That’s right – it’s almost time for the first of our Grants in Action programs highlighting our 2020 grantees. Grants in Action programs are designed to help us see first-hand the impact our grants are having on our neighbors and to learn more about the issues in our community. All events are virtual this year, which means there are not the typical limits on attendance. Plus, we can visit with grantees from the comfort of home – and don’t have to worry about getting there early to find a parking spot!
First up is a virtual Site Visit with SEE International on September 29 at 5:00 pm. During this visit, we will:
Experience a guided, virtual tour of the Santa Barbara Vision Care Clinic and see all the new equipment our $60,000 grant funded.
Hear two SEE optometrists tell stories about the vision care they provide and the local families they help.
Learn more about SEE’s outreach and education programs during a live interview
Then, on October 20 at 5:00 pm, it’s two-for-one as we enjoy guided tours of the health and wellness programs provided by our grantees Showers of Blessing and Doctors without Walls-Santa Barbara Street Medicine.
Visit a Showers of Blessings site and see how our homeless neighbors benefit from the new three-stall mobile shower unit purchased and maintained with a $65,000 Women’s Fund grant
Join Doctors Without Walls staff and volunteers to learn how their health care programs help unsheltered people. Thanks to the Women’s Fund, daytime medical care is being provided by DWW’s new Companion Care Outreach Specialist.
Invitations for the September 29th SEE International Site Visit will be headed your way next week – keep your eyes open and sign up! And if you can’t attend the premiere broadcast, the programs will be recorded and available on the Women’s Fund website and YouTube channel. Each program will run about one hour.
Our Grants in Action programs are supported by long-time generous Women’s Fund member Carole MacElhenny and our 2020 sponsors.
Prior to the purchase of 50 new steel-frame beds along with bed bug-resistant mattresses and covers, homeless women had to choose the protection at the PATH (People Assisting The Homeless) shelter or the streets. It was not an easy choice as one client said, “I used to hate coming to PATH because of the bed bugs. I couldn’t sleep.”
A $50,000 Women’s Fund grant in 2019 provided an improved experience for the approximately 188 women who needed shelter every year as well as significant savings for PATH’s operations. The associate director who oversaw the fumigation contracts and had to deal with years of complaints about bed bugs said, “The purchase of these new mattresses has reduced our costs for monthly fumigation services. In addition, it has reduced the costs of both material (bed bug spray) and staff time to spot treat for more immediate problems. Badly affected mattresses no longer need to be discarded.“
Other staff members commented, “It is a relief to not have to worry about taking bed bugs home [to my family], which put a strain on my household. Now everything is much better, and bed bug free.”
Because of the grant from the Women’s Fund, bed bugs have been almost completely eliminated and to quote a client, “Now the place is so clean. Thanks for the hard work.”
This is the time of year when last year’s grantees provide their reports of what has been accomplished with grants from the Women’s Fund. Stay tuned for more stories in upcoming newsletters.
Or, read all the updates in the 2018-2019 Grants – Year-End Report in the Library on our website. Learn how our combined contributions have made a tremendous impact on the vulnerable in south Santa Barbara County.
To all 491 members who responded to the Member Opinion Survey in June, thank you! That’s a 44 percent response rate, which is great. Your feedback is essential to making sure we are meeting our mission to address the critical needs of women, children and families in our community.
The 15-question survey explored:
Issues you would like to see us research – you said healthcare, domestic violence, mental health, early childhood education and homelessness were top priorities.
What you like about being a member – you said combining donations to have a significant impact was the #1 answer.
What you would like to know more about and how we should communicate with you – you said results and impact of our grants and community issues delivered by our newsletter and bulletins.
What is most helpful to you to learn about community needs – you said our Women’s Fund ballot, grantee reports and interactions with grantees.
Whether you would like to become more engaged – you said yes, through volunteering, donating and learning more.
Interested in knowing more about what our members think? Here’s a link to the summary report, complete with charts and illustrative comments from the open-ended questions. Happy reading!
Are you running out of things to say over the phone or via Zoom? Inviting friends to join the Women’s Fund is a great topic for socially distanced conversations! Since July, four new
Women’s Fund members have joined us to support critical services for women, children and families in our community. Please join the Membership Committee in welcoming: Melora Balson, Holly Cook, Margaret Dawes, and Ginny Kuhn.
Speaking of welcoming our new members, the Membership Committee is hosting a New Members Virtual Happy Hour on September 17 at 5pm. If you are a not-so-new member who would just like to brush-up on your Women’s Fund knowledge, we would be happy to have you join us. Contact us at Membership@womensfundsb.org and we will forward an invitation.
Our Group Captains Meeting is also going to happen virtually this year on September 10. If you are a Group Captain, and haven’t registered yet, you won’t want to miss it! Contact GCLiaison@womensfundsb.org if you missed your invitation.
- Contributed by Lynn Karlson
133 East De La Guerra Street, #15 Santa Barbara, CA93101
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