The El Dorado Community Foundation Board of Directors is proud to announce that in this challenging economic time, it was able to grant $649,881.00 back into our community for the benefit of the people of El Dorado County for the year 2010. That’s $3.55 per capita and nothing short of amazing when compared to major metropolitan areas of giving that are currently averaging only $2.30-$2.50 per capita. We thought you would get a better picture of the impact of these grants if we could share some of the stories behind them.
A 2010 Field of Interest grant from the El Dorado Community Foundation’s Endowed Fund was instrumental in sponsoring El Dorado Arts Council’s (EDAC) Poetry Out Loud event that was held this year. Thousands of students across the state participated in the national recitation contest, a program run by the California Arts Council and started by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) to engage high-school students in the presentation of poetry through memorization and performance. This was El Dorado County’s second year participating in the Poetry Out Loud program hosted by Imagination Theater. At stake were hundreds of dollars on the state competition level and thousands at the national finals of Poetry Out Loud. According to the EDAC website, Moira Magneson, Poetry Out Loud coordinator for the El Dorado Arts Council stated, “This year’s field of contestants was stunning. I did not envy the judges; theirs was a hard job. The students were remarkable for the poise and passion with which they recited their poems.” In all, six students from six county high schools participated in the finals that is a reflection of an ever-growing need to keep the arts alive in education.
The Crisis Angel Network Fund represents $46,698.48 of the granting in 2010. Working through their community nonprofit partners, the Foundation lends a “hand up” to families in crisis situations in order to help get them back on the track to self reliance. The stories of families in crisis run the gambit between our youngest and our oldest friends and neighbors; from single parent families to multi-generational families. One story that epitomizes the work of the Crisis Angel Network is one of a single parent with cancer who had a son who was also very ill. This mother had to leave her employment in order to care for herself and her son who she was transporting to the bay area for care. She had depleted all of her assets and the family was in danger of being evicted from their home. A grant to assist with rent from the Crisis Angel Network Fund and a connection to Partners In Care took a tremendous weight off her shoulders and her heart while she continued to work through other serious transition decisions.
The Women's Fund El Dorado is a community fund that operates under the umbrella of the El Dorado Community Foundation. The fund was created in October 2007 and has grown from the original three founding donor/members to a current membership of over 250 women, men and organizations. They have granted over $93,000.00 back to their community as well as built their endowment to over $100,000.00 securing the good work of this fund for generations to come. One of their 2010 grants was awarded to the All Girls Construction Team, made up of female students at Golden Sierra High School to cover their costs for participation in the Sacramento Builders Exchange Design Build Competition. They were the first all-girls team ever to participate in this competition and not one young life was left untouched.
The stories of effective positive change in El Dorado County are numerous as the Foundation works each day to fulfill their mission to “strengthen our community both now and for future generations”. A report, designed to inform and inspire donors and the community at large, is done on an annual basis and is available in hard copy at the Foundation office at 3097 Cedar Ravine, Placerville, CA, or can be accessed on their website at www.eldoradocf.org .
The El Dorado Community Foundation is a 501 (c) 3 established for the purpose of strengthening our community both now and for future generations. The Foundation solicits and manages charitable gifts through endowed funds. Grants are awarded throughout El Dorado County in support of local students, nonprofit services and programs. Individuals or organizations interested in learning more about the Foundation or how the Foundation may be able to help them realize their charitable dreams are invited to contact Bill Roby, Executive Director, El Dorado Community Foundation, P.O. Box 1388, 3097 Cedar Ravine, Placerville, CA 95667, 530-622-5621, or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
