At Community Foundation Sonoma County, we regularly share things we are personally and professional grateful for. It is, quite frankly, part of our culture and the work we do every day. Recently, President and CEO Beth Brown led our staff through a “speed gratitude” activity where...
A New York Times review of How To Survive a Plague – The Inside Story of How Citizens and Science Tamed AIDS by David France caught our eye. The review is beautifully written, inspiring and highlights the moving work AIDS activists and scientist undertook to...
Reframe the holidays in your workplace to include a more generous approach to your community and selves. Research shows that employee satisfaction is higher amongst individuals whose employers participate in community engagement (i.e. making donations, volunteering time, working on behalf of nonprofits, etc.). We have created...
Preparing for family holiday gatherings is more than determining who gets the guest bedroom and who gets the sofa. It is more than finding gluten-free dessert recipes and the frenzy of assembling complicated toys at the last minute. Instead holiday family gatherings are an opportunity to...
Expecting their first child, saving for a first home and working as a preschool teacher, all seemed well with a young family until their daughter’s birth had complications. The couple, having no health insurance, used all their savings on medical bills. Then, after her husband...
There’s a saying attributed to Benjamin Franklin: “If you fail to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” This is especially true when it comes to estate planning. In my practice, I often encounter excuses as to why people fail to plan their estates. I encourage...
The 2016 Sonoma County Community Health Needs Assessment is a large-scale look at the health of our community as developed collaboratively by local health care providers, health experts, county leaders and residents. The report informs and engages local decision makers, key stakeholders, and the community...
A family’s nightly question ritual creates meaningful reflection, laughter, and bonding for all ages. Huffington Post writer, Meg Conley shares her family’s dinner conversation starter questions and the opportunities the questions uncover to dive deeper into the lives of her children. How were you kind...
As much as Sonoma’s autumn heatwaves and rainstorms may have us convinced it is still the beginning of Fall, the holiday season is right around the corner. With the seasonal changes, our thoughts reflect on what we have done for our county's nonprofits – and...
Community Foundation Sonoma County couldn’t be more proud! We have always known that J Mullineaux is a Philanthropic Wizard but when the University of Washington inducted him into the Huskies' Hall of Fame this October, they made it official. J was honored for his lifelong work...