small house immediately in front of the Humane Society of Sonoma County. Park near the small house.
Dozens of Impact 100 RC members have already enjoyed their tours!
"Thanks so much for your wonderful tour....I gained more knowledge and respect for all the work you do for the children"
"I loved meeting the animals and hearing the fascinating stories about how they came to live at FMNFCS"
"It was inspiring to see your fabulous gardens & know that you are able to provide fresh produce during Covid-19"
Children's Museum of Sonoma County
Getting Creative During Covid
A message from Melissa Long, Director of Advancement for CMOSC -- 2018 community grant winner:
"I'd like to give you an update on the Children's Museum and share what we have been doing during our closure. One thing we are most proud of is reallocating funds from an event to help feed families affected by COVID-19. In lieu of our annual Circle of Innovation and Legacy Circle celebration, the Wild Oak Saddle Club and an anonymous Children's Museum investor partnered with the Children's Museum to feed families affected by COVID-19. Over the span of three weeks, the Saddle Club provided 370 meals for families in the Roseland School District.
The CMOSC team also created Kit & Caboodle bags that included supplies for families to recreate our programs at home. 10% of these were given to families in need at no cost. The response to the bags was overwhelmingly positive and we saw a need for more. We created an additional 400 Kit & Caboodle bags using funds allotted for scholarships to our 2020 Summer Wonder Camps, which were unfortunately cancelled. Now, even more children will have the opportunity to experience the Children's Museum this summer through these engaging kits, which include 10 experiments and activities that can be easily and safely done at home!"
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Impact Grant Committee
32 (of 38) Nonprofits Submit LOI's
The 2020 Impact Grant Committee is happy to share with you the applicants for the 2020 Impact Grant. We received Letters of Intent from 32 of the 38 organizations invited to apply. Our committee will review and score the Letters of Intent and determine by July 24 which of the following organizations will be asked to submit Full Proposal Applications
- 10,000 Degrees Sonoma County
- 6th Street Playhouse
- Becoming Independent
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Ceres Community Project
- Community Action Partnership of Sonoma County
- Community Child Care Council of Sonoma County
- Community Matters
- Community Support Network
- Corazon Healdsburg
- COTS- Committee on the Shelterless
- Council on Aging
- Daily Acts
- Landpaths California - CA
- Legal Aid of Sonoma County
- Luther Burbank Center
- North Bay Organizing Project
- Northern California Center for Well-Being
- Pepperwood Preserve
- Petaluma People Services Centers
- Redwood Empire Food Bank
- Restorative Resources
- Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital Auxiliary
- Sebastopol Center for the Arts
- Social Advocates for Youth
- Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition
- SOS Community Counseling
- St. Vincent de Paul Society
- The Center for Social and Environmental Stewardship
- The Climate Center
- The Living Room Center, Inc
- West County Health Centers
- Women's Recovery Services
Vicki Groninga & Susan Milstein, Co-Chairs
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Education Committee
Recap of ED Talk - Community Foundation Sonoma County
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We're all in this together! |
On June 25, 2020, the Education Committee proudly hosted its first ED Talk via Zoom, an
d attendance succeeded expectations! Who knew that a pandemic would
lead us to tools
that enhance our ability to share valuable resources with our members. Unfortunately, however, the negative impact from COVID-19 is being felt throughout our community and the resulting needs are difficult to comprehend.
Karin Demarest, VP for Community Impact, at the Community Foundation Sonoma County, provided insights into the greatest areas of need and shared how the Community Foundation is addressing those needs with both grantmaking and support beyond the grant. We learned how the field of philanthropy is responding to the crisis and how our community is finding hope and courage in these challenging times.
DID YOU KNOW:
- The Community Foundation has distributed over $3M in grants to help our nonprofit community address the needs created by COVID-19, simplified the grant application process, and helped seed the Vision Santa Rosa Foundation to support small businesses.
- You can find a list of the Community Foundation's 2018/19 nonprofit grant recipients by clicking here. This list is also linked to our website under the Education tab. To access this and previous ED Talk PowerPoint presentations, click here and look for the education page.
Watch for your invitation to the next ED Talk on Tuesday, August 25 @ Noon with Oscar Chavez, Assistant Director, Sonoma County Human Services. See you on Zoom!
Thea Hensel & Laurie Parish, Co-Chairs
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Membership Committee
Membership Numbers as of 7/9/20: 245 active members, 44 of these are Dyad members (gain of 3 members over last month)
Upcoming Cocktails and Conversation Zoom Meeting:
August 6, 4:30-5:30 PM
Open to all members and guests who want to learn more about Impact 100 RC. Attendance will be limited due to the Zoom capabilities for meaningful interaction. Click here to register.
The June 10th C & C and the June 13th New Member Orientation Zoom meetings were well attended and very successful.
Please continue to watch for email Communiques, email blasts, and posted dates on the Website calendar.
Membership Committee members are continuing to make personal phone calls to new members, current members, and renewing members to foster interconnection, maximize renewals, encourage recruitment and field membership concerns and suggestions. You can reach the Membership Committee at:
Impact100membership@gmail.com
Charlene Staples & Bev Curry, 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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