Catalyst in the News
Sonoma Valley Collaborative receives nearly $100k grant for housing
“The Sonoma Valley Collaborative received $96,200 from the Sonoma Valley Catalyst Fund to strategize interventions to create more affordable housing.
The Sonoma Valley Collaborative received $96,200 from the Sonoma Valley Catalyst Fund to strategize interventions to create more affordable housing.
The collaborative, a housing advocacy organization, will lead a broad push for housing that protects existing affordable housing and builds new housing of all types on land owned by local governments, religious institutions and nonprofits.
"Catalyst Fund is excited to support this project because it is exactly the kind of new approach our Reimagine Grants program is designed to fund,” co-chair of Catalyst Katherine Fulton said in a February press release. “We will actually lose ground against the growing challenges facing Sonoma Valley unless we begin working in new ways.
Housing was also identified as one of the top goals of the Sonoma City Council at their meeting on Feb. 21. A 2023 United Way of California report found that nearly one in four Sonoma Valley residents are severely rent-burdened, meaning a resident pays more than half their income toward housing.
The funding, which comes as part of a Reimagine Grant from the Catalyst fund, will seek to provide a blueprint of actionable strategies for local governments, housing agencies, developers and investors to improve housing affordability in Sonoma Valley.” (click link below to read more online)
INDEX-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
February 27, 2024
$100K grant supports innovative seven-group coalition
“The Sonoma Valley Education Foundation (SVEF) has been granted $100,000 to kick off the Sonoma Valley Ready to Learn Collaborative, a coalition of seven local youth nonprofits.
The funding, a Sonoma Valley Catalyst Fund Reimagine Grant, supports the launch a collaborative effort of seven youth-serving organizations to support students socially, emotionally, and academically.
“Our vision in how we best serve students has evolved exponentially over the past three years, inspiring a new direction to holistically address the needs of our local youth and ensure that every public school student is safe, healthy, engaged, and ultimately, able to show up ready to learn,” said Angela Ryan, SVEF executive director.
“We are proud of the collaborative network of the organizations who have committed to fundamentally reimagining how we can bolster our individual strengths and assets to better collaborate and increase our resources on behalf of our students,” she said.
The Ready to Learn Collaborative includes SVEF, Sonoma Valley Unified School District, Boys & Girls Clubs of Sonoma Valley, Sonoma Valley Mentoring Alliance, Sonoma Valley Community Health Center, The Community Mental Health Hub at Hanna Center, and La Luz Center.
Priorities for the Collaborative include mental health, social-emotional support, and family engagement.” (click link below to read more online)
Sonoma Valley Sun
November 7th, 2023
https://sonomasun.com/2023/11/07/100k-grant-supports-innovative-seven-group-coalition/
Sonoma Valley Catalyst Fund offering up to $100,000 in grant money
““Reimagine Grants” are for nonprofits looking to solve complex local issues.
Nonprofits with ambitious goals for sparking brand-new solutions to complex local issues can now apply for a grant of up to $100,000.
The Sonoma Valley Catalyst Fund is offering “Reimagine Grants” designed to fill a gap in funding for groups that want to innovate, take risks and test new solutions to help build to a more united, just and resilient Sonoma Valley.
Members of the Catalyst Fund say this grant will cover all phases of innovation from research and experimentation, to pilot programs and new partnerships.” (click link below to read more online)
REBECCA WOLFF
ARGUS-COURIER STAFF
July 25, 2023, 5:00PM
A new funding source to spark new solutions
“The Sonoma Valley Catalyst Fund is offering Reimagine Grants of up to $100,000 to local organizations and nonprofits with an ambitious goal of sparking brand-new concepts and ideas to solve complex local issues.
With funding of up to $100,000 per project, each Reimagine Grant is designed to fill a gap in funding for Sonoma Valley groups that want to take risks, and test new solutions.
“Reimagine Grants are designed to shake up our thinking and encourage some risk-taking by our local problem solvers,“ says Catalyst Co-chair Katherine Fulton. “Reimagine Grants, along with our new initiative on Food Security, can truly help the community develop meaningful new approaches, and also to get unstuck from the ways we work now.
Reimagine Grants will help fund all phases of innovation from research and experimentation, to pilot programs and new partnerships, Fulton said.” (click link below to read more online)
Posted on July 24, 2023 by Sonoma Valley Sun
https://sonomasun.com/2023/07/24/a-new-funding-source-to-spark-new-solutions/
Catalyst Fund Moves Forward on Food Security Initiative
Key Step: Hiring New Food Project Manager
The Sonoma Valley Catalyst Fund of Community Foundation Sonoma County (Catalyst) is launching a search for a new position, Food Security Project Manager, to lead the way in a comprehensive Food Security initiative aimed at halting the dangerous increase in hunger in Sonoma Valley.
With 1 in 5 residents experiencing hunger on a regular basis, according to the Community Planning Collaborative’s and Catalyst’s in-depth report in 2023, Catalyst is zeroing in on the food security issue, following its successful efforts to provide rapid response grants to local nonprofits during the Covid 19 Crisis. Catalyst distributed over $1.3 million locally during the pandemic.
“Once again, we will partner with the local leaders and experts, with an eye on coordinating efforts and finding new ways to get food to the people who need it the most, but may have fallen through the cracks in the existing system,” explained Catalyst co-chair Katherine Fulton. “This project will leverage the hard work of these front-line local food organizations.” Over the next 3 years, Catalyst’s initiative’s goals are to: increase access to available food resources; enhance the food assistance experience by increasing choice and reducing waste; and improving the current food security system by investing in coordination and collaboration in partnership with the organizations on the frontlines of eliminating hunger.
The Food Security Project Manager will help prioritize communication and coordination of effort, working alongside the more than 15 different agencies currently working on providing and distributing food to those in need in both the Valley and the County. “Our capable local organizations are struggling to address this unprecedented increase in demand and could use this platform to better coordinate and work on system wide issues,” said Fulton. More information on the position and duties can be found at www.sonomavalleycatalystfund.org. Catalyst hopes to have the position filled within the next month.
Sonoma Valley’s rate of food insecurity (1 in 5 residents, or 8,000 individuals in all) is in line with the California state figures, which estimate that 8 million people statewide face hunger on a regular basis. According to Catalyst’s study, a tight rental housing market, along with the post Covid spikes in both rent and food costs locally, contribute to the chronic problem.
Sonoma County does benefit from a large, dynamic regional Food Bank (Redwood Empire Food Bank) providing food and supplies to hundreds of families in Sonoma each month. But accessing food donations requires mobility and transportation, as well as an easy to navigate communications system to let people know when and where food is available. “This is exactly where the Food Security Initiative can help the most,” according to Catalyst co-chair Dub Hay, “Truly ending food insecurity is complex and requires better coordination, easier access and a deeper understanding of the local barriers to eliminating hunger.”
As an example of better understanding leads to expanding access, Catalyst’s 2022 Food Study showed a need for a new food distribution location in the Temelec neighborhood and an after-work hours distribution site within walking distance of the Springs communities. Within a month of the study’s release in February 2023, the Redwood Empire Food Bank added a distribution location in Temelec and one in the evenings at Altamira Middle School.
