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FY 2010 Grant Awardees

Community Health Foundation is proud to announce our 2010 grant awards. In our grant-making program, CHF prioritized the needs of current and recent grantees in an effort to support stability during these challenging times. A total of $125,500 in funding is being awarded to the following organizations that serve youth, seniors and or/provide a range of community services that enhance quality of life in the greater Petaluma area:

Boys & Girls Clubs
$5,000 in support of the Triple Play Program for children at the Lucchesi Park Clubhouse to provide fun physical activity, promote good nutrition, and encourage family involvement for 200 K-8 grade youth.

California Parenting Institute
$5,000 to provide culturally-competent parenting classes and in-home visits for 30 high-risk Petaluma families while also providing community resource information and referrals for many other families.

Children's Diabetes Foundation of North Bay, Inc.
$7,500 in support of programs for 100 families affected by diabetes, including three age appropriate support groups (8 and under, 9 – 11, 12 – 18) as well as school-based advocacy and informational services.

*City of Petaluma, Parks and Recreation Dept.
$1,955 to offer the Healthy Moves for Aging Well physical activity program for seniors at the Petaluma People Services Adult Day Center and to offer a new program, Functional Fitness at the Petaluma Senior Center for frail elderly adults.

COTS
$15,000 to support a teacher position to help break the cycle of homelessness for approximately 125 at-risk children at the Center for Homeless Children and Their Families by providing emergency shelter, food, clothing, and hygiene items as well as 770 hours of mentoring and educational workshops, 166 hours of evening respite childcare, and a range of related services.

Forget Me Not Farm
$5,000 in support of therapeutic animal-assisted and horticultural activities designed to promote healing for 70 – 90 child trauma survivors from the Petaluma area.

Giant Steps Therapeutic Equestrian Center
$6,500 to provide partial and full scholarships for weekly equine-based therapeutic services to youth with physical, cognitive, emotional and developmental challenges and also to launch the "Equestrian Summer Experience" for children with and without disabilities to receive the benefits of therapeutic riding.

Healthy Community Consortium
$6,000 in support of the next phase of the Petaluma Youth Network Ready by 21 Challenge to support youth ages 11 to 19 who are most at risk for failure to thrive, learn, work, connect and participate in the community and $15,000 in general support.

Hope Counseling Services
$5,500 for 150 - 200 free and low fee therapy sessions for individuals, couples and families faced with a variety of challenges, such as depression, anxiety, grief and loss so that they may restore physical, emotional and spiritual balance.

Mentor Me Petaluma
$7,500 for a Mentor Me Coordinator at Bernard Eldredge Elementary School to continue mentorships for 8 students and to provide 15 new mentorships, representing 10% of the student population.

Migrant Education
$5,000 to provide home visits to 40 at-risk migrant youth to encourage and facilitate high school graduation, GED completion, and pursuit of higher education.

NAMI
$5,000 to provide on-site mental health and outreach services for primary stakeholders of clients, family and friends in Petaluma that includes a weekly, consumer-run drop-in group (NAMI Connection), a semi-monthly Family Support Group and a comprehensive Peer-To- Peer Recovery Education Course (nine weeks).

Petaluma Educational Foundation (PEF)
$5,000 to subsidize Casa Grande High School’s Health Occupation Students of America (H.O.S.A.) Program for Health Career Pathway so that 45 students may learn leadership, responsibility and communication skills in preparation for competition at the annual California State Leadership Conference and Competition in March 2011 as part of a longer-term goal to pursue a career in the health care industry.

PEP Housing
$5,500 to sustain the Resident Assistance Program to provide emergency financial assistance, information and referrals, organize educational and health-related activities, and provide a range of supportive services.

Petaluma Bounty
$10,000 to support the expansion of local and sustainable food production at the Bounty Farm and food distribution programs (Community Gardens, Bounty Hunters, Bounty Mobile Market, Backyard Bounty) by strengthening organizational capacity through more effective volunteer coordination and implementation of membership initiatives.

Petaluma People Services Center
$8,000 in support of the Senior Case Management Program that provides 1,650 hours of case management services for 250 low income seniors, 200 therapy sessions for prevention and early intervention of depression and suicide, and information and referrals for 2500 clients.

Sonoma County KIDPOWER
$2,000 in support of the Bullying Prevention and Positive Peer Interaction Skill Building Program to provide trainings for students, parents and teachers at schools with high-risk student populations to learn and practice personal safety, self-protection, confidence and advocacy skills to prevent bullying, abuse, assault and abduction.

Sunny Hills Services
$7,000 in support of Community Engagement and Youth Development programs in Petaluma schools and in the community that are designed to provide gang prevention/intervention services for 80 at-risk youth and promote family, school and community engagement to ensure the safety and well-being of at-risk youth, families and community residents.

*Trust Your Heart Foundation/Five Alive
$5,000 in support of a web-based, social networking teen-to-teen suicide prevention awareness campaign to give teens the basic information they need to help suicidal friends.

CHF congratulates these organizations that together create a tapestry of community support that is distinguished by extraordinary competency, generosity and compassion.

*The current grant period has been extended for an additional year.

2009 New Year’s Eve Soiree: A Smashing Success

Community Health Foundation (CHF) hosted a resoundingly successful New Year’s Eve Soiree in honor of its co-founder, Dr. Fred Groverman. The celebration, attended by 175 guests, was about honoring the past and the rich history of giving on the part of CHF that focused on health care concerns. The celebration was also about new beginnings. CHF has recently embraced a vision rooted in broad-based giving in the Petaluma area to community programs that support our youth, seniors and those in need. In 2009, CHF provided grants ranging from $2,000 to $15,000 to 21 local organizations. This celebration announced our new focus and plan to provide a growing and reliable level of support to local nonprofits that promote health and enhance quality of life in the present and for future generations. 100% of the proceeds from our NYE Soiree will be earmarked for grants that support our 2010 qualifying beneficiaries. CHF will first be prioritizing the needs of our current grantees in the grant process that will take place in February and March, 2010, followed by a community celebration in April, and awards to be made in July, 2010.

Our business benefactors have embraced this vision and the success of our first event was due to their generosity. Reif & Murray Investments became our lead sponsor and major benefactor as soon as CHF announced its plans. Our other sponsors included: Petaluma Health Care District, Stripe 'n' Seal Inc./Aaron’s Paving, Beyond The Glory, Fishman Supply Company, Friedman Bros., Henris Roofing, Jerry & Don’s Yager Pump and Well Service, Lace House Linen Supply, Minuteman Press, Petaluma Valley Hospital, Whole Foods Market and Wright Contracting. Local merchants participated in a raffle, businesses advertised in our program, and live and silent auction items were donated throughout the community. All of these contributions rebound to the benefit of the local nonprofits that provide the excellent and compassionate programs that are made available throughout our community.

Thank you to all the businesses and individuals who are committed to helping CHF build a legacy of community health in Petaluma. In 2010, CHF will be awarding a total of $125,000 in grant awards to those community beneficiaries that together make a substantial and lasting contribution in promoting health and quality of life in Petaluma.

Happy New Year!

Marilyn K. Segal
Executive Director
Community Health Foundation