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volume 10 issue 1
Help is on the Way … Fast! After supper, a young father shouts a hasty goodbye to his wife and two pre-school age children, jumps into his 10-year-old car, and begins the 12-mile drive to his second job. Half way there, he runs out of gas. In a small apartment across town, an elderly couple ponders which bills will get paid this month … and then the lights go out; their electricity has been turned off.
Added Value and Lasting Impact –A Procurement Visionary Talks About Planned Giving You could say that David Burt is something of a procurement expert. He has authored or coauthored eight books and several journal articles on the subject. A retired Air Force Staff Procurement Officer and a professor of Supply Management at the University of San Diego for 23 years, Burt earned a Ph.D. from Stanford, taught Acquisition Management for the U.S. Air Force, and created the Supply Chain Management Institute at the University of San Diego. He consulted on the topic to some of the world’s leading companies, and wrote the seminal book on the subject in 1983, when his “Proactive Procurement” was Dr. David Burt published. He understands, perhaps as few others do, the importance of working together to create lasting value in products and services for consumers and stakeholders. David N. Burt was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio with one younger sister. His mother, Ruth, held a college degree in Art and was an active and effective community volunteer. His father, Willis, though not college educated, was the kind of man who called on his own resourcefulness to learn many trades. During the Great Depression, that meant Willis was never unemployed, working as a milkman, a telephone repairman, or an auto mechanic to support his family. “I had great respect for my father,” said David. Burt attended Shaker Heights High School, Miami University, the University of Colorado, and the University of Michigan before attending Stanford. He fathered three children: Hans, Brian, and Kirsten. “Somewhere along the way, I learned to focus on areas where I could have an impact,” he said, “where I could make a real difference.” And that, he says, has been a guiding principle in all his endeavors.
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The economic crisis affects people in ways we never imagine. Sometimes, it’s the little things, the urgent, immediate things, that bring on the breaking point between surviving and giving up. During the crisis, the Community Foundation created the Urgent Needs Fund. This fund responds to needs quickly so that people on the edge can get the assistance they need to carry on with their lives. At the height of the economic crisis, several donor-advised funds pooled their resources to increase the impact on a community in need. These are funds that, by themselves, gave help to worthy causes. By pooling their resources, however, these funds make a more continued inside
IN THIS ISSUE:
• INTRODUCING THE OPPORTUNITY CONFERENCE PARTNERSHIP FUND • THE PASO CLASS OF ’55…PAYING IT FORWARD • EVENT HIGHLIGHTS • NEW FUNDS
The Paso Class of ’55 … Paying it Forward When the 1955 graduating class of Paso Robles High School held their 55th reunion this year, they had more exciting things to discuss than their waistlines, hairlines, and hemlines. Take Arlen Peterson, for example. Now a student at Cal State Chico, this 2009 Paso High graduate had written a letter of thanks to the Class of ‘55 for their generous scholarship that helped make his first year of college possible. In 2003, these forward-thinking classmates established the Paso Robles High School Class of ’55 Scholarship Fund, an “Imagine what endowed fund held at the Community Foundawe could do tion, to help today’s with additional students meet their funds available post-secondary educafor scholarship tional goals. Now in its eighth year, the scholawards” arship is gaining momentum, helping Paso High graduates to finance their first year at college or vocational school. Paso Robles High School is the second largest in the county, and the most diverse. Thirty-five percent of its students are classified as low income and only 55 percent of its 2010 graduates plan to attend a post-secondary school. The Paso Class of ’55 is doing something about that. To date, 20 students have been given a scholarship by the Class of ’55, but the need is far greater than the fund’s capacity, especially since the economic recession that took hold in 2007. This year, the Class of ’55 received a challenge donation provided they can raise a matching amount. At the reunion dinner, Jim Lundbeck, spokesman for the scholarship fund, suggested that members of the Class of ’55 contribute a memorial gift for each of their 21 classmates who have passed away. “Imagine what we could do with additional funds available for scholarship awards,” he wrote. Many have passed through the halls of Paso Robles High School since 1955. Many were lucky enough to go on to college and give back to their communities. The class of ’55 has found a way to “pay it forward” to the next generation and invites anyone who cares about the education of our youth to do the same. “The Community Foundation is honored to have been chosen to hold this unique and generous fund for the Paso Robles High School Class of ’55,” said SLOCCF’s Angela Hollander. “What a fine example of the ‘Pay It Forward’ philosophy.”
