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The momentum continues to build for Three Valleys Community Foundation in its endeavor to organize and galvanize philanthropy locally.
The community fund based in the Tri-Valley is on the precipice of probably its most aspirational project yet — “925 GIVES”, a new regional fundraising campaign that will culminate in a 24-hour online giving day on Sept. 25 with the potential to support dozens of nonprofits in Alameda and Contra Costa counties.
These weeks before the big day are focused on encouraging eligible nonprofits to register to participate as well as spreading the word to recurring and prospective supporters alike. These organizations, whose specific missions may vary, are linked by a common defining characteristic and a shared region.
3VCF’s inaugural initiative hopes to “spark a groundswell of local generosity, boost unrestricted support for nonprofits, and build a stronger, more connected philanthropic ecosystem” in the 925 area code that has nearly one million households.
“925 GIVES builds upon traditional philanthropy models — which have often centered on contributions from major donors — by tapping into the collective power and promise of everyday people giving in support of their communities,” Kelly Bowers, CEO and president of 3VCF, said in a statement.
“Imagine a million people or more, each giving whatever they can — whether it is $20, $200 or $2,000 — merging their gifts together, to fuel transformative change in their own communities,” Bowers said. “This broad scale giving opportunity unlocks the potential of first-time donors and redefines philanthropy as something everyone can take part in. By broadening the base of giving and embracing shared impact, we move from a model of scarcity to one of shared abundance — where everyone has a stake and every gift truly matters.”
A major advancement of 3VCF’s “Give Where You Live” mindset, the hyper-local day of giving aims to be a “simple, secure and community-driven” opportunity for local residents, businesses and civic leaders to support organizations in the Tri-Valley and the surrounding areas.
Participating nonprofits are expected to run the gamut, with focus areas such as housing, food insecurity, environmental sustainability, mental health, education, economic opportunity, the arts, local journalism and more. Our parent organization, Embarcadero Media Foundation, will be on the list to benefit our three Tri-Valley publications during a crucial time for us.
925 GIVES will include the main online drive from 12 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. Sept. 25 with real-time donation tracking and a public leaderboard, prize drawings and sponsored match incentives at key intervals between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. that day, personalized giving challenges and a branded social media campaign.
Plus, so people don’t have to necessarily hunker down on 9/25, there will be an expanded fundraising window for the campaign from next Monday (Aug. 25) through Sept. 30 for early and late contributions. Learn more at 925gives.org.
“925 GIVES is much more than a giving day — it’s a movement to foster lasting civic engagement and philanthropy,” said 3VCF Board Chair John Sensiba, a well-known nonprofit supporter in the Tri-Valley who also sits on our foundation’s board and was just named the 2025 Distinguished Citizen of the Year by the Golden Gate Area Council of Scouting.
“It’s also about strengthening community ties and leveraging our region’s incredible innovation, generosity, and heart to make giving more accessible and meaningful for everyone,” Sensiba added about 925 GIVES. “When everyone who is positioned to do so participates, we bolster the social fabric of our region, deepen our sense of belonging, and co-create lasting change from the ground up.”
It’s an exciting, important time for 3VCF.
This summer the foundation launched its new “NextGen Fund” that will raise money for grants to support youth-centered projects and programs. Additionally, the fund will sponsor the inaugural 3VCF Young Philanthropist Award, which will be handed out at the 25th annual Tri-Valley Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Fellowship Breakfast next January.
For its debut, all donations to the NextGen Fund through Aug. 30 will go toward the Little League Intermediate World Series, which is played in Livermore each year.
3VCF also recently announced the recipients of the second round of opioid settlement mini-grants – distributed in its capacity as fiscal administrator on behalf of the Alameda County Behavioral Health Department.
Twelve organizations and projects shared in $2.5 million this time around, including post-treatment care by C.U.R.A., Inc., a fentanyl detection kit project between Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office, and training and services by BOSS (Building Opportunities for Self-Sufficiency).
We know first-hand how significant these opportunities can be. We have been partnering with Tha Town out of Oakland this year on a program for Alameda County students to report on the opioid crisis and share their perspectives journalistically – thanks to a grant from the first round of settlement grants.
The incredible work of the “junior journalists” is on display on the Pleasanton Weekly’s “Opioid Crisis” webpage. A few highlights include Jenny Lu’s article “How opioids affect student athletes”, the video story “Education is key to decrease opioid addiction, deaths” by Erika Rayo and Amelia Tsao’s informative piece “Why opioids work — and why they won’t let go until you die”.
The opioid coverage creates optimism for this newsman about the next generation in our industry. Credit to 3VCF and county officials, who recognize the importance of independent journalism in our communities.
Editor’s note: Jeremy Walsh is the associate publisher and editorial director for the Embarcadero Media Foundation’s East Bay Division. His “What a Week” column is a recurring feature in the Pleasanton Weekly, Livermore Vine and DanvilleSanRamon.com.
