Three Grants to Valley Nonprofits Totaling $128K from Community Foundation Sonoma County and Sonoma Valley Fund

Community Foundation Sonoma County and its affiliate, the Sonoma Valley Fund, are pleased to announce grants totaling $128,000 to three Valley nonprofits.

These grants are made possible by the generosity of Roland and Hazel Todd, who left a generous bequest to the Foundation.

The recipients include La Luz Center to continue their successful English as a Second Language Program, United Way to help fund the Schools of Hope early reading proficiency program, and the Sonoma Valley Community Health Center for ongoing support of their Health Navigator position.

More specifically:
La Luz Center was awarded $72,000 to continue its program of teaching English Language skills(ESL) to Sonoma Valley residents. The overall goal of the ESL program is to teach English and toprovide the tools to develop Sonoma students’ active participation in shaping the economic,social and cultural aspects of our community.

United Way was awarded $24,000 to continue its Schools of Hope program in Sonoma Valley public schools. The goal of this program is to increase the number of first through third grade children who develop strong reading skills through weekly tutoring sessions with volunteers.

Sonoma Valley Community Health Center was awarded $32,000 to continue support of its Community Health Navigator. As a partnership between the Sonoma Valley Community HealthCenter and La Luz, the Navigator provides support and assistance to Springs residents as theynavigate the health and social services system in Sonoma Valley.

Each of these grants represents continued funding for high quality programs that meet the needs of the Springs Community while fulfilling the intent of Roland and Hazel Todd to provide access to health and human services, especially for the sick, needy, and elderly.

“Roland and Hazel Todd made a remarkable contribution to Sonoma Valley and the county when they left a legacy with Community Foundation Sonoma County,” said Harriet Derwingson, Chair of the Community Foundation Board. “Community Foundation Sonoma County and Sonoma Valley Fund are delighted to be able to support these incredibly valuable programs.”

In 2011, Community Foundation Sonoma County, and its affiliate Sonoma Valley Fund, beganawarding grants based on the incredible generosity of the Todds. Since that time over $750,000 has been awarded to improve the lives of those who live in the Springs Community of Sonoma Valley. 

An affiliate of Community Foundation Sonoma County, Sonoma Valley Fund was created and is managed by respected community leaders to help sustain and improve the Valley’s unique socioeconomic, environmental, and cultural qualities for generations to come. Sonoma Valley Fund promotes and facilitates local philanthropy and legacy giving by serving as a bridge to the future, helping nonprofits build successful legacy and endowment programs, encouraging estate‐planning professionals to discuss Sonoma Valley bequests with their clients, offering a set of prudent investment options for donors and non‐profits, and providing trustworthy, responsible, and thoughtful stewardship of donor gifts. No other local organization unites all constituencies around the purpose of endowing the SonomaValley community as a whole. For more information visit www.sonomavalleyfund.org.