Foundation Events
Recent Community Foundation events celebrated advocates for persons with disabilities, provided educational assistance for young women, enabled completion of a first-ever women-focused survey and launched a collaboration with the San Luis Obispo International Film Festival.
Toward a More Accessible County for All SELPA’s Jill Heuer, Trader Joe’s, and Parents Helping Parents, were the three winners at this year’s 9th annual Paul Wolff Accessibility Advocacy Awards Ceremony held in August at the Clark Center in Arroyo Grande. Honored for their outstanding efforts to create a more accessible county, awards were given to an individual, a business, and a nonprofit organization. Jill Heuer, the winner in the individual category, is highly respected for her commitment to children with disabilities in our county as director of Special Education Local Plan Area. She helped to bring NPR’s StoryCorps Project here to record L to R: Sharlene Agrusa-Executive for posterity the stories of nearly 150 local Director Of Parents Helping Parents, Victoria Carroll-wife of Rev. Doug Car- people with disabilities. In the business cateroll, Jill Heuer and Mark Edwards-Store gory, Trader Joe’s was recognized for its record of employing people with developManager at Trader Joe’s mental disabilities since 2006 in two of its local stores. And Parents Helping Parents won in the nonprofit category for hosting workshops that help parents cope with the challenges of raising children with disabilities. Distinguished advocate Doug Carroll received special recognition for his efforts to educate our community about multiple sclerosis. Josh Blue, who has cerebral palsy and was the winner of NBC’s “Last Comic Standing” in 2006, headlined the evening with his barrier-breaking humor. For more information about the awards and Access for All, visit www.sloccf.org/grant_ pwaa.php.
Women of Determination Sold out two weeks in advance, the Women’s Legacy Fund Luncheon was a record-shattering success. This Fall, 319 people packed the ballroom at the Embassy Suites in San Luis Obispo to hear keynote speaker Mary Catherine Swanson, founder of AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination), and to hear the announcement of this year’s recipients of $8,000 in grants. Adding to the excitement were the much-anticipated results of a survey conducted in our county designed to identify the most pressing needs of women in three major categories: college women, Latina women, and women older than 60. During a memorable and much-lauded afternoon, the American Association of University Women San Luis Obispo received a grant that will provide scholarships to two young women who will attend Tech Trek — an AAUW science and math camp for girls. The Avila Beach Sea Life Center received funds for a new one-week marine science camp for girls ages 12 – 16. And Big Brothers Big Sisters was awarded a grant to support a school-based mentoring program that will pair 30 high school and college– aged mentors with elementary school students. For more information about the Women’s Legacy Fund, visit www.sloccf.org/grant_womens_legacy.php.
What Do Women Want?
A report summarizing the results of a county-wide survey by the Women’s Legacy Fund to address the needs of women and girls will positively impact local quality of life. In an arduous effort that began last February, surveys were distributed among college age women, women over 60, and Latina women. The survey compiled results from over 750 women who responded. The findings will be used to inform local nonprofits and legislators so they can better assist women in meeting critical needs, and create opportunities to improve their situations. Findings will also be used to restructure how the Women’s Legacy Fund will award grants in the coming years.
For the Love of Books It’s a simple idea: teach a child to love reading, and you’ll get a better student, a more successful job-seeker, and a happier, more productive adult – not to mention a wellinformed, more responsible society. A simple idea that works!