Sonoma Valley Catalyst Fund’s mission is to mobilize philanthropic support and innovative approaches to address urgent, emergent and chronic challenges that no Sonoma Valley donor or organization can solve alone. It is a fund of Community Foundation Sonoma County. To learn more about Catalyst or access the food study report and recommendations, visit www.sonomavalleycatalystfund.org.
May 16, 2023
Under the Sun: Aiko-Sophie Ezaki, aspiring nonprofit leader
Just returning from a meet-and-greet with the Board of Directors of the Community Foundation of Sonoma County, 39-year-old Aiko-Sophie Ezaki spoke with the Sun’s Anna Pier about her path in the nonprofit world.
You have just joined the Board of Directors of the Community Foundation.
Yes, I’m the representative from the Catalyst Fund here in the Valley. I will serve on the Foundation’s Community Investment committee and the committee for Diversity and Inclusion.
That’s an impressive role you are taking on. How did this come about?
When the pandemic began, I was working for ReBuild NorthBay. I represented them on the pandemic needs group formed by local organizations, nonprofits, and government to meet the new situation. In September 2020 I had my second baby. Not long after, I left my job with ReBuild, but I asked this pandemic needs group if I could please remain on the committee.
Talk more about this.
Food Security was the first initiative of what has become the Sonoma Valley Catalyst Fund. It was typical gap-funding, stepping in to fill the need, but this was the most exciting trust-based, responsive fundraising I’ve ever been part of. Katherine Fulton and Dub Hay, the co-chairs, developed trusted relationships with the local nonprofit executive directors, and the turn-around time was remarkable.
Previous fundraising experience?
From 2009-2019 I worked in Sonoma and Marin counties for the Jewish Community Federation and Endowment Fund – the philanthropic hub for the Jewish community in the North Bay. My first nonprofit connection here in the Valley, before I moved from San Francisco, was with Impact100, in their NextGen group, and DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) committee. This helped me see what the major needs here were, what the nonprofits were doing.
Professional work currently?
For the last two years working for my husband’s general contracting business. He asked me to help him grow the business. I took a step back from personal career and income, but because he doesn’t mind my taking flexible hours, it has opened up all these leadership possibilities, working on issues I am passionate about. This helps me be a little more sane as I’m raising children in this crazy world. It gives me a place to take all the angst and anxiety, to feel like I’m really doing something. Recently I joined the Sonoma Valley Collaborative steering committee. I also serve on the Community Advisory Committee for The Community Hub at Hanna. You have to start in your own community. You see the need, and can be part of the solution.
Talk about this.
Our Valley is a microcosm of many of the big issues nationally. Like the terrible need here for mental health services for youth. Catalyst seeded the money for growing a mental health program. They started with the Boys and Girls Club, and now there are three practitioners helping young people there. And seed money for the mental health Hub at Hanna. And the Collaborative is trying to address housing.
You’re a Sonoma native.
Born and raised. My mother, Francine Morrissette, a French Canadian, worked all through my growing up as an OB nurse at Queen of the Valley. An amazing role model. My dad, (Dr.) Dean Ezaki, would take my brother and me to her work. And although I had a very privileged life, through my father, whose parents and siblings were sent to internment camps in Arizona during WWII, I grew up aware of suffering from discrimination. And currently I am concerned about AAPI (Asian-American Pacific Islander) hate, and fear for Asian women.
Inspiration to choose your career?
Since I was 16 I have known I wanted to work for a nonprofit. My parents signed me up for Seeds of Learning, a work trip to El Salvador. A huge transformative experience. I loved it so much that I worked that year to pay for the next summer. I learned about responsibility for others – that it’s not just about you. One eye-opening experience was visiting a maquiladora, interviewing some of the workers who were making the Nikes we were all wearing back home. Learning what they got paid, what their life was like. A real “privilege check.” So I studied International Relations, with a focus on NGOs, at SF State.
Free time?
I hike. With my two-and-a-half-year-old on my back, as a family, and on my own. It’s my time and it keeps me sane. Montini and Overlook. Sugarloaf. SDC. Endless possibilities. It’s part of why I moved back to the Valley from SF in 2013. We were lucky to buy a little house in the Springs. The energy there is such a big draw – family, kids playing, wonderful neighbors.
Dreams?
I’d like for my children to grow up in a Valley that feels more equitable, where there is enough for everyone. More equitable, and more connected. Where all the different people of the Valley feel they have a voice and are valued. I’d also like to see this be a place where it’s not impossible for my peers to live. That goes back to equity.
Last thoughts?
I’m deeply grateful to the people who saw the potential in me, nurtured me to become a leader, mentored me, gave me the opportunity to serve in these roles. I hope more people in my age group have these experiences.
Posted on April 2, 2023 by Sonoma Valley Sun
https://sonomasun.com/2023/04/02/under-the-sun-aiko-sophie-ezaki-aspiring-nonprofit-leader/
$500,000 capital grants going to 13 Sonoma Valley nonprofits
Sonoma Valley Catalyst Fund (Catalyst Fund) and Community Foundation Sonoma County (CFSC) announced $500,000 in new funding for vital capital improvement projects for 13 Sonoma Valley-based nonprofit organizations. This initiative aims to support local nonprofits, many of which operate on tight budgets, by enabling them to make essential safety, technological, and maintenance upgrades.
“We are thrilled to support the outstanding work these nonprofits are doing in our community,” said Karen Roche, Catalyst Capital Grants Chair. By providing funding for these much-needed capital improvements, we’re empowering them to continue serving Sonoma Valley with enhanced safety and efficiency.” (click link below to read more online)
Posted on March 31, 2023 by Sonoma Valley Sun
https://sonomasun.com/2023/03/31/500000-capital-grants-going-to-13-sonoma-valley-nonprofits/
$500K from Catalyst Funds, Community Foundation lift 13 Sonoma Valley nonprofits
The grants are for making essential safety, technological and maintenance upgrades.
Thirteen Sonoma Valley nonprofits will share in a half-million dollars of new funding for vital capital improvement projects.
On Friday, the Sonoma Valley Catalyst Fund and Community Foundation Sonoma County announced the organizations that will benefit from their $500,000 grant pool. This initiative aims to support local nonprofits, many of which operate on tight budgets, by enabling them to make essential safety, technological and maintenance upgrades.
Funding for the capital grants program is made possible by a one-time launch gift from Community Foundation Sonoma County. The organizations who received grants for this cycle will use the funding for the following projects:
Art Escape will upgrade its facility, adding storage and fencing, repairing outside stairs, and improving lighting.
Becoming Independent will purchase a wheelchair-accessible minivan to provide personalized services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Boys & Girls Clubs of Sonoma Valley will enhance security at their Maxwell Clubhouse with controlled entry systems for all doors.
Community Child Care Council (4Cs) will convert a part-day preschool classroom into a full-day, full-year toddler program by upgrading the kitchen and adding laundry facilities and toddler-sized furniture.
