Advocate for Local Action | Abogando por la Acción Local

Dear Friends,

As we near the end of the year, we reflect on all that we have accomplished together in northern Sonoma County. Our efforts, as highlighted in our recent Impact Report, have built a strong foundation on which we are poised to expand in 2025. 

Since assuming the role of executive director in May of this year, I have had the great privilege of spending quality time with many of you who work with or support the Foundation. You have allowed me to hear your stories and your ideas and it is no exaggeration to say that you have helped to guide the work we do for the health and wellbeing of our shared community.

As a community that cares deeply for our neighbors, many of you have expressed concern for our immigrant community. We are entering uncertain times and many of our valued community members are afraid. Such times of challenge and uncertainty are precisely why our mission to protect and strengthen our local system of care, especially for our most vulnerable neighbors, is so important. I encourage you to reach out and join us in our efforts in any way you find meaningful. This work belongs to and depends on us all. 

In this final edition of our newsletter for 2024, we highlight the Healthcare Foundation’s greatest asset: its people. Please enjoy the astute and thoughtful reflections below that highlight our invaluable partnerships. 

In this issue we extend an enormous thank you to our outgoing board members and bid them a loving farewell—farewell but not really goodbye, because they remain part of our family. 

Additionally, we hear from several community members and partners in health equity who joined our recent strategic planning retreat and who graciously share their experience and perspective of the role of the Healthcare Foundation. 

As always, our mission is guided by the gifts, wisdom and dedication of people such as you, who do so much to keep our community healthy and safe. 

I wish you and your loved ones a beautiful holiday season.

With gratitude,

Amy Ramirez
Executive Director

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Some Parting Reflections from Four Fantastic Board Members

The Healthcare Foundation is fortunate to have an outstanding Board of Directors. As an organization committed to health justice, we and the communities we serve continue to benefit enormously from the diverse range of experience and expertise brought to this work by our Board. The Healthcare Foundation has grown in knowledge and impact through the participation of every member.

As four members of our Board prepare to step down at the end of this month, we asked them for any thoughts they wished to share with the Healthcare Foundation’s community of grantees, partners, and supporters. 

We are pleased to share their reflections on the mission they have helped to advance and on the Healthcare Foundation’s evolving role in the region’s health ecosystem. (You can read the full remarks from each Board member here.)

We are eternally grateful for their service.

“I’m excited for the Foundation to embrace the work around health advocacy, which is a force multiplier that advances the organization’s mission and impact. We are still learning in this area, and will need to stay humble and focused on excellence and best practices. Crucially, this work cannot be done in a silo. Advancing in this area necessitates that we deepen our role in the community as convener and facilitator among stakeholders, including grassroots service organizations — and this is exactly where the Foundation excels.”

—Courtney Cochran

“I’m proud of my work on the Programs Committee. Granting money on a trust basis and witnessing the physical and mental health of our community members improve through increased access, education, and services, as well as through the brilliant graduates of the Mental Health Talent Pipeline, who provide bicultural, bilingual mental health services in northern Sonoma County, has been one of the thrills of my life. I’m also proud to have been on the event committee every year since 2016, having the honor of chairing it in 2024. Each year brought creativity, passion, generosity, and multicultural celebration together to raise money for health access, equity and justice in a truly beautiful, inclusive, and joyful way.”

—Danielle Restieaux

“I was very appreciative of the personal exposure to community leaders and innovators who would be invited to our monthly board meetings. I gained so much from hearing directly from individuals with a personal need to improve the health and mental well-being of our residents. It was so much more impactful than reading about their efforts.”

—Gary Barth

“I am most proud of the Mental Health Talent Pipeline and its ongoing mission to serve the community by providing exceptional, culturally relevant mental health support to traditionally underserved communities. . . . We have a fantastic, qualified staff that is exceptionally prepared to meet the changing landscape of philanthropic endeavors — led by a diverse, competent and engaged board of directors.”

—Darnell Bowen

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The role of the Healthcare Foundation is clearer than ever as our local nonprofits and clinics build their capacity to meet the needs of our community. To sustain this vital work, we invite you to make a year-end gift of any amount you choose to make health and wellbeing available to all.

Thanks to the generosity of Sharon and Robert Roper, Paul Greenall and Aaron Smith, and Kerry Francis and John Jimerson, all gifts up to $25,000 received by December 31st will be matched dollar-for-dollar.

Ways to Give

• Donate using Apple Pay, Google Pay, ACH or credit card
• Search us on Venmo
• Contribute through your Donor Advised Fund or Individual Retirement Account
• Donate a  stock gift
• Become a Healthcare Hero
• Leave a legacy gift

For mailed gifts, donor advised funds or charitable distributions

Healthcare Foundation Northern Sonoma County
Federal tax  ID number: 68-0474109
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 1025, Healdsburg, CA 95448
Physical Address: 111 Monte Vista Ave, Ste A, Healdsburg, CA 95448
Contact: Amy Ramirez, Executive Director

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Community Partner Perspectives on the Healthcare Foundation

In October, the Healthcare Foundation held a strategic planning retreat with our Board of Directors, inviting several community partners to participate as subject matter experts. We look forward to sharing with you in the new year the updated and revised Strategic Plan that this structured but very open dialogue initiated. In the meantime, we thought it valuable to share, with their kind permission, some reflections from the community partners who joined us for this process.

