WOMEN TRANSFORMING SONOMA COUNTY THROUGH COLLECTIVE PHILANTHROPY | DECEMBER 2022 | ISSUE 63 |
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Passing the Baton
2022 Leaders Celebrate an Important Year
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We are lucky at Impact 100 Redwood Circle to have had many outstanding women take on leadership roles, and this past year was no exception. We want to thank the following eight women who stepped up to leadership roles in 2022, and are now looking forward to other endeavors. They include: Liz Bortolotto (Events Chair), Ina Chun (Impact Grant co-chair), Eileen Freiburger (NextGen Co-Chair), Jan Gilman (Liaison Co-Chair), Barbara Hopp (Liaison Co-Chair), Laurie Parish (Education Co-Chair), Cindy Schmidt (Co-President), and Eloise Tweeten (VP-Nominating).
It is no surprise that these women have a lot in common. At least five are founding members, and all of them cited “being able to meet in person again” as one of the best parts of 2022. When asked about her favorite accomplishment, Liz Bortolotto noted that all events this year were “zero-waste.” Laurie Parish was happy that the Education Committee was able to help launch and offer programs fostering diversity, equity and inclusion. Eileen Freiburger spoke movingly about the connections that women were able to make with each other and with some of our grant recipients via NextGen. Ina Chun and Cindy Schmidt both were most excited about the recent Impact Awards ceremony in November. Cindy remarked, “Seeing what we accomplished felt wonderful. It was a delightful way to end the year."
All the leaders encouraged other members to join leadership when they can. Ina said, “leading a committee gives you the opportunity to meet and work alongside incredible women who often share similar philanthropic values with you. It’s a great way to apply your professional skills in doing good work for the entire community.” Barbara noted that “new leaders will benefit from all the experience that has gone before them, and still have an opportunity to contribute their own unique expertise.” Eileen liked the opportunities for personal growth, saying “joining the leadership team will expand your connections within the organization on both a social and professional level.”
When asked about advice for new leaders, Cindy said “be flexible and open to trying all things that are different from anything you have previously accomplished. Work collaboratively with your fellow leaders. Collaboration is the key to success.” Liz said, “don’t be afraid to suggest changes that make sense to you.” And Laurie advised leaders to help their team explore how technology can increase outreach in a cost-effective way.
Although they are leaving their leadership positions, these women are not leaving Impact 100 Redwood Circle. Barbara and Jan remain on the Liaison Committee, where they hope to create more opportunities for members to get involved with our grant recipients, like the tours at Forget Me Not Farm and Las Caritas. Cindy looks forward to continuing her monthly meeting with Busting Bias leaders and sharing stimulating conversations about the needs of our community over a good cappuccino. Eileen will continue as a member of the Membership Committee, where she wants to coordinate additional opportunities for members to connect socially, like hikes with our founder Melissa Kelly.
These dynamic women had lots of exciting plans to fill their new-found free time. Liz will chair a local task force working on circular economy issues, get dive certified and become a first-time grandmother! Barbara has recently been certified with her dog Zuzu as a Paws for Reading partner at Dunbar School. Ina will travel more, specifically exploring Japan and some of the national parks. Cindy can’t wait to travel, get to gym more often and spend more time walking with her husband. Jan Gilman is currently exploring the wonders of South America.
When asked what excited her most about the future of our organization, Ina hopes that we can become even more strategic about grant making. “Imagine being able to convene major players in a particular sector to inform us of current needs.” Cindy wants to see us learn new approaches to philanthropy, especially as those approaches relate to women’s giving circles. Both Liz and Barbara are looking forward to the day when we can bestow 2 (or more!) $100,000 Impact Grants. Laurie loves that, despite fires and pandemic challenges, the organization has continued to advance our mission to create transformative and lasting change in Sonoma County.
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Liaison: The Ripple Effect of Our Grants
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Impact Grant Committee member Robin Warren left our Impact Awards Celebration last month so impressed with our guest speakers that she encouraged her husband, Lewis Warren, to watch the video recording of their presentations.