Friends in Sonoma Helping (FISH) will replace roofs on the Food Pantry and Clothing Room buildings, including the removal and reinstallation of solar panels.
Hanna Center will furnish its new community-facing Mental Health Hub, purchasing furniture for offices, waiting rooms and shared spaces.
Homeless Action Sonoma (HAS) will acquire and install communal furnishings and appliances to make the communal area at HAS' Home and Safe Village fully functional.
R.I.S.K. Sonoma will upgrade its technology, including re-building its website to offer an accessible and bilingual point of entry for clients and purchasing a laptop for presentations and meetings.
Sonoma Immigrant Services Inc. will purchase office equipment and furniture to enhance its accessible legal services.
Sonoma Overnight Support (SOS) will purchase a hybrid vehicle for food and supply transport and purchase appliances for their new kitchen location.
Sonoma Valley Community Health Center will improve patient care through a new electronic healthcare record system, allowing them to better partner with other Sonoma County providers using the popular Epic system. They will also purchase new computers in anticipation of the program’s launch.
Jack London Park Partners plans to purchase a truck and watering trailer to augment food production at their historic orchard at Jack London State Historic Park.
Vintage House will replace their 25-year-old commercial dishwasher and sink and make necessary plumbing and electrical upgrades to continue providing meal services to seniors in Sonoma Valley.
“This critical funding comes thanks to the generosity of Roland and Hazel Todd, who left a legacy bequest to Community Foundation in the hopes that we would continue to support capital projects like these in the Sonoma Valley for years to come. We’re grateful to partner with the Sonoma Valley Catalyst Fund, whose dedicated volunteers did the groundwork to identify these projects and recommend these grants,” Elly Grogan, interim vice president for community impact at the Fund, said in a press release.
The Sonoma Valley Catalyst Fund and Community Foundation Sonoma County aim to create a lasting impact on the community. These grants are meant to enhance the capabilities of nonprofit organizations to better serve the needs of the Sonoma Valley.
You can reach Staff Writer Rebecca Wolff at rebecca.wolff@sonomanews.com. On Twitter @bexwolff.
INDEX-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
March 31, 2023
https://www.sonomanews.com/article/news/500k-in-catalyst-funds-lift-13-sonoma-valley-nonprofits/
1 in 5 Sonoma Valley residents without enough food, new study shows
An estimated 1 in 5 Valley residents struggles to have enough to eat or is chronically worried about having adequate food, according to the results of a new study sponsored by Sonoma Valley Catalyst Fund.
This is only one of the findings from an in-depth report just released by the consulting firm Community Planning Collaborative. The study, conducted in partnership with a food task force comprising major local providers, is intended to kick off the second major initiative by the Catalyst Fund in Sonoma Valley. Catalyst was formed in 2020 by a small group of volunteers to create rapid-response funding for local nonprofits struggling to respond to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The study also found that nearly 20% of the Valley’s residents live under the 200% national poverty level, a widely-used threshold that indicates how many people struggle to feed themselves and their families, given the cost of living in the Sonoma Valley is estimated at 50% above the national level. (click link below to read more online)
AMIE WINDSOR
GAZETTE PUBLISHER
February 6, 2023
Editorial: Going hungry in a foodie paradise — the Sonoma Valley paradox
A new report gives added clarity to the scope of the Valley’s widespread food insecurity, and what we can do about it.
Nearly one in five Sonoma Valley residents do not know where their next meals will come from.
Let’s repeat that startling statistic for emphasis: nearly ONE in FIVE of our neighbors is struggling with food insecurity.
Sonoma is world-renowned for its food and wine offerings, with some of the best chefs in the country whipping up creative dishes that get written up in foodie magazines across the globe. So it was unsettling, if not somewhat unsurprising considering the turmoil of recent years, to learn that so many people in our community are struggling to fill their fridges and bellies. (click link below to read more online)
SONOMA INDEX-TRIBUNE
February 9, 2023, 8:00AM
Report: 8,000 Sonoma Valley residents face food insecurity
A new report shows that 8,000 Sonoma Valley residents face food insecurity, and an estimated one-third of them either do not have or may not have information about assistance that could help them.
A newly released report shows that approximately 8,000 Sonoma Valley residents face food insecurity, and an estimated one-third of them are unsure about local assistance options available to them.
This was among the main discoveries in a detailed, 77-page report, “Sonoma Valley Food Security Assessment,” which was released on Jan. 31 by the Community Planning Collaborative consulting firm. Food security generally means a person knows where their next meals will come from, while those who are food insecure do not.
The collaborative’s Cathy Capriola and Laurie Decker, both residents of Sonoma Valley, began work on the report in April 2022, providing an in-depth analysis of food-related trends, needs and resources.
DANIEL JOHNSON
INDEX-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
February 6, 2023, 5:13PM
https://www.sonomanews.com/article/news/report-8000-sonoma-valley-residents-face-food-insecurity/
Addressing Sonoma Valley’s urgent food security problem
Despite the work of some 15 dedicated nonprofits and 500 ‘miracle working’ volunteers getting food to those who need it, one in five Sonoma Valley residents faces food insecurity, according to the results of a new study sponsored by Sonoma Valley Catalyst Fund.
This is one of the disturbing findings from an in-depth report just released by the consulting firm Community Planning Collaborative. The study, conducted in partnership with a food task force comprised of all major local providers, is intended to kick off the second major initiative by the Catalyst Fund in Sonoma Valley. (click link below to read more online)
Posted on February 4, 2023
by Sonoma Valley Sun
https://sonomasun.com/2023/02/04/addressing-sonoma-valleys-urgent-food-security-problem/
New Study Analyzes Valley Hunger Problem—and Pursues New Solutions with Local Providers
(Sonoma, CA) Feb. 3,2023 — An estimated 1 in 5 Valley residents struggles to have enough to eat or is chronically worried about having adequate food, according to the results of a new study sponsored by Sonoma Valley Catalyst Fund.
This is only one of the findings from an in-depth report just released by the consulting firm Community Planning Collaborative. The study, conducted in partnership with a food task force comprised of all major local providers, is intended to kick off the second major initiative by the Catalyst Fund in Sonoma Valley. Catalyst was formed in 2020 by a small group of volunteers to create rapid-response funding for local nonprofits struggling to respond to the Covid-19 pandemic. “Catalyst raised over $1.6M to support the nonprofit community during the pandemic and our grantees tell us that our grants really made a difference to the outcomes that were possible here,” commented Catalyst Co-Chair Katherine Fulton. “Now it’s time to focus our full attention on another urgent need in the Valley—making sure our neighbors have enough food in a place known world-wide for its agricultural riches.”
Catalyst hired local residents Cathy Capriola and Laurie Decker in April of 2022 to perform an in depth analysis of food-related trends, needs and resources, once it became clear that the demand for food was not decreasing as the pandemic eased. “We have fifteen-or-so nonprofits here actively distributing food to those in need,” explained Dub Hay, Catalyst co-chair. “But no one knew enough about how they work together, who they serve, and who is still falling through the cracks.” The consultants brought local food assistance organizations together multiple times to share information, as well as conducted a survey with 314 households in Spanish and English to learn more about their needs and experiences.