Facilitated by Karin Demarest of Demarest Strategy Group, the retreat set itself the overarching framework of imagining our region 50 years in the future, after the Healthcare Foundation has realized the vision and goal of “eliminating health inequities in northern Sonoma County.” 

We then worked collectively and in smaller groups to explore how this was accomplished: What precise steps were taken? What barriers were overcome? What short- and long-term actions and approaches were most effective? How was success defined and measured? How did various community members, organizations, government agencies and other stakeholders undertake and coordinate efforts to achieve this end? And so on.

By the end, we had advanced a detailed and nuanced discussion from which we identified key takeaways and persistent themes, all with the goal of understanding how the Healthcare Foundation is currently on course and how it can best operate to overcome barriers and achieve success in helping to realize health equity and health justice for northern Sonoma County.  

Below, four of our invited retreat participants share their experience of the process and, most importantly, their perspectives on the role the Healthcare Foundation plays in the health ecosystem they are a part of.

Stephanie Manieri, M.S., Executive Director, Latino Service Providers

“One of the most memorable aspects of the retreat was witnessing multiple groups engage in discussions rooted in a commitment to equity as a core principle. I was genuinely touched by this, though not surprised. I distinctly recall one group highlighting the persistent challenge of white supremacy in our work. That acknowledgment struck me as incredibly insightful and important. It created a profound sense of safety within the space, allowing us to openly address such critical issues without fear of misunderstanding or reluctance to confront the realities of race and equity. This openness fostered a genuine dialogue that felt both refreshing and necessary.

“The Healthcare Foundation truly stands out as a giant influence in our local philanthropic landscape. I see it as a crucial advocate for the basic needs that many in our community struggle to meet daily. Their commitment to addressing these needs is evident, and it’s inspiring to witness. One initiative that really excites me is the Mental Health Talent Pipeline program with USF. This program is not just about filling positions; it’s about nurturing a new generation of mental health professionals who can make a real difference in people’s lives. We desperately need more initiatives like this—ones that focus on building sustainable solutions and ensuring that everyone has access to the care they need. The Foundation is in such a strong position to lead this charge, and I’m hopeful for the positive change they’re bringing to our community.”

Emmanuel Lopez Ortiz, Interim Coordinator, HOPE Program at Santa Rosa Junior College

“I really enjoyed collaborating as a team to share ideas and develop solutions that benefit not only a specific organization but also the broader community and those who rely on the resources we provide as professionals. It’s rewarding to see that many of the ideas discussed can come to life and make a meaningful impact on our communities.

“The Healthcare Foundation has played a crucial role in supporting not only the organizations they partner with but also the individuals who directly benefit from their resources. For instance, the HOPE program at Santa Rosa Junior College offers $500 scholarships to eligible students, alleviating some of the financial pressures they face while pursuing their education. These scholarships, funded by the Healthcare Foundation, have had a profound impact—enabling students to graduate and enter healthcare professions where they often give back to the community. This is just one of many examples of how the Healthcare Foundation’s generous contributions and impactful work create lasting change in our community.”

Ed Sheffield, Regional Manager, Government Affairs of Sutter Health

“One of the most memorable moments of the retreat for me was feeling a sense of unity and shared purpose among the participants. It’s always comforting to be in a room filled with individuals who are genuinely committed to addressing an important issue. As we engaged in discussions, it became clear that all the participating organizations brought unique perspectives and insights on how best to approach health equity. Hearing diverse voices and experiences reinforces the idea that collaboration is essential for tackling the barriers to equitable healthcare delivery.

“The Healthcare Foundation plays a pivotal role in the local health ecosystem by acting as a catalyst for change in Sonoma County. With a strong emphasis on health equity and racial justice, the Foundation collaborates with a diverse array of health systems, organizations, and community groups to address and dismantle the systemic barriers that hinder health and wellbeing. I admire how HCF prioritizes support for historically marginalized communities in all its initiatives. This commitment is reflected in their advocacy for solutions that promote health equity and racial justice. By fostering partnerships and aligning resources, the Healthcare Foundation not only enhances access to healthcare but also ensures that ALL voices are heard and prioritized.”

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Wetzel Awards 2024

Photo Gallery Here

We were proud to honor this year’s Wetzel Community Leadership Award recipient Deborah Howell, CEO of Alexander Valley Healthcare, and Spirit of Wetzel Award recipient Jade Weymouth, Executive Director of La Familia Sana, during a celebratory breakfast on November 7^th. Thank you to everyone who attended in support of these inspiring leaders. We invite you to view the photos from the event.

Thank you to our sponsors! (Full list here)