Sonoma Ecology Center is ‘Nonprofit of the Year’

[caption id="attachment_96274" align="aligncenter" width="420"] Richard Dale, Sen. Dodd and David Morell, Sonoma Ecology Center board member.[/caption] Sonoma Ecology Center, which has a nearly 30-year history of environmental stewardship and preservation in the Sonoma Valley, and most recently has taken leadership roles in regional wildfire recovery... Continue

Thirty-two Sonoma Valley teens are ‘Work Ready’

The smiles were plentiful and with good reason as Becky Jo Peterson, Teen Services Sonoma Executive Director, welcomed teens, family members, staff, board members and friends to celebrate the accomplishment of 32 amazing teens. The event was held Friday, April 12 at the Krug Event... Continue

A ‘Little’ goes a long way

When it needed to be relocated from public land, a Little Free Library got a little help from the Sonoma Community Center. After offering suggestions on possible new locations around town, the Center’s staff thought more about it and wondered, relates staffer Josh Cutler, why... Continue

Dunkin’ at the Food Bank

The Redwood Empire Food Bank receives a $12,500 donation from Dunkin’ Donuts Joy in Childhood Foundation. The donation will support Redwood Empire Food Bank’s Every Child, Every Day program, which ensures a healthy start in life by filling the meal gap for at-risk children. The... Continue

Rotary raises, distributes $1,000,000 in fire relief

[caption id="attachment_85848" align="aligncenter" width="420"] The two local Rotary clubs present a check for $185,000 representing $5,000 for each of 37 employees in the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Department who lost their homes to department representatives. Left to right: JJ Abodeely, Mike Schemmel, Mike Matelli, Mike Vail,... Continue

Nonprofits may be the biggest losers under the new tax law

For the past 100 years, U.S. nonprofits have benefitted from the fact that Americans who filed an itemized tax return have been able to take a tax deduction for donations to their favorite charities. However, life changed dramatically for nonprofits on January 1 when the... Continue

Lions Club’s paper route

The Valley of the Moon Lions Club, represented by Club President Nicole Sinclair, at right, donates $1,000 to Kids Scoop. Accepting the check, which will provide the fun, student-friendly newspaper to four Valley classrooms for one year, are Joyce Murphy and Vicki Whiting. Continue

Don’t waste it, glean it

[caption id="attachment_53468" align="aligncenter" width="420"] It's almost fig time! Call SVGP and don't let your figs go to waste! (Sonoma Valley Gleaning Project)[/caption] Ever since relocating to California a few years ago, one of the things that continues to surprise me is the amount of fruit... Continue

Roll out the welcome mat for a funder’s site visit

One of the most frightening, yet exciting, phone calls or emails a nonprofit leader can get is from a prospective funder, such as a foundation, giving circle, service club, or government agency, requesting a site visit. After a nonprofit organization submits a grant application to... Continue

New head of SV Visitors Bureau

The Sonoma Valley Visitors Bureau (SVVB) has named Jonny Westom, who comes from the Greater Palms Springs Convention & Visitors Bureau, as its new executive director. Westom begins his new role on August 1, replacing Wendy Peterson who will be retiring from the SVVB after... Continue