Findings include the insight that nearly 20% of the Valley’s residents live under the 200% national poverty level, a widely-used threshold that indicates how many people here struggle to feed themselves and their families, given a cost of living in the Sonoma Valley estimated at 50% above the national level. This estimated 1 in 5 Valley residents translates into about 8,000 people.
The report makes clear that local organizations and volunteers are working miracles to address this chronic need that increased dramatically during the pandemic. More than 500 volunteers already power the local effort. But the food insecurity issue is complicated and multi-faceted. The study found that existing food programs are extensive, effective, and highly valued by clients, but that the large number of providers and high degree of decentralization among services leads to some underutilized capacity and missed opportunities.
“There is a level of complexity here,” commented consultant and former Sonoma City Manager Cathy Capriola. “Food seems simple but it’s not—it’s a complex 3-D puzzle. For example, I was astonished at the level of recovered food that is being gathered from grocery stores and local farmers and put to good use.”
The study highlights that there are a surprising number of factors that play into making food distribution effective. Food recipients stressed the issues of accessibility with one in four reporting transportation or mobility issues. Healthiness of food is another important factor, with high interest in more fresh produce, less canned food and more food choice. Targeting food appropriately to households is another piece of the puzzle, with some households including younger children, while others have members who are elderly and have mobility limitations or specialized dietary needs. Individual food recipients stressed that while that they are incredibly grateful for supportive food services, the programs can also be hard to locate and difficult to access. “The need for comprehensive, readily-available information in a bi-lingual format came through loud and clear,” explained Dub Hay. “And that is something we can address.”
The report also pointed out that many barriers prevent people from accessing federally-funded programs such as CalFresh and WIC (Women, Infants and Children). On the nonprofit side, local organizations tend to run “lean” in terms of funding, staffing, and facilities. “They do so much with so little,” commented Catalyst Grants Chair Diana Sanson. “We want to use this data to target the most effective ways to support them in their core mission.”
The task force and consultants made about two dozen recommendations for ways to improve the current system to ensure adequate access to usable food and to create a sustainable local food security system that is strategic, coordinated and cost effective. These recommendations will now be prioritized over time, and help pave the way for targeted initiatives coordinated by the Catalyst team.
“Now, in partnership with our local nonprofit partners, we can begin to identify the best next steps to build on the terrific work our organizations and volunteers are already doing,” explained Fulton. “It won’t happen overnight, but we believe that by getting the right information, involving the right players, and focusing funding in the right places we can impact this urgent challenge, reducing the chronic stress that some 8,000 of our neighbors routinely face.”
The report, which took 9 months to create, has been made public and is available for use by community organizations. The full report along with an Executive Summary and supporting PowerPoint deck are available on Catalyst’s website. To learn more, donate, or get involved, visit www.sonomavalleycatalystfund.org.
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Sonoma Valley Catalyst Fund’s mission is to mobilize philanthropic support and innovative approaches to address urgent, emergent and chronic challenges no Sonoma Valley donor or organization can solve alone. It is a fund of Community Foundation Sonoma County.
Philanthropist Katherine Fulton honored with national award
Sunday was one of those unforgettable fall days in the Sonoma Valley, framed with a tapestry of explosive color and the smell of leaves and Halloween in the air. I was assigned to write about Sonoma Valley philanthropist Katherine Fulton, who had just won the prestigious 2022 National Philanos Willoughby award honoring visionary woman philanthropic leaders. Philanos is a national organization founded by visionary Colleen Willoughby, whose mission is to accelerate philanthropy through woman’s collective giving.
After being invited to sit with Fulton in the office of her tastefully decorated Sonoma home, the first thing she said to me was, “I want to make something perfectly clear to you, I don’t want you to write an article about me winning an award, and I don't want to talk about myself.”
What I would come to understand about this prescient and insightful woman over the next three enlightening hours was her clear and sincere avoidance of “I” statements replaced instead by the very essence that is at the core of everything she does and believes, “the power of we.” (click link below to read more online)
STACY ALLEGRO
FOR THE INDEX-TRIBUNE
November 2, 2022, 8:51AM
https://www.sonomanews.com/article/news/philanthropist-katherine-fulton-honored-with-national-award/
Sonoma Valley woman honored with national award for philanthropic efforts
Longtime Sonoma Valley resident Katherine Fulton was honored Oct. 11 with the 2022 Willoughby Award from women’s philanthropy collective Philanos during an online ceremony. Fulton, 67, formed the Sonoma Valley Catalyst Fund at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in May 2020, after 25 years working as an adviser and member of nonprofits such as women's philanthropic organization Impact100 Sonoma and grant programs supporting nonprofits such as Sonoma Valley Fund. Sonoma Valley Catalyst Fund uses a collective donor model to gather money from local donors and distribute it to nonprofits in need. The fund raised $1.6 million for Sonoma Valley nonprofits during the pandemic, and has now merged with Sonoma Valley Fund to address other needs, in partnership with Community Foundation Sonoma County, according to the community foundation’s blog in August.
Founded in 2009, Philanos acts as an international network for more than 80 collective women-led giving and grantmaking groups in 27 states, the District of Columbia, Australia and England.
Former Impact100 Sonoma co-president Lynne Lancaster nominated Fulton for the Willoughby Award. The annual award is named for Philanos founder, Colleen S. Willoughby, and includes a prize of $1,000, which Fulton donated to Impact100 Sonoma. (click link below to read more online)
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
November 2, 2022, 2:14PM
Sonoma ‘Star’ volunteers honored by Congressman Mike Thompson
Extraordinary Sonoma volunteers were honored by their nonprofits on Sunday with trophies and certificates, along with recognition from local politicians.
The Sonoma County Catalyst Fund hosted 37 charitable organizations for this year’s annual Sonoma Valley Star Volunteer awards at the Hanna Center on Oct. 9.
The organizations honored a total of 39 volunteers, each selected by the organization they serve, in the presence of their families for going above and beyond in the name of others this year. Congressman Mike Thompson and First District Supervisor Susan Gorin presented the recognized volunteers with their awards. (click link below to read more online)
INDEX-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
October 12, 2022, 4:09PM
https://www.sonomanews.com/article/news/sonoma-star-volunteers-honored-by-congressman-mike-thompson/
Sonoma Valley Catalyst Fund recognizes 2022 Star Volunteers
The Sonoma Valley Catalyst Fund hosted the annual Sonoma Valley Star Volunteer Awards, as 37 nonprofit organizations honored 39 of Sonoma Valley’s most active and valuable community volunteers. Each Star Volunteer was presented with a special trophy and certificates of recognition from Supervisor Susan Gorin and Congressman Mike Thompson at the event, held at Hanna Boys Center on October 9.
Nonprofit organizations who serve Sonoma Valley nominate their Star Volunteers in recognition for going above and beyond during the year.
