On Saturday, Nov. 5th, 130 members and guests gathered at Sally Tomatoes for our 7th Impact Awards Celebration.
The recipient of the $100,000 Impact Grant is Jewish Community Free Clinic.
Jewish Community Free Clinic (JCFC) will use the grant to implement an electronic health records (EHR) system over a two-year grant period. Our grant supports the adoption, training and on boarding of the EPIC platform, used by most health care providers in Sonoma County. This will mean that JCFC clients’ health data will be transferable, both to and from, any clinics and hospitals using EPIC, ensuring easy and efficient access to their records. Bringing JCFC’s record keeping system into the digital age will elevate its ability to champion health equity for all well into the future.
Two $10,000 Merit Grants were awarded to VIDAS Legal and KBBF Public Radio Station, finalists for the 2022 Impact Grant.
KBBF’s proposal was to create a new app to bring their content to a younger generation. The bilingual radio station will be celebrating their 50th anniversary next year. VIDAS Legal proposed adding specialized advocacy expert to help those facing deportation without legal representation.
As was so elegantly stated at the meeting, we all wish our checkbook was unlimited to be able to fund each of these proposals, but nothing is stopping us from helping them through our own philanthropy. Both organizations pledged to put the Merit Award funds to good use.
Thank you to the 2022 Impact Grant Committee Co-Chairs: Ina Chun, Frieda Ireland and Christy Pichel and Committee Members: Suzanne Abrams, Chris Bitonti, Cathy Casteel, Deb Chigazola, Jenny Downing, Mary Beth Falk, Susan Milstein, Diana Rich, Victoria Thompson (in memorium), Suzanne Tucker, Robin Warren and Laurie White.
In addition to the announcement of the Impact Grant Awards, the organization heard from 3 past Impact Grantees – 2019 Grantee Forget Me Not Farm, 2020 Grantee Sonoma 4Cs, and 2021 Grantee The LIME Foundation. The stories from each of our grantees was inspiring and reminded each and every one of us why we are members of this organization and the difference we make in the lives of others.
If you were not able to join us in person or would like to revisit the festivities, here is the link to the Impact Awards Celebration video.