was greatest and initiated Raising A Reader in our county. Starting with just two sites and 56 families, today, through a partnership with The San Luis Obispo County Office of Education, there are 13 Raising A Reader classroom sites serving seven communities, and 216 new families have joined the program. Surveys show that Head Start children using Raising A Reader test at least twice as high as the national Head Start average for book knowledge, print knowledge and reading comprehension. Parents in the program show a 33% increase in the time spent with their children, and Spanish-speaking families
increase their use of public library services by 56%. Locally, Raising A Reader has produced similar results, with the most positive effects immeasurable. “This program has been so well-received,” said the Community Foundation’s Janice Fong Wolf, Director of Grants and Programs. “Our goal was to have 18 sites up and running county-wide, and we are only six shy of that now. For anyone wanting to invest in the future of our community’s children, this is the way to do it!” For more information, visit www.sloccf.org/grant_rar.php
Founded in 1999, Raising A Reader is an award-winning, nationally-based program that brings kids and parents together with bright red bags filled with carefully-selected, high-quality books meant to be read aloud. Personalized training for parents, and a connection to their local libraries help families to establish “book cuddling” habits that cultivate a love for reading in homes where, in some cases, English is not the primary language spoken and/or there is no money for books of any kind. In our county, more than a third of the families with pre-school age children fall into this category. In 2003, the Community Foundation partnered with First 5 San Luis Obispo County to identify those school sites where the need
Children discover a love for reading through Raising A Reader.
Foundation Events
I Know a Woman Like That
In all three categories of women surveyed, basic needs such as food, clothing, and housing were ranked as top issues of concern—an indication that the recession continues to affect women across the board. Self-esteem, sexual assault, and substance abuse were among the top issues reported by college age women. Women over 60 reported that affordable housing, mental health services, and help with financial management were top needs. And Latina women cited adequate, affordable child care, teenage pregnancy, and domestic violence among their top concerns.
A documentary film produced by and starring Virginia Madsen (of “Sideways” fame) and her mother Elaine Madsen inspired a collaboration between the Community Foundation’s Women’s Legacy Fund and the San Luis Obispo International Film Festival (SLOIFF). The film, which celebrates the vitality and achievement of older women, was screened on Wednesday, October 6th at the Fremont Theater in San Luis Obispo. “I Know a Woman Like That” features 18 extraordinary women between ages 65 and 95 who continue to inspire the world with their impassioned energy and commitment to society, as well as their continued and complete engagement with the world.
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The full report with its many significant and useful findings can be found by logging onto www.sloccf.org/wlf.
“We have been looking to partner with other agencies to sponsor films like this with important messages,” said SLOIFF’s Wendy
Eidsen. “We are thrilled to be partnering with such an important and worthwhile cause as the Women’s Legacy Fund.” Proceeds were shared between the Community Foundation’s WLF and the SLOIFF.
Elaine Madsen, Valerie Sobel and Virginia Madsen
New Funds at the Community Foundation October 2009 – September 2010
Van Steenwyk Family Fund
The purpose of this donor-advised fund is to support the philanthropic goals of the van Steenwyk family.
T.E.A.Ch Foundation Pass-Through Fund
The purpose of the fund is to assist with grantmaking and operating expenses of the TEACh Foundation, a group supporting the San Luis Coastal Unified School District.
Foundation for the Performing Arts Center Fund
The Community Foundation received a distribution from the Lillian Gleicher Trust upon the death of Lillian Gleicher for an endowment fund for the Foundation for the Performing Arts Center.
Dennis T. Collins/Thomas D. Salisbury Troop 60 Eagle Scout Memorial Scholarship Fund
The purpose of the fund is to provide educational scholarships to Eagle Scouts from Boy Scout Troop 60 of Paso Robles, CA, in memory of former Scoutmasters Dennis Collins and Thomas Salisbury.
David B. Gianas Memorial Scholarship Fund
This fund provides educational scholarships for students with documented special needs. It benefits students who, because of their unique differences, find achieving their educational goals difficult because of the lack of encouragement and/or financial resources.
How will you be remembered? Create a charitable fund that gives to future generations. The San Luis Obispo County Community Foundation can help. Call us today.
San Luis Obispo County
Community Foundation This is how we work to improve the quality of life in SLO County, and why donations of every size matter.
leadership fund
community needs fund
field of interest funds & scholarships
donor advised funds
To learn more about how your giving can make a greater difference, contact Barry VanderKelen at (805) 543-2323 or barry@sloccf.org or visit www.sloccf.org.