This year’s Star Volunteer Awards ceremony was made possible through grants from co-sponsors Community Foundation Sonoma County and the Rotary Club of Sonoma Valley, and donations from several local nonprofits and businesses. (click link below to read more online)
Sonoma Valley Sun
Posted on October 10, 2022
https://sonomasun.com/2022/10/10/sonoma-valley-catalyst-fund-recognizes-2022-star-volunteers/
October, 2021 - We were surprised and honored to receive a “National Health Center Week 2021 Certificate of Appreciation” from the Sonoma Valley Community Health Center. Thank you!
Photo by Melania Mahoney
Honoring Volunteerism in Sonoma Valley
On Sunday, October 10th, 2021 we joined the Sonoma Valley Fund in honoring Sonoma Valley Volunteers. Sonoma Valley Fund’s annual Star Volunteer Awards are an opportunity for nonprofits who serve the Valley to honor a Star Volunteer. This year’s event included 39 nonprofits honoring 42 Star Volunteers. We had the unique opportunity to join this event and award a special Catalyst Award which was given to the 9 organizations who have courageously and persistently responded to the ever-changing needs of those most impacted. They reimagined and extended their services. They worked together in new ways. They have helped Sonoma Valley persevere through a very difficult time. They deserve our gratitude and praise. Along with a trophy, each awardee was the recipient of a certificate from Supervisor Susan Gorin and Congressman Mike Thompson.
The nine awardees are:
Boys & Girls Clubs of Sonoma Valley In spring 2020, when the pandemic forced the local schools to abruptly close, Boys & Girls Club of Sonoma Valley (BGCSV) turned on a dime to create dozens of learning pods to help hundreds of students stay safely engaged in school and on track. BGCSV created an entirely new service structure focused on the wellbeing and safety of the kids and their families while meeting constantly changing CDC guidelines. No one knew exactly how to do it, but they never gave up trying to figure out how to do it better.
Food for All/Comida Para Todos The pandemic caused gaping holes in access to basic services for the most vulnerable in the Springs neighborhoods, so a group of neighbors stepped up and formed Food for All/Comida para Todos to make bi-weekly porch deliveries of essential food items to over a hundred families each week. This all-volunteer organization has grown to be a trusted local service provider, having served over 900 unique families and completed over 3000 porch deliveries, as well as provided over 150 emergency COVID food baskets.
Friends in Sonoma Helping (F.I.S.H.) In 2020, Friends in Sonoma Helping, an all-volunteer organization, did an extraordinary job distributing over $910,000 of rental and utility assistance funds to 1,156 local families who lost their regular income and needed extra help. Despite this being five times their normal caseload, they efficiently processed applications for assistance for rent and utilities with grace and dignity for the families in need.
La Luz Center During the pandemic, the La Luz Center not only continued to reach out to help those most in need, but most importantly, they stepped up to partner with local health agencies to coordinate and provide ongoing, culturally welcoming vaccine clinics, greatly helping hundreds of people get vaccinated.
Sonoma Overnight Support Starting in March of 2020, Sonoma Overnight Support (SOS) quickly shifted to increase their food program to provide hundreds of warm, healthy meals daily to the homeless and housing insecure by moving to the Springs Hall. SOS continued to pivot to provide essential services such as a bi-lingual resource specialist for their Spanish speaking clients (now 43%), housing placement, safe parking, access to vaccine clinics and in-home meal deliveries for home-bound seniors in the Springs.
Sonoma Valley Chamber of Commerce When the world shut down, the economy took a dramatic nose dive. The Valley’s Chamber launched daily and then weekly zoom calls to coordinate the local business response, share information and advocate to public officials. Special programs included safe reopening kits supplied to 100 businesses for free, signage and certification protocols for reopening, help to the city on parklets and to Rotary on the Catalyst-Rotary grant program, a special website to support holiday gift sales, a job posting board to aid in hiring, and much more. When community leaders gathered to solve the ever-changing problems, the Chamber was always at the table.
Sonoma Valley Community Health Center Since the beginning of the pandemic, Sonoma Valley Community Health Center's leadership exhibited creativity, flexibility, determination and hands-on practicality to overcome hurdle after hurdle to provide easy access to testing, clear health information for all, and finally, vaccinations. Despite countless changes in protocols, funding requirements and staffing needs, they bravely leaned-in and kept asking: how can we reach out and help more people?
Sonoma Valley Vintners & Growers Alliance Sonoma’s signature industry received impressive and creative leadership from SVVGA, which provided a customized hub of resources, advocacy and support - a complement to the help the Chamber was providing. The vintners and their employees got daily information on navigating the impacts of the crisis through many channels. Multiple new marketing vehicles were launched, as sales and visits changed continuously. Covid testing was promoted. Then, in January 2021, SVVGA planned and established special vaccination clinics, resulting in more than 4,000 ag, wine and hospitality employees getting their shots early in the process.
Vintage House Sonoma’s senior center was closed to the public for 18 months. Virtually everything they did had to change, as the center worked to provide support of many kinds to older residents enduring isolation. Communal meals became meal delivery and curbside pickup, and demand grew steadily peaking at 500 meals a day. Seniors learned to rely on daily check-in calls, grocery shopping, prescription delivery and online programming. Reopening has required yet another pivot, to a blend of old and new approaches. The programming pivots continue, complete with a leadership transition.
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FISH baskets spread holiday cheer in Sonoma
Saturday, Dec. 18, may have been the coldest morning of the year, but the FISH volunteers were out in full force to prepare for the great, annual Holiday Food Basket distribution.
Over 460 families received a baskets filled with canned goods, fresh fruits and vegetables, Vella cheese and, thanks to the generosity of the Sonoma Valley Catalyst Fund, a $100 food gift card. FISH applied for a grant from the Catalyst Fund because so many in the Valley have been hard-hit by increases in food prices, gasoline costs and utility bills. The grant added an extra $60 for each of this year’s gift cards, so recipients had $100 to spend on their holiday meals.
The planning team members included Dee Weaver, Hunt and Carol Sharp, Louise and Sherm Bielfelt, Hewitt and Linda Jackson and Sandy Piotter, who began meeting in August. After months of organizing, the partners with La Luz and the Sonoma Valley Community Health Center helped FISH register families in November and early December.
The baskets were filled thanks to food drives held by the Scouts of Sonoma Valley and Sonoma Raceway, which resulted in hundreds of pounds of donated canned goods.
“The response from the recipients was heartwarming,” Piotter said in an email. “Expressions of thanks ranged from smiles to tears, from thank you to gracias and from Merry Christmas to Feliz Navidad. The spirit of Christmas and the spirit of Sonoma Valley intertwined to usher in a season of sharing.” (click link below to read more online)
SONOMA INDEX-TRIBUNE
December 27, 2021
https://www.sonomanews.com/article/news/fish-baskets-spread-holiday-cheer-in-sonoma/
Boys & Girls Club develops mental health services
In the height of fire season, a youth saw what appeared to be smoke outside the Sonoma Valley Boys & Girls Club, and quickly pulled the fire alarm, causing momentary chaos.
There was no smoke, just the haze of the misters used to keep campers cool on a hot summer days. But years of living under the fear of fire have made some kids hyper vigilant, a sign of trauma that has the potential to affect their well being.
