This was not your ordinary afternoon ladies’ tea. This was a celebration of warm, loving hearts coming together to help. This was the culmination of a year’s hard work, getting the word out to North County women and educating them about philanthropy and the “power of the purse.” This was a tea for the Women’s Fund of North Santa Barbara County, held July 16 at the Santa Maria Inn.
The newly hatched fund presented its first-ever grants to three nonprofits. Santa Maria Inn owners Judy Hearn and Blanche Hollingshed treated the group to iced tea, coffee, punch, and plates of cheeses, veggies, cookies, and chocolates.
It was Christmas in July for Catholic Charities, CASA, and the Good Samaritan Shelter. David Coelho accepted $15,000 for Catholic Charities, which serves a broad base of clients in neglected areas like New Cuyama.
“It’s hard to believe,” Coelho remarked, “but there are Third World conditions in Santa Barbara County.”
Maria Long accepted $15,000 for CASA, to train new advocates. The Women’s Fund was sensitive to the fact that there are 120 foster-care-system children in North County who do not have an advocate, someone to speak up for them in court.
Lastly, Sylvia Barnard and the Good Samaritan Shelter are jumping for joy, because they now have $25,000 for a badly needed new van with which to serve the PREMIE Program (which helps pregnant women and mothers with drug and alcohol problems).
Real estate guru and first-year group leader Lawnae Hunter, her successor Judy Markline, coordinators Mary Hervey and Georgia Shrager, and the 60 very happy fund members at the tea, were all in a buoyant mood. During their very first year, they exceeded their projected goal of $50,000 by $5,000.
It was also made clear over and over again that new, lasting friendships were formed during the many weekly meetings during which members discussed philanthropy and the needs of local charities.
The movers and shakers of Santa Maria were at the tea—ladies like Nancy Stewart, Nancy Johnson, Robin Hayhurst, and Judy Frost. Lois Mitchell, executive director of the Orfalea Foundation, drove up from Santa Barbara for the occasion. The Orfalea Fund granted the Women’s Fund $7,500 with which to pay administrative expenses. This meant that all the money collected went into the giving pot.
The Women’s Fund is affiliated with the North County United Way so that it can use their nonprofit status. United Way staff member Raynette Cornejo got the idea for the fund when she was at the Santa Barbara Foundation, where a group of women philanthropists came together to form giving circles, which are gaining popularity across the country.
How does the Women’s Fund work? Anyone with $500 or more to donate can join. Two, three, four, or more women can get together and collectively donate at least $500, the minimum requirement for the donor’s circle to have one vote for the grant recipients.
Anyone interested in joining either as an individual or as part of a circle, can get more information from Raynette Cornejo at the United Way (922-0329). Georgia Schrager in Santa Maria (937-0388) and Mary Hervey in Lompoc (733-3496) can also provide info.
If you want to hobnob with Helen, you may reach her at helenthom232@yahoo.com.
This article appears in Jul 31 – Aug 7, 2008.
