MAKING AN IMPACT FOR OVER A DECADE |
grantee profiles |
Impact100 Sonoma continues to celebrate the amazing work of the nonprofits serving Sonoma Valley. To highlight the accomplishments of its grant recipients, Impact100 initiated a series of Profiles of Impact, a one-page profile featuring each of our nonprofit grantees, summarizing the services they provide and the impact they have made.
In addition, videos were produced to accompany these profiles. Impact member, Pat Meier-Johnson and her husband, Russ Johnson, have donated their time and expertise to the production of these videos. Videos are posted on the Impact100 YouTube channel and on our website, below. Thanks so much to Pat and Russ for these videos that capture the very essence of the impact of the nonprofit organizations.
Social Advocates for Youth (SAY) – Shifting Goals to Meet a Dire Need
In
the aftermath of the devastating October 2017 fires, the staff of
Social Advocates for Youth (SAY) Grief Services evaluated the critical
situation in Sonoma Valley and asked Impact100 Sonoma if they could
shift the focus of their 2017 Community Grant to meet the needs of
children, youth and families affected by fire loss, trauma, and other
losses brought to the forefront by the fires.
“During the 2017/18 grant period in which our work was supported by Impact100, our resilience as a community was tested,” explained Melissa Bentley, SAY’s Director of Counseling Services. “The flexibility of Impact100 to allow the use of grant dollars to address the more immediate counseling needs of youth and families allowed SAY to make the shift and serve Sonoma Valley with immediate, relevant services.”
Read the full Article ...Teen Services Sonoma – Grant Recipient Success!
Thanks in large part to 2016 and 2017 Community Grants, Teen Services Sonoma launched, then expanded, their successful Welding Program in collaboration with Hanna Boys Center.
The goal: Offer valley youth living-wage job skills!
Community Grant Fires Up the Community Center’s New Kiln!
September 9 was a day of celebration for the ceramics program of the Sonoma Community Center as Kala Stein, Ceramics Director and Impact member, cut the ceremonial red ribbon and officially “fired up” the Center’s new kiln. The Community Center raised a total of $40,000: $35,000 for the kiln and $5,000 for installation and necessary upgrades to the kiln shed.
During the ceremony Executive Director John Gurney thanked Impact100 Sonoma for the crucial $10,000 Community Grant, as well as other donors, that made it possible to replace the aging 30-year-old kiln with the new one that is safer, more energy efficient, and will allow the popular ceramics program to expand. Congratulations one and all!
ACR Conservation in Action: Mentoring Women Conservationists
Women Take Action for Conservation. From Audubon Canyon Ranch bulletin: Conservation in Action
Julia Clothier, Education Program Manager
When
I joined ACR, among my first projects was designing and directing a
summer camp. The direction was clear. Create a summer program combining
ACR’s commitment to Conservation in Action, our extraordinary female
staff and financial support from Impact100 Sonoma. The purpose: inspire
and mentor tomorrow’s incredible women conservationists.
The
new Conservation Science Intensive (CSI) program, entirely funded and
led by women, included an unprecedented cross-program team of all of
ACR’s female conservation, stewardship and education staff.
Read the full article in ACR’s Bulletin: Conservation in Action
Safe School Ambassadors: Thank you note to Impact100!
The Community Matters Safe School Ambassadors program is thriving partly due to the Impact100 Sonoma Community Grant in 2016 which helped strengthen the program’s sustainability. Community Matters recently partnered with Umpqua bank to provide a sweet treat to Sonoma County Ambassadors as a “thank you” and recognition for the hard work they do each day. Ambassadors work hard to keep their schools safe and inclusive for all students by standing up and speaking up when they see or hear mistreatment. These photos show many of our Sonoma Valley school ambassadors at an ‘All Ambassador’ meeting. Schools such as Adele Harrison and Altimira Middle Schools in Sonoma are so lucky to have community organizations like Impact100 that have helped them sustain their programs with financial support. On behalf of the team here at Community Matters, the staff and students of the schools – THANK YOU!