Fires, floods, power outages, sky-choking smoke and 21 months of pandemic. These are some of the major events that have shaped the experiences of everyone living in this region, and for local youth, the impact has been heavy.
According to the county-wide YouthTruth survey, 43% of students have felt so sad or hopeless for two weeks or more, it caused them to stop doing usual activities in the past year.
Two nonprofit leaders who have been worried about how these experiences have affected local youth have looked to expand their services, ensuring local students have access to mental health care. A partnership between Boys & Girls Club of Sonoma Valley and Petaluma People Services Center, with funding by Sonoma Valley Catalyst Fund, now provides professional emotional behavioral support at the Maxwell Club, a new program that got underway this month.
"The pandemic has taken a heavy toll on our youth's mental health as evidenced by the YouthTruth survey and, more importantly, our own eyes. Unfortunately, Sonoma Valley's few mental health providers are completely overwhelmed," said Diana Sanson, Catalyst Fund grant coordinator. "The Boys & Girls Club Sonoma Valley, in partnership with Petaluma People Services, is well positioned to provide mental health programming to local youth and teens in a supportive and trusted environment." (click link below to read more online)
ANNE WARD ERNST
FOR THE INDEX-TRIBUNE
November 24, 2021, 9:28PM
https://www.sonomanews.com/article/news/boys-girls-club-develops-mental-health-services/
9 nonprofits honored for pandemic relief in Sonoma Valley
Sonoma Valley Catalyst Fund has honored nine organizations for courageous leadership on the frontlines of the pandemic.
“The pandemic has required every organization and leader to adapt. But these nine organizations have provided the vital support that has helped our community persevere through an historic crisis,” said Katherine Fulton, Catalyst’s co-founder and coordinator. “They went above and beyond to help those most impacted, providing food, rental assistance, vaccines, support for young people and seniors and so much more. They have been creative, determined and flexible, showing a combination of competence and character that has inspired us again and again. Our community is in their debt.”
Sonoma Valley Catalyst Fund works to improve our community’s collective response to the COVID-19 crisis. “The award was a way for the community to say ‘thank you,’” Fulton added. (click link below to read more online)
SONOMA INDEX-TRIBUNE
October 25, 2021, 1:37PM
https://www.sonomanews.com/article/news/9-nonprofits-honored-for-pandemic-relief-in-sonoma-valley/
Sonoma Valley Catalyst Fund Awards Twelve Nonprofit Recovery Grants
[August 20, 2021] – On July 21st, Sonoma Valley Catalyst Fund announced a new open grant program to aid in the recovery of Sonoma Valley nonprofits that are restructuring their services due to the pandemic crisis. Today, one month later, they announced the twelve Recovery Grant proposals that will be funded for a total of $229,045. The Catalyst Fund received 28 Recovery Grant proposals requesting nearly $500,000.
Catalyst is a temporary philanthropic fund that aims to improve our community’s collective response to the Covid-19 crisis. The fund has so far awarded $1,000,000 in local grants to fill the gaps left by other funding and actions, including support of vaccination, food security, youth mental health, financial support of businesses and individuals, and much more.
The objective of the Recovery Grants program is to provide flexible funding for local organizations to support their recovery needs with priority placed on the organizations serving those hardest hit by the pandemic. These grants help organizations adapt to this new phase of the pandemic crisis, aiming for greater effectiveness and efficiency for change.
“The Catalyst Fund has made it easier for our very hardworking non-profits to make it through a very tough couple of years in this unprecedented crisis,” said Simon Blattner, Catalyst Co-Chair with Katherine Fulton. “We have proved what a great community can do quickly when we come together for a common cause.”
Below is the list of twelve grantees and their proposals.
Funds were granted to:
Becoming Independent: To fund the transitional staffing necessary to create a new hybrid model of service that will meet the needs and desires of their intellectually and developmentally challenged Sonoma Valley clients in the continuing pandemic. $20,000
Boys & Girls Club Sonoma Valley: To provide staff pandemic recognition for going above and beyond to support their high-risk students for the past 18 months. $20,000
Council on Aging: To provide for six more months of hybrid programming to address the social isolation among older adults living with dementia in Sonoma Valley as reopening evolves. $17,500
Pets Lifeline: To address the quadrupling of demand for spay/neuter procedures needed by the pandemic pet population adopted over the last year and to provide key staff time off. $20,000
Sebastiani Theater: To hire a part-time Marketing Development Manager for one year to shift programming, restore the theatre’s economic vitality and increase outreach to more diverse audiences. $20,000
Sonoma Arts Live: To execute the CDC’s layered approach to safety during their indoor shows by purchasing needed air filtering, hiring a special cleaning crew and sanitizing show equipment. $16,545
Sonoma Overnight Support: To support the continued prepared meal outreach collaboration with Vintage House, the funds will support SOS’s absorption of the meal preparation and deliveries to homebound seniors in the Springs, who were formerly serviced by Vintage House. $20,000
Sonoma Valley Communications Corp (KSVY, etc.): To support the planning and execution of several operational pandemic adjustments to ensure ongoing emergency coverage and to provide staff recognition. $15,000
Sonoma Valley Hospital Foundation: To help purchase and install a new patient/visitor screening kiosk in the main visitor entrance and to provide 22 weeks of drive-through testing. $20,000
Sonoma Valley Museum of Art: To expand digital and in-home learning tools, tested and piloted during COVID, for its Art Rewards the Students (A.R.T.S.) program for academic year 2021/22. $20,000
The Botanical Bus: To help expand bilingual wellness programming in the Springs by providing six Farm Worker Clinics and eight in-person Wellness Workshops at La Luz Center this fall. $20,000
Vintage House: To implement a tracking database to enable staff to reopen services safely, providing a seamless customer welcoming experience despite COVID protocols and fund a two-day, team-building staff retreat. $20,000
12 Sonoma Valley nonprofits receive Catalyst Fund grants
The Sonoma Valley Catalyst Fund this week announced the recipients of 12 Recovery Grants, which will fund local nonprofits to the tune of $229,045.
Catalyst describes itself as a “temporary philanthropic fund” with the goal of improving the community’s collective response to the pandemic. The fund has so far awarded $1 million in local grants in support of vaccination, food security, youth mental health, financial support of businesses and individuals, according to a Catalyst news release.
The objective of the grants program is to provide flexible funding for local organizations to support their recovery needs with priority placed on the organizations serving those hardest hit by the pandemic, according to a Catalyst description of the program. (click link below to read more online)
SONOMA INDEX-TRIBUNE STAFF REPORT
August 26, 2021, 3:00PM
https://www.sonomanews.com/article/news/12-sonoma-valley-nonprofits-receive-catalyst-fund-grants/
$100k in grants available for Valley nonprofits
The Sonoma Valley Catalyst Fund has created a new grant program to aid in the recovery of Sonoma Valley nonprofits that are restructuring their services due to the pandemic. The application deadline is noon on Monday, Aug. 9.
