Dear Friends, I was vaccinated on Saturday, and find it impossible to separate feelings of hope associated with our abundant spring blossoms and those generated by the promise of the vaccine. Sonoma County is moving to the Orange Tier. California may lift all restrictions as soon as June 15, providing […]
Celebrate Our Community Heroes
Dear Friends, This week my parents, ages 84 and 86, were vaccinated at the Paso Robles Fairgrounds in San Luis Obispo County. It’s liberating to know that soon I’ll be able to hug them after an entire year of only seeing them on Zoom. To add to the excitement, President […]
Celebrate Our Future
Dear Friends, I hope February finds you enjoying the rays of sunshine and blue sky shining through the welcome rain. Though 2021 had a challenging start, each new day brings new causes for gratitude and, yes, celebration. In 2020, Believe In Our Future was a theme that kept us going […]
Believe in the Gift of Giving
Dear Friends, As we barrell toward the end of 2020 in search of creative, pandemic-friendly ways to bring holiday cheer to our family and friends, I hope you will consider tribute gifts, aka gifts of the heart in honor of others. Katie Wetzel Murphy, founder of the Wetzel Community Leadership […]
Believe in the Power of Gratitude
Dear Friends, Gratitude has proven to be one of the most powerful forces for maintaining our resilience, both on the personal and community levels. The benefits of gratitude as an important mental health principle, according to Lisa Firestone, Ph.D., extend far beyond what we may imagine. Scientific studies have found […]
Believe in Above and Beyond
Dear Friends, I’m guessing that you are all enjoying taking a breath of fresh air these days, as am I—with fingers crossed that the air remains clear. With an election and fire season upon us, it is both unsettling and also exciting to feel autumn and change in the air. […]
Believe in Resilience
Dear Friends, We are still buzzing in our separate pods over the amazing success of our first-ever virtual gala. Thanks to over a hundred generous sponsors (see list below), dozens of auction item donors, and over 400 households that viewed the livestream event on August 29th, we raised $450,000! What […]
Believe in Celebration
Dear Friends, This month we are kicking off our 20th year celebration, and are overwhelmed by the support from this community. Since our inception in 2001, we’ve invested more than $26 million in organizations that provide health access, mental health and early childhood development services. So far in 2020, Healthcare […]
Believe in the Power of Education
Dear Friends, Access to knowledge, according to A Portrait of Sonoma County, the Human Development Report commissioned by the Sonoma County Department of Health Services, “is a critical determinant of long term well-being and is essential to self-determination, self-sufficiency, and the real freedom a person has to decide what to […]
Believe in Collaboration
Dear Friends, The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed and deepened existing inequalities in our communities. As we fight the issue of disparate healthcare access and outcomes close to home, we must also acknowledge that BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People Of Color) are fighting for their lives on many fronts, including against […]