“Kick Up Your Heels” was the theme of the Women’s Fund El Dorado’s 4th Annual Membership Dinner held at the Serrano Country Club in El Dorado Hills on October 21st. More than 200 donors and their guests gathered to celebrate another successful year of community philanthropy. Women’s Fund founder Katy Peek, who is stepping down as Fund chair, recalled the organization’s beginnings in 2007, its growing membership, and its increasing impact on the quality of life on the western slope of El Dorado County. She then introduced the new Fund chair Judy Morris, who recognized representatives of the seven El Dorado County nonprofit agencies receiving 2010 grants totaling $40,000.

Keynote speaker Colleen Willoughby, founder of the Washington Women's Fund and the Women's Collective Giving Grantmaker's Network, stressed the importance of encouraging and training women to become effective philanthropists in their own communities. She stated that it is in our DNA as Americans to give and she is witnessing a “tsunami of good” as Women’s Funds all over the nation go beyond grantmaking through the synergy they create.

Cabinet member Liz Drummond shared her personal experiences as a Women’s Fund donor, resplendent with humorous stories, prior to presenting the first Women's Fund El Dorado Woman of the Year Award to Susie Davies for outstanding achievement on behalf of the community of El Dorado County. Susie read from her “What I Know For Sure” list and then closed her acceptance speech with her favorite quote: “Find your passion; don’t die with your music still in you”.

Ms. Drummond also presented a special award to Joyce Amlick, the inspiration behind the Woman of the Year Award. Joyce, an active community volunteer, made a significant positive impact on El Dorado County by founding the much-needed Crisis Angel Network Fund at the El Dorado Community Foundation. The Crisis Angel Network Fund has allowed the Foundation to make grants to local non-profit organizations who have assisted more than one hundred local El Dorado County families/individuals out of hopelessness into hope.

A very special award of appreciation was presented to the family of Women’s Fund donor Joan Barsotti, recently deceased. For 35 years, Joan graced our community with her charitable and hard-working dedication to projects that meant a great deal to her and benefited countless others.

Women’s Fund donors Judi Stewart of Flowers on Main and Sue Boeger of Boeger Winery, generously contributed to the event.

Sponsors of the event included Christeen Reeg, Senior Financial Advisor; Sheila Cardno, LPL Financial; Annemiek Storm, Long Term Care Insurance; Missy McCallum, RN of Dignity Medical Aesthetics; the Peek Family Fund at the El Dorado Community Foundation; El Dorado Savings Bank and the Barsotti Juice Company.

The Women’s Fund El Dorado is a community fund operating under the umbrella of the El Dorado Community Foundation. They harness the collective power of giving to support community philanthropy by pooling their funds and making informed, educated grants to local organizations and programs.