Catalyst is a temporary philanthropic fund that aims to fill the gaps left by losses in funding in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including support of vaccination, food security, youth mental health, financial support of businesses and individuals and more.
“The pandemic emergency has eased, but the crisis continues for all those most affected, which includes our frontline nonprofits,” said Katherine Fulton, Catalyst Fund co-chair. “This may well be the hardest time for many organizations. Everyone is tired, and now they have to face a new set of uncertainties and challenges. We opened this new Recovery Fund to provide fresh energy and hope."
The new $100,000 grant program will provide flexible funding for local organizations to support their recovery needs via individual grants ranging from $10,000 to $20,000. (click link below to read more online)
SONOMA INDEX-TRIBUNE STAFF REPORT
July 12, 2021, 5:53PM
https://www.sonomanews.com/article/news/100k-in-grants-available-for-valley-nonprofits/
Healing social justice program launched in Sonoma
The new Sonoma Valley for Healing Justice program is a student-led initiative supported by the Hanna Institute. Local high school students will work together “to improve the mental health of all youth in Sonoma through collective healing in the community,” according to program materials.
Healing Justice is both a term and a movement “that aims to address widespread generational trauma from systemic violence and oppression by reviving ancestral healing practices and building new, more inclusive ones.”
With the $50,000 in funds from the Catalyst Fund, the Hanna team overseeing the program has been able to create the program, manage it, and offer all student participants an $800 stipend to take part. (click link below to read more online)
SONOMA INDEX-TRIBUNE STAFF REPORT
June 28, 2021, 5:39PM
https://www.sonomanews.com/article/news/healing-social-justice-program-launched-in-sonoma/
LAUNCHING NEW SONOMA VALLEY FOR HEALING JUSTICE PROGRAM
For immediate release
June 19, 2021
Sonoma, CA - A new program – Sonoma Valley for Healing Justice- has launched thanks to a generous $50,000 grant from the Catalyst Fund.
The Program is a student-led initiative supported by the Hanna Institute. Local high school students will work together to improve the mental health of all youth in Sonoma through collective healing in the community. Healing Justice is both a term and a movement that aims to address widespread generational trauma from systemic violence and oppression by reviving ancestral healing practices and building new, more inclusive ones.
With the funds from the Catalyst Fund the team has been able to create the program, manage it, and offer all student participants an $800 stipend to take part. The program runs for 8 weeks from June 23 – August 11. Students will get together weekly for 3 hours a week (3:30 – 6:30 PM). All spots have been filled.
Teens in Sonoma need this work more now than ever. They have struggled to deal with the ramifications of the COVID–19 pandemic – the isolation, fear, and the disruption of classroom learning - along with structural inequities, the recent fires, and ongoing disenfranchisement of marginalized communities, resulting in physical and emotional tolls that self and community care aims to address and remediate.
"What does it mean to be someone who works or lives or moves through spaces in Sonoma Valley? An area that has witnessed and experienced so many threats and frankly tragedies whether it's the wildfires, the pandemic, matters of racial injustice, anti-blackness and anti-immigrant sentiment and how it is that it has really impacted our community. We are trying to create a collective care space where we can come and have conversations around what it means to be a Healing Justice responder and how is it that we can--with love, kindness, compassion, intentionality and urgency--respond to issues that are impacting our classmates or colleagues."
This work wouldn’t be possible without the generous support of the Catalyst Fund, created by a group of donors aspiring to improve our community’s response to the COVID-19 crisis. “When Dr. Dominguez came to us to talk about how together we could impact youth in the Valley we felt passionate this project is one of the ways we can really make a difference. We’re working to make a difference in any areas that might be slipping through the crack – and as a community we all need to be concerned about how COVID has impacted the mental health of teens in Sonoma,” shared Diana, a Catalyst Fund representative.
To learn more about the Healing Justice Program please visit www.hannainstitute.org
For more information:
Kelly Exner, Communications, Hanna Boys Center
707.933.7031 kexner@hannacenter.org
The Sonoma Valley Catalyst Fund: A novel crisis requires a novel response. Sonoma Valley Catalyst Fund aspires to improve our community’s collective response to the Covid-19 crisis. Catalyst is a temporary, philanthropic fund created to find and fill the gaps that won’t be filled by the usual funding and actions. Catalyst was initiated by leaders of the Sonoma Valley Fund, endorsed by Impact100 Sonoma and seeded by Community Foundation Sonoma County, which provided a lead matching grant of $150,000 along with fund management and administrative services.
The Hanna Institute raises awareness about child trauma and early adversity while promoting the recovery and growth of individuals, organizations, and communities. As a leading provider of trauma-informed care training in Sonoma County and Northern California, Hanna Institute is dedicated to advancing nonviolent communication, social justice and trauma recovery through public awareness, supporting strong parent-child bonds, and teaching strategies for self-care and recovery to enable transformative rebirth in our communities.
Rotary concludes COVID grant program
Since last December, the Sonoma Valley Rotary Foundation has awarded $200,000 to about 200 local businesses in the form of grants to help those businesses cope with the economic effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. The grants ranged from from $500 to more than $1,000 and came from $100,000 raised by Sonoma Rotary members. That total was then matched with $100,000 from Sonoma Valley Catalyst Fund. (click link below to read more online)
SONOMA INDEX-TRIBUNE STAFF REPORT
May 13, 2021, 4:53PM
https://www.sonomanews.com/article/news/rotary-concludes-covid-grant-program/
Sonoma Rotary Clubs grant $200,000 to more than 200 local businesses
The Sonoma Valley Rotary Foundation has just wrapped up a grant campaign that awarded $200,000 to about 200 local businesses in the form of grants from $500 to more than $1,000 to help those businesses cope with the economic effects from the Covid-19 pandemic.
The money came from $100,000 raised by Sonoma Rotarians and then matched with $100,000 from Sonoma Valley Catalyst Fund. (click link below to read more online)
Sonoma Valley Sun
Posted on May 10, 2021
https://sonomasun.com/2021/05/10/sonoma-rotary-clubs-grant-200000-to-more-than-200-local-businesses/
Two more vaccine clinics to open in Sonoma
Two new Sonoma locations will begin providing vaccinations this week, with one open on Thursday, Feb. 11, and the other on Tuesday, Feb. 16. Another drive-through clinic will be held at the Sonoma Valley High School on Sunday, Feb. 14. (click link below to read more online)
ANNE WARD ERNST
SONOMA INDEX-TRIBUNE
February 12, 2021, 1:13AM
https://www.sonomanews.com/article/news/two-more-vaccine-clinics-to-open-in-sonoma/
New teen after-school program opens in Sonoma
Art Escape and Sonoma Immigration Services (SIS) are launching a new “safe space” after-school program called “Fare Forward.”
