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July 2009
From $55,000 to $145,000 in One Year!
Catholic Charities Regional Director Frank Bognar probably expressed the essence of this emotional June 24 afternoon best: “The Women’s Fund commitment comes at a time when we confront a harsh economic downturn, one that is having a profound and painful effect on many of our families. Requests for assistance are up 30 to 40 percent.” Each of the recipients echoed his words about the increased need for resources during this current economic recession.
As soon as we announce the date for the 2010 awards presentation, mark your calendar and plan to attend. I promise you goose bumps, uplifted spirits, and a well-fed soul for weeks to come!
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On Wednesday, June 24, some 70 women and a few men filled the Garden Room of the Historic Santa Maria Inn to award $145,000 to those nonprofits the membership chose. Research Chair Didi Reynoso reminded those present about the three community needs that they indicated by ballot that they were most interested in supporting: critical support services, health and wellness, and housing and shelter. After review of the returned ballots, the Research Committee decided to focus on critical support services, the field that received the highest number of priority one votes. Nine committee members conducted preliminary reviews of over 25 agencies and narrowed the in-depth study to some twelve nonprofits. Then they pored over statistics, statements of purpose and mission, and financials and conducted interviews and site visits. Members received detailed ballots and voted. Before the recession, as Didi explained, the Women’s Fund planned to award substantial grants, i.e. $50,000 per agency, but with so many nonprofits losing funding, the Oversight and Research Committees decided to award smaller grants, thus helping more women, children, and families throughout North County:
Pacific Pride Foundation ($5000) for the Necessities of Life Project Food Pantry that provides groceries and household supplies to 275 clients and their dependents.
People Helping People ($15,000) to assist the increasing number of families and individuals requiring assistance with basic needs due to economic downturn and increased unemployment.
Food Bank of Santa Barbara County ($20,000) for Protein Program and Produce Initiative.
Family Service Agency ($25,000) for critical support services for children, women, and families at the Lompoc Dorothy Jackson Family Resource Center.
Lompoc Housing Assistance Corporation ($25,000) for the only transitional program for homeless women and children in Lompoc Valley at Marks House.
Catholic Charities of Santa Barbara County ($25,000) to purchase a box truck with tailgate/lift to facilitate the transportation, pick up, and distribution of foods purchased in Santa Maria to the Lompoc Valley Food Pantry.
North County Rape Crisis and Child Protection Center ($30,000) for 24-hour support services to survivors of assault and child abuse in an effort to alleviate some of the trauma.
I wish that I could contribute the significant increase in the dollars to a significant increase in membership. Alas, it is not for that reason, but we can thank a $68,000 grant from the Roy and Ida Eagle Trust, managed by Lompoc’s Sonya Schroeder, and $35,000 from the Orfalea Fund. As they did last year, Judy Hearn and Blanche Hollingsead hosted the reception that was absolutely lovely, of course.
As part of her introduction of one of the grant recipients, Georgia Schrager quoted Margaret Mead: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world.” Yes, the Women’s Fund started as a small group of thoughtful, committed women who came together, organized around a powerful vision—the power of the purse--, and set out on a remarkable journey to provide help where help is most urgently needed.
Judy Markline
Chair |
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Chairs for 2009-2010
Oversight: Judy Markline and Kate Ferguson
Research: Didi Reynoso and Joyce Howerton |
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What the Women’s Fund Means to Me
What a simple concept: pool your contributions with others and make a bigger impact. It’s like a small drop of water that creates a cascade of rings that reach far beyond what one drop could ever touch. I’m proud to be part of it. Rebecca Alarcio
I find inspiration being surrounded by women who do not need recognition for doing what is right and what needs to be done. Great strength comes in numbers and from it comes great things. Dee Martini
I joined the Women’s Fund to help build a better community for us all to live in. Judy Frost |
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Women’s Fund Receives a $68,000 Donation!
Most women who contact Women’s Fund liaison Raynette Cornejo with questions about the fund and an interest in getting involved do not follow up with checks totaling $68,000. Well, most women are not Sonya Schroeder, trustee of the charitable remainder trust of Roy and Ida Eagle, who were active in the Lompoc community. According to Sonya, a close friend of the Eagles, they established the trust to benefit local charities after their passing. She is “very impressed with how the Women’s Fund research is carefully conducted and how the funds are directed to the most critical needs of our communities.” Living in the North County, Sonya knows only too well the critical needs---food, shelter and health care--- of the women, children and families. Because of women like her, the Fund continues to make a difference in the lives of the people who need our help the most. Thank you, Sonya. |
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January 15, 2009
Northern Santa Barbara County Women's Fund in the news!
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Announcement –July 16, 2008
In its first year, the Women’s Fund of Northern Santa Barbara County surprised three local non-profits—Catholic Charities, Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), and Good Samaritan Shelter—with grants totaling $55,000 at its presentation reception Wednesday, July 16, at the Historic Santa Maria Inn.
Chairperson Lawnae Hunter presented a $15,000 check to Catholic Charities for its weekly mobile food distribution program and its monthly satellite FDA food distributions at Guadalupe and Cuyama. The Women’s Fund $15,000 gift to CASA provides additional funding for its staff to increase the number of volunteers in the community to serve as advocates for an additional 100 children. Good Samaritan received $25,000 for a new van for its Project PREMIE, allowing the staff to transfer the existing van to the new program in Lompoc.
For the last year a dozen or so local women met monthly as an advisory committee to create this charitable giving circle in partnership with Northern Santa Barbara County United Way. Hunter explained, “There is a growing cadre of charitable giving circles nationally that gather women interested in philanthropy and enable them to pool their money and time so that they can have a bigger financial impact than they would by donating individually.” Some experts estimate that over 390 such groups exist, and most have formed since 2000.
Since October over 50 women have joined the fund by contributing $500 each or by forming a group to collectively pay the membership fee. A special group contributed $1000 each to become founding members, entitling them to name recognition on all of the fund’s materials in perpetuity. The membership recognized 19 women as an honorary advisory committee for their continued leadership and philanthropic endeavors benefiting the community.
As its mission states, the Women’s Fund responds to the community most urgent needs by making substantial gifts in North County. In March, the Fund’s Research Committee asked the members to determine the community needs that they were most interested in supporting. The membership selected unstable housing (foster care, homelessness), health, and education. Based upon these fields of interest, the Research Committee investigated organizations and programs that fit within those interests and presented a ballot to the members in June.
A grant for administrative costs from the Orfalea Fund, which focuses on collaboration between organizations and collective funding on community issues, enabled the Fund to return all of its membership dollars to the North County programs. Judy Hearn and Blanche Hollingsead generously hosted the presentation reception.
Much of the credit for the formation of the Women’s Fund in North County goes to Raynette Cornejo, Vice President, Resource Development, United Way. Having worked with other women’s funds, Cornejo wanted to offer women here the opportunity to become forces of change. She stated, “We all know that for centuries women have pooled money, gathered clothing and food, and worked together to meet the needs of their community.”
With a goal of adding 45 new members for 2008-2009and establishing a larger fund, the Women’s Fund of Northern Santa Barbara County should have greater success in meeting the needs of the women, children, and families in North County.
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