Giving back or making a difference doesn’t always mean donating millions of dollars or building monstrous recreation centers.
The Women’s Fund of Northern Santa Barbara County is living proof that it only takes a little effort to make a big difference.
The fund was recently host to its fourth annual presentation reception, where members awarded six community organizations that serve the needs of women, children, and families. The grand total for this year’s award was $129,500.
The fund was first organized in 2007 when 16 women came together with the idea of combining their money and time to donate to nonprofit organizations, in the hopes of making a bigger impact in their community. This organization is founded on the same principles as the sewing or “giving” circles formed during the prairie days.
The fund thrives strictly on individual and group donations from its members; it does not rely on fundraising.
The group of local women from Lompoc, Santa Ynez, Solvang, and Guadalupe brought their idea to local entrepreneur Lawnae Hunter, founding chairperson. Together, they discussed organization’s foundations.
“There was a lot of preparation involved,” Hunter said. “We had to decide our mission, what we wanted to be, and how we wanted to do it.”
In their first year, they were connected with the United Way. The following year, they became a fiscal agent of the Santa Barbara Foundation.
Since its initial startup, the fund has since acquired more than 130 members and awarded a total of $449,500 to 20 nonprofits in Northern Santa Barbara County.
This year’s award ceremony, a two-hour event, took place at the Santa Maria Inn. The ceremony was bustling with women of all ages and boasted an array of beverages and appetizers for the guests.
The recipients were:
• Boys & Girls Club of Santa Maria Valley: $24,000
• Friends of the Lompoc Library: $14,000
• Friends of the Santa Maria Library: $12, 500
• Boys & Girls Club of Santa Barbara County: $26,000
• Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Teen Court’s Young Women’s Leadership Group: $30,000
• Santa Maria Youth and Family Center: $23,000
The money was donated to each of these agencies for hiring costs, license renewals, expanding tutoring programs, and funding pilot programs.
“We are so honored be able to award grants to these amazing organizations doing important work for women, children, and families in the North County communities,” said Didi Reynoso, co-chair of the Women’s Fund.
The fund decides on the award recipients based on research conducted by a group of volunteer women. According to Reynoso, the committee researches various areas of interest and sends out choices. The types of agencies they donate to vary each year.
But for the fund, it’s not just about donating money. Hunter explained that a large educational component is fundamental to the organization that strives to teach young women about philanthropy and giving back at an appropriate level for their lives.
The kind of philanthropy they teach, however, strays from a traditional definition.
“Philanthropy has always been defined as something where people give away millions,” Hunter said. “We want to redefine philanthropy as something that starts at a young age and is not just about giving away money, but about the nice things we do for others.”
The fund’s efforts haven’t gone unnoticed by others in the community. Last year, the Commission for Women honored the fund as Santa Barbara County’s 4th District Service Organization of the year for 2010.
“Lives are not about the cars we drive, our houses, or the clothes we wear, but how we touch each other,” Hunter said. “That’s philanthropy.”
For more information on the Women’s Fund, check out the website for the Santa Barbara Foundation, sbfoundation.org.
This week’s School Scene was compiled by Intern Kristina Sewell. Information should be sent to the Sun via fax, e-mail, or mail.
This article appears in Jul 7-14, 2011.