“With physical and social distancing all children, especially teens, are experiencing isolation and a loss of independence,” said Mary Beth Angin of Art Escape, in the announcement of the program. (click link below to read more online)
Lorna Sherican
SONOMA INDEX-TRIBUNE
February 8, 2021
https://www.sonomanews.com/article/news/new-teen-after-school-program-opens-in-sonoma/
Sonoma Valley High School vaccine clinic a real shot in the arm
The vaccines were for those over 75 and administered by appointment only at the high school on Feb. 6 and 7. Folks will return for their required second round of doses the weekend of Feb. 27 and 28. The clinic was hosted by Sonoma Valley Health Partners - which includes Sonoma Valley Hospital, Sonoma Valley Community Health Center, Sonoma Valley Fire & Rescue, Schell-Vista Fire Protection District, Sonoma County Department of Public Health, and the Sonoma Valley Catalyst Fund. (click link below to read more online)
SONOMA INDEX-TRIBUNE
February 8, 2021
https://www.sonomanews.com/article/news/high-school-vaccine-clinic-a-real-shot-in-the-arm/
SVH Hospital: Vaccine Q and A
Sonoma Valley Hospital has responded to the Frequently Asked Questions it is getting about its Covid vaccination process. For answers to other questions, please visit socoemergency.org or direct queries to: community@sonomavalleyhospital.org. SVH COVID-19 Information line: 707.935.5440 (click link below to read more online)
Sonoma Valley Sun
Posted on January 26, 2021
https://sonomasun.com/2021/01/26/svh-hospital-vaccine-q-and-a/
Sonoma Rotary Clubs grant more than $100,000 to 134 local businesses — more to come
The Sonoma Valley Rotary Foundation has awarded just over $100,000 to 134 local businesses with grants ranging from $500 to nearly $1,500 to help those businesses cope with the economic effects from the Covid-19 pandemic. The money came from $50,000 raised by Sonoma Rotarians and then matched with $50,000 from Sonoma Valley Catalyst Fund. For a second round, Rotary has begun raising another $50,000 through a GoFundMe campaign to match an additional $50,000 from Sonoma Valley Catalyst Fund. (click link below to read more online)
Sonoma Valley Sun
January 12, 2021
Rotary extends small businesses grant program in Sonoma
Small businesses in Sonoma Valley looking for assistance during the pandemic can continue to apply for some relief through grants being offered by the Sonoma Valley Rotary Foundation. (click link below to read more online)
SONOMA INDEX-TRIBUNE STAFF REPORT
January 4, 2021
https://www.sonomanews.com/article/news/rotary-extends-small-businesses-grant-program-in-sonoma/
Rotary handing out grants to small businesses in Sonoma Valley
Small businesses in Sonoma Valley looking for assistance during the pandemic may find some relief through grants being offered by the Sonoma Valley Rotary Foundation. The foundation is offering grants of $500 or more; businesses with 20 or fewer employees can apply. Businesses such as restaurants, hotels, auto repair shops, winery tasting rooms, barbers and hair salons and more - with valley locations from Kenwood to Schellville - are eligible. (click link below to read more online)
ANNE WARD ERNST
SONOMA INDEX-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
November 30, 2020, 5:34PM
Sonoma Rotary Clubs make $100,000 available to Sonoma Valley businesses
Under a new initiative to boost the Covid-ravaged economy, the Sonoma Valley Rotary Foundation will award up to $100,000 in small grants to small local businesses. (click link below to read more online)
SONOMA VALLEY SUN
December 2, 2020
Philanthropy group fears dark days ahead for struggling Sonomans
New Catalyst Fund to assist Valley aid organizations through ’hard winter.’ (click link below to read more online)
LORNA SHERIDAN
SONOMA INDEX-TRIBUNE MANAGING EDITOR
November 5, 2020, 5:17PM
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sonoma Valley Catalyst Fund Responds to the Covid-19 Pandemic
Sonoma, CA – October 30, 2020
The Covid-19 pandemic has caused a humanitarian crisis in Sonoma Valley – much of it unseen by residents as we go about our daily lives. Yet this crisis is real and growing as winter approaches.
Sonoma Valley Catalyst Fund has been formed to respond to this crisis. The fund is a temporary, volunteer effort initiated by leaders of the Sonoma Valley Fund. It was seeded by Community Foundation Sonoma County, which provided a lead matching grant of $150,000 along with fund management and administrative services. These seed funds have been matched by local donors bringing the fund so far to more than $350,000. The stretch goal is to raise $1 million in extra philanthropic funding to help the Sonoma Valley community reach the other side of this crisis.
“Catalyst is designed to complement rather than duplicate other efforts, and to help solve novel problems,” said Katherine Fulton, co-chair with Simon Blattner of Catalyst’s Steering Committee. “We may all be in the same pandemic-caused storm, but we are not in the same boat. We need to reach those who are paying the highest price by catching them in a specially designed safety net.”
The decision-making structure of Catalyst is unusual, with the aim of staying nimble and flexible as needs quickly shift. The goal is to identify critical gaps that won’t be filled by government or existing nonprofit programs. The Fund also aims to create solutions that will lead to greater efficiency and capacity in the future—not just stop-gap funding. The small steering committee of Valley civic leaders sets priorities and makes funding recommendations to the Community Foundation, where a special fund has been set up to receive and distribute gifts. The steering committee members are: Simon Blattner; Katherine Fulton; Logan Harvey; Rebecca Hermosillo; Maite Iturri; and Lynne Lancaster. Active subcommittees are working to raise the money and doing initial research to define needs and vet proposals for funding.
In October, more than $160,000 was granted to fill gaps that were identified in initial research, focused on providing a unique level of outreach and coordination aimed at the most vulnerable— needy and isolated elders, children and families struggling with access to education, those with food insecurity, and those most impacted by disasters such as fires and the pandemic.
These first grants included:
$50,000 to the Education Foundation to create and fill a full-time, bi-lingual technology outreach position at Sonoma Valley Unified School District to bridge the distance learning needs of struggling families and students.
$50,000 to Vintage House to hire a part-time chef enabling the organization to deliver meals to 100 senior households per week and increase the total number of meals available each week from 300 to 450.
$40,000 to Food for All/Comida Para Todos to cover the cost of delivering food and essential items to homebound families through the rest of 2020.
$13,000 to Sonoma Overnight Support, to purchase equipment needed to help meet the increased demand (up more than 100 percent) for meal service to the homeless, food-deprived, working poor and those on a fixed income.
Catalyst is actively seeking donations to continue making gifts into 2021. Looking forward, the fund is listening to nonprofit leaders on the frontlines seeking ways to respond to additional pressing needs, including slowing and stopping the spread of Covid-19, mental health, housing and homelessness. Grantmaking priorities remain flexible in a time of great uncertainty, as government funding continues to shift and the crisis continues to evolve.
“This will be the toughest winter we have ever lived through at home," says co-chair Simon Blattner. “It's each of our personal obligation to step up to this incredible emergency we're facing and help our neighbors. We have no choice.”
Those interested in donating can go to https://www.sonomavalleycatalystfund.org/
or send an email to info@sonomavalleycatalystfund.org.
Nonprofits with an idea for responding to the special needs of the crisis and in need of funding should contact Diana Sanson at tulavista@gmail.com.
Press contact:
Barbara Wells
(707) 758-8819
info@sonomavalleycatalystfund.org