2020 COMMUNITY GRANTS
The purpose of The Bird Rescue Center (BRC) is to assist the public in rescuing injured, orphaned or ill wild birds. They are licensed by State and Federal Fish and Wildlife agencies to treat and release birds back into the wild. The Bird Rescue Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Their offices and primary care facilities are located in Santa Rosa, California. They service the areas of the northern San Francisco Bay counties of Sonoma, Napa, Marin, Lake, and Mendocino.
Over 90% of BRC’S operating budget comes from memberships, grants, and donations from local businesses and individuals, and 90% of our staffing hours are provided by volunteers. BRC recently received grants from Impact 100 Redwood Circle and the City of Santa Rosa and Sonoma County in support of their Education Program and organizational development. They depend on the efforts of our dedicated volunteers and contributions from caring individuals.
In the early 1970s, responding to concerns about injured wild birds, a small group of Sonoma County residents began a rehabilitation response effort. At its start, the Center primarily worked with sick and injured raptors (birds of prey) to rehabilitate and return these beautiful and ecologically essential animals to the wild.
Initially, The Bird Rescue Center primarily worked with locally found sick and injured raptors but has gradually expanded its scope and opened its doors to native wild birds of all species. Through the efforts of our rehabilitation staff, trained volunteers, and supporting veterinarians, a healthy percentage of the 2,500 to 3,000 native birds that come to The Bird Rescue Center each year are rehabilitated and released back into the wild.
Burbank Housing is a local non-profit dedicated to building quality affordable housing in Northern Sonoma County. They create vibrant local communities that are carefully designed, professionally managed, and sustainable both financially and environmentally, the foster opportunities for people with limited incomes, of all ages, backgrounds, and special needs.
For over 35 years, Burbank Housing had helped shape Sonoma County. Born out of local government, we formed as a separate non-profit with a mission to serve as many people in the North Bay as possible. They have built over 2,800 affordable rental units in over 60 properties, as well as building and selling over 800 affordable homes. They’ve created energetic and sustainable for their residents. While they have enjoyed their accomplishments, they are focused on the future. They believe there’s much more work to do in Sonoma County.
F.I.S.H. (Friends in Service Here) of Santa Rosa 
FISH is the oldest and largest emergency food pantry in Sonoma County. They are a 100% volunteer organization providing wholesome groceries to anyone needing a helping hand–struggling families, seniors, disabled, homeless, students, unemployed and working people.
Proof of income or residence is not required, and there are no forms to fill out. The only qualification is the need for food. Clients may come once each month to pick up groceries.
Hunger Is A Harsh Reality For Many Residents In Sonoma County
F.I.S.H. provides a vital safety net for our neighbors. Each month they distribute food to approximately 6,000 people; half of the beneficiaries are children.
Everyone is eligible to receive groceries, and no one is turned away.
The Jewish Community Free Clinic (JCFC) is proud to provide services to anyone in need, which is currently uninsured. People come to the JCFC for primary care medicine, employment evaluations, women’s health care, medications, and laboratory services. All of these services are available completely free of charge.
Regular volunteer physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and nurses rotate each week and are supplemented by a referral network of volunteer physician specialists. Clinic volunteers offer not only medical and nursing care, but also social services and referrals to other community resources.
JCFC offers services four days a week at their primary care drop-in clinics and for specialty care by appointment. Read through their website to learn more about us and call us to get information.
The Jewish Community Free Clinic Offers
- Family medicine and health consultations
- Treatment for minor health problems
- Access services for the chronically ill
- Education about health and nutrition
- Community resource info and referrals
- Women’s health (Wednesdays only)
- Well-child exams
- Work and school physicals
- Vaccines for children and adults
- Referrals to permanent medical homes
- Diabetes Wellness referrals
- Solution Focused Brief Therapy (New)*
- Acupuncture (New)*
The Museum of Sonoma County (MSC) engages and inspires our diverse community with art and history exhibitions, collections, and public programs that are inclusive, educational, and relevant.
Located in Downtown Santa Rosa, the Museum of Sonoma County welcomes visitors to experience the regional history and contemporary art. The Seventh Street campus includes two buildings, multiple galleries, and a sculpture garden. The Museum opened its doors in 1985 as the Sonoma County Museum, housed in the historic 1910 post office, a landmark on the National Register of Historic Places. With multiple changing exhibitions per year, there is always something new to experience at the Museum!
The Museum of Sonoma County (MSC) is a proud Smithsonian Affiliate. The Smithsonian Affiliation establishes long-term partnerships with museums, education, and cultural organizations to facilitate the loan of Smithsonian artifacts and traveling exhibitions, as well as to develop innovative educational collaborations locally and nationally. Created in 1996 by an act of the Smithsonian Board of Regents, the program is overseen by the Smithsonian’s Assistant Secretary for Education. Access is one of the pillars of the Institution’s national outreach efforts.
The Reach for Home Program is based on four main pillars: Outreach, First Step Housing, Permanent Supportive Housing, and Rapid Re-Housing. The goal of our programs is for our clients to create a path to find long-term housing, generate income, and build functional life skills.
The Reach for Home staff teams with clients on their road toward homeownership. Case Managers create personal action plans, provide living spaces, and teach families and individuals financial skills. While working on their Skills for Life, clients are able to increase income levels so that by the time they reach the end of their stay, they can attain successful housing outcomes.
SANTA ROSA FOUNDATION – Bear Cub Scholars
The Santa Rosa Junior College Foundation provides scholarships and other support for students, continuing education and research opportunities for faculty, and funds for instructional equipment and program needs to support the workforce of the future. With your help, SRJC will continue to transform lives as it moves with pride, purpose, and progress into its second century.
Every year, gifts from their donors, like Impact 100, positively impact the lives of thousands of Santa Rosa Junior College students. Grants and donations change the lives of students or alumnus through:
- Scholarships
- Access to cutting edge technology
- State of the art facilities
- New athletic, arts, and science equipment
- The development of new programs
- Recruitment of highly qualified faculty and staff
Working in cooperation with the community, Verity strives to eliminate all forms of violence, with a particular focus on sexual assault and abuse. Sexual assault is an unacceptable form of oppression, which is destructive to the lives of the survivors, their families, and their friends.
Verity facilitates healing and promotes the prevention of violence by providing counseling, advocacy, intervention, and education in our community.
Verity was founded in 1974 as Women Against Rape, a grassroots organization for those traumatized by the rape of women. The agency included a phone number that women and survivors of assault could call for emotional support. Learn more
Verity serves people of all backgrounds who have been affected by sexual violence. They serve survivors of sexual assault, their family members, and their support systems, whether the assault happened today or 50 years ago.
Their services are provided regardless of the perceived severity of their assault. All sexual assault is violence. They have staff and resources to help everyone, so please do not refrain from reaching out just because you think another survivor may have it worse than you.
Verity works with clients of all genders, races, sexual orientations, abilities, socioeconomic levels, ages, incomes, nationalities, immigration statuses, ethnicities, neurotypes, and gender expressions. Identity is not a barrier to accessing our services or other agencies.
Nominees 2020 –