Lewis, an attorney who is a director of a charitable foundation created by a client, said he was “moved to tears” by Forget Me Not Farm’s executive director Carol Rathmann and The LIME Foundation’s NextGen Trades Academy graduate Victor Hughes. He also recognized that the missions of our 2019 and 2021 Impact Grantees aligned perfectly with the philanthropic goals of his late client, Gudrun Block-Sabanovich, and he proposed that the foundation donate $20,000 each to the two organizations. (These awards came on top of an earlier $20,000 donation from the Saba Foundation to Forget Me Not Farm.)
“Hearing from Robin that the nonprofits that receive Impact Grants are carefully vetted and go through a rigorous application process gave me great comfort,” Lewis said. Adding that he also did his own due diligence.
Mrs. Block-Sabanovich created the Saba Foundation in 2018, six months before her death at age 93. Lewis had successfully represented her in a financial elder abuse case against her former handyman. The jury found that the handyman stole nearly $20 million worth of assets from her and ordered all the stolen assets to be returned. The
handyman was later criminally tried, convicted, and sentenced to prison. Having no living heirs, Mrs. Block-Sabanovich chose to transfer all her remaining assets to her charitable foundation.
It is now the responsibility of Lewis and his fellow foundation directors to make annual awards to nonprofits whose missions align with his former client’s philanthropic goals. “Gudrun made it clear that she wanted her money to go to help parks and children and to prevent abuse and cruelty to animals, and we think she would have preferred that the
donations be made to organizations in Sonoma County,” Lewis said. “We are trying to fulfill her wishes.”
This ripple effect of Impact 100 Redwood Circle’s work upon other philanthropists is “the cherry on top” of our million dollar year. “The Saba Foundation might not have known about our program if it hadn't been for Robin who shared our story and our need,” said Carol Rathmann. “Impact 100 Redwood Circle is the gift that keeps on giving.”
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Liaison Event: 6th Street Theater
A Raisin in the Sun
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6th Street Theater, one of our 2022 Community Grant award recipients, has invited our members to attend a theater production. We have a block of 34 tickets that are on hold for Impact 100 Redwood Circle members to attend the matinee performance of A Raisin in the Sun on Sunday, March 19th. Tickets are being offered to us at the group rate of $38.15. They are on hold until the end of January. The Liaison Committee has arranged with the theater to hold a reception for our members and a discussion with the actors after the show.
If you have never been to 6th Street Theater, this is a wonderful chance to get to know one of our premiere local theaters. If you are a long time theater goer, this classic drama is a “not to be missed” performance.
If you would like to attend, please do NOT call the box office. Rather, email the theater PR specialist, Shekeyna Black who is in charge of all ticketing for this performance. Her email is Shekeyna@6thStreetPlayhouse.com. Tell her how many tickets you would like and she will arrange them for you.
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ED TALKS: Amie Carter
Sonoma County of Education, Superintendent of Schools
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Please join us for our next ED TALK on Thursday, January 19, 2023 at 4:30 p.with Dr. Amie Carter, the new Superintendent of Sonoma County Office of Education. Significantly, she is the first woman and first openly gay person to hold this position since 1926. Dr. Carter will address the education gap our children suffer as well as the many challenges the school districts are currently facing.
Amie began her career as a teacher in Manteca in the Central Valley, working in education for the next twenty years in northern California, most recently as Assistant Superintendent of Marin County Office of Education.
Amie describes how her new role gives her the chance to advocate for the needs of 65,000 public school students of Sonoma County. She was quoted in the Press Democrat as saying “I feel like my life’s mission is to care for and protect children so I look for every opportunity I can to impact the system in that way and keep the school systems focused on children and their needs.”
Click here to read a bio of Amie Carter.
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New Members
Sandy Dodge
Thea Dolan
Marianna Green
Elise Groves
Robin Mills
Teresa Mitchell
Jan Warner
Donna Waldman
A Word about those Darned Membership Renewal Letters
The Membership Committee Co-Chairs have received some emails indicating that after you’ve renewed, you continue to get notices. That’s true because the letters go out on a particular cycle, and sometimes the 2nd or 3rd in the series goes out before the renewal from the previous reminder is entered into the membership management system. If you have already responded, please ignore the subsequent reminder letters.