Check out the Community Matters website for more information on the Safe Ambassadors Program
4Paws Learning and Wellness Center
Making the lives of pets and people better
4Paws teams bring smiles, comfort, and a love for learning to patients and students…
Read the Profile10,000 Degrees
Creating college graduates who change the world
I was an interesting child. How could I not be?Art Escape
Explore, Play, Engage, Create
Art Escape makes creative activities affordable and accessible…
Becoming Independent
Promoting community inclusion and participation for people with developmental disabilities
James came to Becoming Independent in 1990, when he was 20 years old…
Boys & Girls Clubs of Sonoma Valley
Providing positive opportunities for youth to learn and succeed
Boys & Girls Clubs of Sonoma Valley impact 2,000 children and teens annually…
Ceres Community Project
Connecting people in heart-centered ways to themselves, others, and the earth
Ceres is much more than a meal service…
Child Parent Institute
Building brighter futures for our children and families
CPI’s focus is on strengthening families and the communities in which they live…
Read the ProfileFree Bookmobile of Sonoma County
Promoting literacy and a love of reading
This bookmobile began in 2009 as a family community service project…
Read the ProfileFriends in Sonoma Helping (FISH)
Providing emergency help to residents experiencing financial hardships in Sonoma Valley
In 1971, eight local churches established FISH to provide emergency assistance…
Hospice by the Bay
Ensuring access to hospice and palliative care in the Sonoma Valley
Hospice works with partners to ensure access to end-of-life care when needed…
Jack London Park Partners
Making Jack London State Historic Park thrive as a relevant community resource
An enormous challenge came in 2011 when the state parks were closed…
La Luz Center
A catalyst for change in Sonoma Valley through health, education and financial security
Many of those who have been helped by La Luz find ways to say thank you…
Pets Lifeline
Protecting and improving the lives of cats and dogs in need
Each cat and dog that finds a loving home becomes a single story…
On the Move: Parent University & Early Learning Initiative
Moving ideas to action
Parent University means having the opportunity to grow as a parent…
Redwood Empire Food Bank
Building partnerships to end hunger
The REFB has supplied 900,000 pounds of food for distribution…
Read the ProfileSocial Advocates for Youth (SAY)
Ending youth homelessness
SAY runs two key programs in Sonoma Valley…
Sonoma Community Center
Enriching the lives of the people of Sonoma Valley
It is estimated that SCC serves more than 30,000 people annually…
Sonoma Ecology Center
Protecting the beauty and biodiversity of Sonoma Valley
It began with an event in 1990 to celebrate Earth Day…
Read the Profile
Sonoma Land Trust
Protecting the land forever
The Trust is uniquely qualified to help lead a new coalition…
Read the ProfileSonoma Overnight Support (SOS)
Helping the homeless and hungry in Sonoma Valley
There are increasing demands for food and emergency shelter…
Sonoma Valley Community Health Center
Providing accessible, quality health care to those who need it – especially the underserved
What impressed me the most was the relaxed, inviting atmosphere…
Sonoma Valley Education Foundation
Inspiring young learners
The goal of the citizen group was to spur community investment in local schools…
Sonoma Valley Hospital Foundation
Healing here at home
Since its inception, the Foundation has many success stories…
Sonoma Valley Mentoring Alliance
Matching responsible adults with at-risk kids for social and academic success
Over 1,500 disadvantaged children have been matched with a mentor…
Read the ProfileSonoma Valley Museum of Art
Engaging the community in the art and ideas of our time
Art has enabled me to work through challenges in my life…
Teen Services Sonoma
Empowering teens to develop into happy, healthy, contributing members of their community
Esther Oros became involved with SVTS at the age of 14…
Read the ProfileVerity
Compassion, safety, and support
Verity is Sonoma County’s sole rape crisis, trauma, and healing center…
WillMar Family Grief & Healing Center
Providing compassionate support for grieving children, teens, and their families
This community program was created to meet the needs of bereaved children…
Acknowledgements
Impact100 Sonoma would like to thank each of the nonprofit organizations for the information they provided from which the profiles were developed. In addition, special thanks go to the following Profile Project Committee members:
Elsa Nelson (Chair), Celia Canfield, Patti England, Constance Grizzell, Russ Johnson, Grace Meeks, Pat Meier-Johnson, Diana Sanson, and Judy Scotchmoor
And special recognition for: Overall guidance and direction: Elsa Nelson
Writing and Editing: Lisa Lilienthal and Judy Scotchmoor
Formatting and Design: Kathryn Perry
Review: Carole Eubanks, Cathy O’Neill, Pam Sloane
Website: Judy Scotchmoor
In addition to the individual profiles, Impact100 Sonoma is extremely grateful to Pat and Russ Johnsonwho generously donated their services and expertise to create several short videos to accompany some of the profiles. These videos are available on our website and on YouTube!
You can learn more about Russ and his work at russelljohnson.com.
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