Helena Rowland
Special to the Sun
A recent $800,000 donation to the County of Sonoma from the Valley of the Moon Children’s Foundation represents the culmination of a long-term fundraising project.
Improvements to the Valley of the Moon Children’s Home have been primarily financed through a public-private partnership between the Foundation and the County, with the original goal of revitalizing an existing 1970s-era facility. However, further study indicated a new building would be more cost-effective than retrofitting, and plans were set into motion.
Budgetary restrictions led to the construction of the much-needed new emergency shelter’s being built in three phases. Phase II, comprising the housing units, commercial kitchen, and dining area, was completed in 2005, and the children moved in on June 1 of that year.
The two-phase facility was adequate, but it lacked support services. So, in the spring of 2006, the Board of Supervisors and the Foundation agreed to get started on building Phase III.
As the third phase approaches completion, the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors, at its Dec. 9 meeting, accepted the donation for deposit to the Capital Projects budget for Phase III of the children’s home.
Jo Weber, director of the Human Services Department, expressed gratitude to all who contributed to the total $4.6 million raised for the project. She noted the financial goal was achieved primarily through “on-the ground” fundraising,, with Sonoma County employees’ philanthropic efforts especially well represented.