Added Value (continued from cover) Today, David is active in the local Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) and Retired Active Men’s (RAM) group while he continues his involvement in the Rural Tele-Medicine Foundation, a not-for-profit company he co-founded and incorporated last year. This ground-breaking effort will bring nurse practitioners, patients, technology and doctors together to take quality health care into remote and rural areas of the world—places where people might not ever see a physician, much less receive diagnoses and treatment. Right in line with his personal philosophies and the lessons his long and accomplished life have taught him, Burt established a family trust held by the Community Foundation whose funds are directed primarily at education.“I looked at the potential impact of my gifts. Would the world be better off if my children bought new play things with their inheritances? I believe that the money would have more impact if it were invested in education!”The David N. Burt Family Trust will provide scholarships and help pay for music programs in the schools, among other educational efforts.“I want to be sure that whatever I leave behind will have a lasting impact, beyond what I leave for the education of my six grandchildren,” he said. Working with the Community Foundation, Burt’s family trust will impact the community and add value to many lives long after he is gone—a truly fitting legacy for this dedicated and generous “procurement expert”.
Help is on the Way … Fast! (continued from cover) significant difference in the lives of those who need immediate help for a temporary problem. The Urgent Needs Fund is a facet of the Community Needs Fund, a source of flexible grant making that supports those nonprofits tasked with responding to the most pressing issues facing our community. “This is an inspiring example of what can happen when people are willing to be flexible and come together to respond to a crisis,” said Barry VanderKelen, Executive Director of the SLOCCF. “People tell us what they need, and we listen; then we can meet their needs with a much more immediate response.”
How Do You Speak the Language of Poverty? Forty-four million people in America live in poverty, and as staggering as these figures are, even more heart-breaking is the fact that nearly a third of our nation’s poor are children. This year, the Community Foundation is playing a critically important role in an exciting new forum dedicated to looking at poverty in a new way—a way that will have far-reaching and positive effects on bringing people out of their hopelessness and into a world that’s free from hunger, fear, and deprivation. Donna Beegle, Ed.D., has been a catalyst throughout the country for bringing agencies together and teaching their leaders how to speak “the language of the poor,” so they can help the poor traverse the complex system of services they need – services designed to help them help themselves. Coming from a life of impossible odds, Beegle’s persuasive story convinces her rapt audiences that no matter how hard we try to “battle” poverty with programs and projects, even a national “war on poverty,” we won’t make a dent unless those affected know how to navigate our often-complex system of services, how to access the help that’s there, and how to use the many programs already in place in the most effective ways. A coalition of organizations, including the SLO County Department of Social Services (DSS), the SLO County Office of
Education, the Food Bank Coalition, the Community Action Partnership of SLO, the SLO County Community Foundation, and others, have come together to explore poverty and implement new systems to help people and families achieve self-sufficiency. Steering committees were formed and plans were made to train providers so they can help the poor climb the steep walls of their prison and escape it forever. “Too many families in our community are living in poverty and despair,” said DSS Director Lee Collins. “They don’t want welfare — they want an opportunity to be self-sufficient. The Opportunity Conference — first of its kind in California — will provide 175 families with the kind of help they need to make poverty a thing of their past.” In February 2011, a conference, titled the Opportunity Conference, will be held at Cuesta College where “…amazing things will happen,” said Evelyn Ruscki, Program Manager at the SLO County DSS and 2011 Opportunity Conference chair. The Opportunity Conference Partnership Fund, held by the San Luis Obispo County Community Foundation was set up to support this unprecedented collaboration of agencies to address the ravages of poverty. To donate and support this fund, please call Janice Fong Wolf at 805.543.2323 or log on to www.sloccf.org.
Introducing a New & Powerful Giving Instrument: Charitable Gift Annuity New to the Community Foundation this year is our Charitable Gift Annuity program. Giving this way means both donors and the causes they care about will benefit — for life. Not a trust, but rather a contract between a donor and a nonprofit, a charitable gift annuity ensures that—in return for a transfer of cash or other assets—that organization agrees to pay a fixed amount of money at regular intervals to one or two individuals for their lifetimes. The transferred funds become part of the charity’s assets, and the beneficiaries can start receiving annuity payments immediately, or they can defer them to increase their charitable income tax deduction. The
amount of annuity paid and the tax deduction received depends on the age of the recipient and the current annuity rate (as established by the American Council of Gift Annuities).