New Members: Watch Your Email for Invitation
New members will soon receive an invitation via email to a New Member Orientation in late January or early February. Please be on the lookout and RSVP quickly! We have lots of information to share with you that will maximize your membership in our giving circle.
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Busting Bias: A Testimonial
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Thoughts from Barbara Hopp
I have been a member of Impact 100 Redwood Circle since 2015 and have long wanted to participate in Busting Bias. It was not until a close friend told me how meaningful the experience had been for her that I finally got around to signing up. And thank goodness I did! When people say something is "life changing" that's pretty dramatic, right? However, that is exactly what experiencing the group was for me.
The information in the syllabus - the reading, the movies, the historical references are all deeply moving. Much of the information, though factual, was brand new to me. I realized what a woman of white privilege I am and what a sheltered middle-class life I have lived. I believe I am speaking for most, if not all of my classmates from the last session of Busting Bias.
Together we marveled at how much history is hidden and together our emotions ran raw at the many injustices we learned about.
This is an experience not to be missed. You will cry, but you will also grow into a deeper understanding and awareness of not just our history, but our present-day prejudices, both seen and unseen.
A big thank you to Nancy & Celeste for facilitating Busting Bias - and to all the women from Impact 100 who support them.
A new 6-week series is starting January 17, 2023. Don't miss it!
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Beyond The Check: Voices Youth Center
A Tradition of Donating
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Voices Youth Programs was Impact 100 Redwood Circle’s first Impact Recipient in 2016. Since then, many of our members have contributed food for Voices’ Thanksgiving Feast. This year the tradition continues. Thank you to our members Janice Moore, Jan Gilman, Carol Orme, Thea Hensel, Linda Drew, Debra Marzak, Susan Milstein, Bonnie Ferber Hart and Carol Newman who helped make the Voices Youth Programs’ feast a success with their culinary donations. |
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Beyond The Check: Jewish Community Free Clinic
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The Jewish Community Free Clinic, Impact 100 Redwood Circle’s Impact Grant recipient this year, is looking for a volunteer to help check voice mails, log messages, and answer phones. The ability to speak Spanish is a plus. Interested? Please check out this link. |
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Giving Circle Affiliate
Philanos Affiliate Membership Resources for YOU!
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Philanos is a network of women’s giving circles who are committed to impactful philanthropy in their local communities. Impact 100 Redwood Circle is one of more than 80 Philanos Affiliates and part of a collective membership
of more than 18,000 women who have granted more than 200
million in their local communities.
As a member of the Philanos Board and Impact 100 RedWood Circle member, I wanted to highlight ways for each of you to engage.
Use the Philanos website member only resources. These include past webinars and articles. The Affiliate Portal is available to all individuals who are members of a Philanos Affiliate. Access the portal from the website home page.
Attend a monthly educational webinar. Tuesday, January 10 at 9 AM PT will feature leaders from two Philanos Affiliates: Greenville Women Giving (Greenville, SC) and ninety-nine girlfriends (Portland, OR). Leaders will share their leadership models, how they build and plan their leadership pipelines for the future and lessons learned. Register here (link - https://philanos.org/event-5015460)
Participate in an affinity group. There are two open affinity groups available to members. Comms Club for Marketing and Communications discussions. Next session is Thursday, January 23 at 9 AM PT. And, a newly launched Tech Talk for learning about and sharing software solutions. Upcoming TechnTalk session is February 9 at 9 AM PT.
Your email needs to be in the Philanos database to register for the above. If you are not able to register for an event or login to the Affiliate Portal, your email is likely missing. Email Mindi Lewis (link - mindilewis99@gmail.com) and ask her to add your name and email address to the Philanos list. This will also add you to the list for future event notifications and newsletters.
Follow Philanos on social media using the links on the Philanos home page. This connects you with and highlights the impact of Philanos, Philanos Affiliates and the strategic growth of women's giving circles.
More information about all of the above is at www.Philanos.org
Connect, Learn and Share!
Ann Marie McGee
Philanos Board Member
Co-Chair Communications Committee
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