"Springing" ahead...

Spring is a time of renewal…and that is no less true for the Women’s Fund of Santa Barbara. Our once-a-year membership appeal was mailed earlier this month asking those of you who have been members and those we hope will become members to commit to the Women’s Fund for 2009. Our support has never been more critical than in this tough economic climate.

If you pay or pledge by April 24, you will be able to help choose the community issues that our volunteers will research for the 2009 Women’s Fund ballot. See the “Areas of Community Need” list on the reverse of the pledge card in your mailing. Or complete one along with your pledge or payment at our website.

If you have not received your renewal information or if you know prospective members who may be interested, please contact us . 

Applauding the past...

As we renew our memberships to the Women’s Fund of Santa Barbara, or join for the first time, it is a great time to look back at the positive results the Women’s Fund has facilitated through past grants.  

Just as we thoroughly research agencies and programs for funding, we also monitor how the funds we grant are used. Two accountability reports are compiled each year for each grant: a mid-term report and a year-end report.   

The 2007 year-end report has just been completed and the results are dramatic. Of the eight local agencies that received $600,000 in 2007 grants, many report that goals were achieved and surpassed. They also report that the Women’s Fund has become increasingly well-known in the community and that our support has helped them attract other funders.

Here is what our 2007 Women’s Fund grants accomplished:

Angels Foster Care ($85,000) increased its goal of 15 babies placed in foster care during our grant period to 40 new placements. “This increased outcome has benefited not only the babies that are placed, but the families as well, impacting 120 people including siblings and parents. The biggest benefit from your grant has been the new families that have been recruited, screened and trained.”

Casa Pacifica ($55,000) has improved its ability to provide services to children in need with the four cars our grant provided. These cars ensured reliable transportation for staff to reach their clients. Almost 200 visits were made through CP’s SAFTY and Wraparound programs.

Family Service Agency 211 Helpline ($95,000) answers 18,000 calls a year with 186,000 website hits. Our grant sustained the helpline when it lost government funding. It provided the time for FSA to make strategic adaptations to the program to ensure access to health and human services for those in need, such as during the 2008 Tea Fire.

Girls Inc. Greater Santa Barbara ($55,000) is now serving 50 teenaged girls through its new Teen Mentoring Program funded by our grant. These girls and their 50 mentors meet weekly one-on-one and as part of a group.

Isla Vista Youth Projects ($60,000) has reached out  to clients by funding a Family Advocate and a Counselor for one year when state funding was suddenly eliminated in 2007.  The goal of serving 60 clients was surpassed to 114 – many of whom are children -- who received counseling and access to medical care and health insurance.

People’s Self-Help Housing (PSHH) ($50,000) used our grant for a third educator in its Youth Education Enhancement Program (YEEP) serving 125 youth. 80% of YEEP participants had improved grades in math and language arts with half having a full grade-point increase.

Storyteller Children’s Center ($150,000) used our lead grant in their expansion campaign to add 32 preschoolers to their second location, allowing tuition-free early childhood education to our community’s most vulnerable families.

Transition House Homelessness Prevention Program ($50,000) added a staff position to help very low income people in immediate danger of becoming homeless, providing case management and career development services. Our grant helped prevent 34 families from becoming homeless.

Special thanks to...

Special thanks to Melissa Brooks for the excellent year-end report on our 2007 grantees and to Jo Gifford and Parm Williams for organizing three dozen volunteers who personalized the 2009 membership mailing to nearly 900 women. Thanks to Susan Case and Dale Kern for underwriting our mailing costs. Once again, due to their generosity, we are able to keep operating costs extremely low.

Mark your calendar...

April 23 attend graduation for “The Parent Project”, recipient of 2008 funds, as 25 parents complete their 10-week class. You are invited along with family members and city officials for a very meaningful occasion. Thursday, 6:30pm to 7:30pm at SB High School, 721 E. Cota.

April 24 pay/pledge to choose Areas of Community Need.

May 20 for a site visit and only opportunity to see Dos Pueblos (DP) Engineering Academy’s award-winning robot perform. DP received $150,000 from the Women’s Fund in 2008 for its capital campaign. DP Academy's central project, building a robot, placed first in the West Coast Regionals and the robot and its senior builders are off to Atlanta to compete in the World Championships. Directions and time will follow.