“The Charitable Gift Annuity is a powerful tool for giving.”
before—on the charitable cause they feel most passionate about. Second, the selected nonprofits will have stronger, more direct relationships with their supporters. And third, the Community Foundation will build the infrastructure needed to make these annuities possible, thereby relieving the agencies from having to develop it themselves.
“The Charitable Gift Annuity is a powerful tool for giving,” said SLOCCF Executive Director Barry VanderKelen. “And the benefits are three-fold.”
“We are especially proud to be offering this meaningful way to give,” said VanderKelen. “State guidelines require that organizations offering these annuities have a strong track record to qualify. This represents a proud milestone for us.”
First, VanderKelen explained, it allows givers to focus—in ways they’ve never had
Please contact Barry VanderKelen for more information about this program.
New Faces Join Community Foundation This Year
Foundation Focus is published by
An award-winning educator, a world-renowned wine-maker, and a successful mortgage industry executive are among the newest members of the Foundation’s Board of Directors announced early this year to whom we offer an enthusiastic hello. Known for his service on the Atascadero Unified School District Board of Trustees, Donn Clickard retired from Atascadero High School in 2004. During his career, Clickard was named National Athletic Director of the Year and Atascadero Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year. Johnine Talley, of Arroyo Grande’s Talley Farms and Vineyards, returns to the board after a five-year absence. Talley Vineyards created a wine, Mano Tinta, whose proceeds from sales support vineyard and farm workers through a fund held at the Community Foundation. In addition to his active professional career, Mike Patrick has also served on the board at the SLO Children’s Museum, and is a member of the SLO Vocal Arts Ensemble. We also offer a warm hello to Pat Holley, the Foundation’s new Donor Services Associate. Pat is responsible for implementing activities that build donor engagement, support donor-advised grant making, and enhance the impact of grant making programs of the Foundation. Pat brings 20 years of non-profit experience from a public broadcasting environment. Her broad experience includes technical facility management, community and university collaborations, public relations and marketing. “I feel incredibly fortunate to be working for the Community Foundation,” she said. “I am proud to be part of a staff that is so passionate about our initiatives, and has such a strong commitment to excellence and community service.”
The San Luis Obispo County Community Foundation P.O. Box 1580 San Luis Obispo, CA 93406 (805)543-2323 www.sloccf.org
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Foundation News
The San Luis Obispo County Community Foundation is a public trust established to assist donors in building an enduring source of charitable funds to meet the changing needs and interests of the community.
Board of Directors Wendy Brown President, San Luis Obispo Donn Clickard
Dee Lacey Vice President, Paso Robles Bill Raver Treasurer, Morro Bay Barbara Bell Secretary, San Luis Obispo
Johnine Talley
Donn Clickard Atascadero Nancy DePue Arroyo Grande
Staff Mike Patrick
The Foundation says a reluctant goodbye to retiring board members John Dunn, Lyn Baker and Barbie Pat Holley Butz. “We will miss their tireless energy and spirit on the board,” said Barry VanderKelen, SLOCCF Executive Director. A fond farewell is extended to Kathy Evans, Finance Manager, who is retiring this year after close to 10 years of service. “I’ve seen so much growth,” she commented. “I’ve watched our assets grow from about $3.5 million to today’s nearly $28 million. That’s been exciting to watch, and a great privilege.”
Barry VanderKelen
Executive Director barry@sloccf.org
Janice Fong Wolf Director of Grants & Programs jwolf@sloccf.org
Kathy Evans
Finance Manager kathy@sloccf.org
Lee Hollister San Luis Obispo Steve Jobst, M.D. Shell Beach Mike Miner Grover Beach Barbara Partridge Paso Robles Mike Patrick San Luis Obispo Ann Robinson San Luis Obispo Johnine Talley Arroyo Grande Nick Thille San Luis Obispo
Angela Hollander Program & Donor Services Associate angela@sloccf.org
Kim Ramos Office Manager kim@sloccf.org
Pat Holley Donor Services Associate pat@sloccf.org
P.O. BOX 1580, SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA 93406 PERMIT NO. 367 SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA
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