The frenzy of the holidays can detract from the joy and generosity that is the season’s hallmark. Stepping back for perspective just got easier with Lisa Parker’s fun philanthropic guide for families at the holidays, “The Hip Family’s Guide to Happier Holidays”. Ritual, storytelling, memory-making, volunteerism,...
During the month of November, Community Foundation Sonoma County staff recorded several gratitudes each day as part of an organization-wide exercise. We were instructed to reflect upon our day and jot down two – four people, experiences or things that we were grateful for and...
“I’ll always remember a girl at my grade school who only had one dress. That just blew my mind. My family was in the retail business so I had a wonderful wardrobe and she had just one dress. I have never forgotten that and I...
Our holiday reading list includes a gem about raising generous children. The Opposite of Spoiled: Raising Kids Who are Grounded, Generous, and Smart About Money by New York Times financial columnist Rob Lieber takes the sting out of talking to kids about money. Lieber advocates...
Social Security changes may affect us all. Are you discussing these changes? At a recent seminar for professional advisors hosted by the Community Foundation, Stephanie Curry, from Pacific Life, presented an overview of Social Security which knocked the socks off our advisor partners. It was so...
Get ready for National Financial Literacy Month (April 2016). Elite Advisors have a unique opportunity to improve financial literacy and awareness and thereby increase the quality of life of clients, friends, and family. The Financial Awareness Foundation (FAF), a national organization based in Sonoma County, offers toolkits,...
Melissa Kelley, Co-founder of Impact 100 Redwood Circle is just about to lead more than 125 members through the process of making a $100,000 impact grant. This is a phenomenal accomplishment considering the new giving circle began earlier this year. Melissa was generous with her...
Every organization has a critical engine that keeps things running smoothly, ensures consistency and reliability, and controls resources and expectations in a measured way to meet the goals of the organization. At Community Foundation Sonoma County, our engine is the Finance and Operations Team. We believe...
Ty Cobb’s strategic approach to giving contradicts everything we know of him. His journey to assess the needs of a community, perform due diligence, and set specific and personal giving criteria preceded many other philanthropists in his time. Today, we recall Ty Cobb as a fierce...
Access to education is a basic human right and essential in ensuring that all children are able to meet their greatest potential. Early Childhood Education allows children to have equal footing when they begin their educational careers. In Sonoma County, only 39 percent of Latino...