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Five nonprofits have been selected as this year’s recipients of the ninth annual Pleasanton Weekly Holiday Fund, the community-wide campaign that starts today to provide needed funding for vital local nonprofits.
This year, the Tri-Valley Community Foundation has agreed again to provide matching funds of up to $50,000 to the campaign so that for every $1 contributed, another $1 will be given to these five nonprofits. With the match, this year’s goal is $100,000 with the funds to be allocated equally to each of the five organizations: Axis Community Health, Hope Hospice, Open Heart Kitchen, Valley Humane Society and the Ryan Comer Cancer Resource Center at ValleyCare Health System Foundation.
“Last year, when the state of the economy was perhaps even more dire, our readers rallied to the call and contributed nearly $100,000 in direct donations over and above the Tri-Valley Community Foundation’s match,” said Gina Channell-Allen, president and publisher of the Pleasanton Weekly.
“That gave us a grand total of $147,000, which enabled us to contribute nearly $30,000 to each of last year’s beneficiaries,” she added. “We hope to do even better this year.”
Unlike most other fundraising drives by individual organizations, the Holiday Fund has no administrative expenses or other overhead. The Pleasanton Weekly donates all the support services so all money raised can go to the local nonprofit groups.
All funds are held in trust by the Tri-Valley Community Foundation and are tax deductible to the extent permitted by law.
David Rice, president of the Tri-Valley Community Foundation, said giving to the Pleasanton Weekly Holiday Fund this year is more important than ever.
“Although Pleasanton is ranked as one of the wealthiest cities of its size in the nation, there are hundreds here and many more in the Tri-Valley who rely on these organizations for individual and family assistance, emergency aid when they’re suddenly without jobs, and health care,” Rice said. “Not everyone is wealthy here, not everyone has a job, not everyone has health insurance. These are the people who need our help.”
“Whether we’re employers or among the employed or in business for ourselves, each of us has been affected by fast-rising costs in health care, for basic commodities and food, even for highway and bridge tolls,” Rice said.
“Those on the bottom rung of the employment ladder may have a job, but they don’t earn enough to meet these ongoing higher living costs. They often have inadequate or no health insurance at all. Some have lost their jobs or their benefits, or both, because of corporate downsizing, layoffs and benefit reductions. We see these needs vividly through the Tri-Valley Community Foundation’s programs and the good work the Pleasanton Weekly’s Holiday Fund accomplishes.”
Rice added that although the public should continue to support other fundraising efforts, such as through the Red Cross and United Way, the Weekly’s Holiday Fund offers a close-to-home approach that is more effective and direct in getting the funds that are contributed to the local organizations that need them.
One of this year’s recipients is again the Ryan Comer Cancer Resource Center at ValleyCare. The center is located inside the ValleyCare Health Library.
Money generated by the Pleasanton Weekly Holiday Fund helps the center offer personalized reference assistance and access to medical databases, some in other languages, including websites and articles, plus books, videos and models.
“Funds received from the 2010 campaign have been instrumental in keeping our cancer support groups running,” said Stephanie du Pont-Pensa of ValleyCare’s Ancillary and Outpatient Services. “We were even able to add another support group for newly diagnosed breast cancer patients.”
Open Heart Kitchen is another Tri-Valley charity that is again on the Holiday Fund list for 2011.
“We served over 216,000 meals in 2010 and expect to serve even more this year,” said Linda McKeever, executive director. “The biggest increase is the newly unemployed and underemployed in the local area.”
Open Heart Kitchen, which serves meals in Pleasanton, Dublin and Livermore, has seen a 25% increase in demand for free meals, far greater than the pace of donations given directly to the organization.
“Open Heart Kitchen is often the ‘bridge’ that enables a family stay on its feet from week to week,” McKeever said. “Last year’s generous grant from the Pleasanton Weekly Holiday fund went directly to support our hunger relief programs. Your funds helped purchase food, supplies and the direct cost of preparing and serving meals.”
Axis Community Health, another recipient of this year’s campaign, provides medical care and behavioral health services for all members of the Tri-Valley community regardless of income or ability to pay.
Last year, Tri-Valley residents made more than 115,000 visits to Axis, which is a 15% increase over the previous year. Axis is enrolling more than 400 new patients each month and the need for care continues to increase as the recession continues. Although Axis serves all ages, the need for adult primary care medical services has been explosive in the past year as more people have lost their job or had their insurance coverage curtailed.
“In the past year,” said Sue Compton, Axis’s CEO, “we have added two more physicians and two more nurse practitioners to our staff and we are providing care at our five sites every day or the week, as well as on Saturdays and evenings—and even all of this is not keeping up with the need for care in our community.”
“We are especially grateful to be selected as a recipient of the Pleasanton Weekly’s Holiday Fund campaign this year as it will allow us to continue to meet this critical need in our community,” she added.
Another beneficiary of the 2011 Holiday Fund campaign is Hope Hospice. The organization, headed by Larry Lakes, is known throughout the Valley for the special kind of healthcare it offers. It’s unique because it works to not only meet a dying patient’s physical needs, but supports their emotional, social and spiritual needs as well. Hope Hospice care is provided regardless of the ability to pay and relies on contributions such as those raised by the Pleasanton Weekly Holiday Fund to provide services.
Its mission is to provide compassionate, quality end-of-life care and grief support to patients and families. Hope Hospice and its volunteers step in when medical science can no longer add days to life, and what matters is the quality of life that can be added to each day.
Last but not least is help for our furry friends who give so much to us in return. Once again, the Valley Humane Society is on the list of recipients for the Pleasanton Weekly Holiday Fund.
This all-volunteer group, with its mission to educate others on responsible pet ownership, recently moved into its new facility on Nevada Street. It is finding that more people are giving up their pets due to lack of money to care for them. One service Valley Humane Society provides is donating pet food for pet owners who are having financial difficulties. The organization also rescues, treats and funds a home for abandoned or injured animals. It does not euthanize unless health problems dictate.
David Rice said that “what’s important about giving to the Pleasanton Weekly Holiday Fund is that, in partnership with the Tri-Valley Community Foundation, we can identify these programs and activities that need our help and serve our entire community.”
“We know what the needs are locally because of our expertise in covering these nonprofits in the Weekly’s news columns and through the Foundation’s programs to help serve their financial needs,” he explained.
“We can put money to work very quickly whereas it might take quite a long time for these organizations to partner up with donors themselves,” he added. “So this is a much more effective and direct way to get money to work in the community by giving to the Holiday Fund.”
As of the Holiday Fund launch date last Friday, contributors to the Ninth Annual Pleasanton Weekly Holiday Fund are:
Individuals
Mr. & Mrs. William Adams 100
Jonathan & Janet Allen **
Ron & Kathy Anderson 350
Steve & Cris Annen 100
Mark & Amy Arola 250
Andrew Bailey & Lauren Purcell 1000
Bryan & Kim Baptist 250
Rick & Dawn Barraza 200
Chris & Glenda Beratlis 500
The Bernardi Family 200
Robert & Paula Bielby 100
Jan & Jeb Bing 200
Bert & Dee Brook 200
Ryan Brown & Julie Harryman 75
Rod, Christina, Alyssa & Danielle Browning 100
Tim & Teri Bush **
Frank & Muriel Capilla **
Mrs. Terry Messick-Cass & Mr. Barry Cass 100
Miguel & Julie Castillo **
Mike & Diana Champlin 500
Herbert & Stella Chang **
S. Chase **
Mrs. Merlyn Chesnut **
Mr. & Mrs. Vincent Ciccarello **
John & Gretchen Clatworthy **
Pauline Coe **
The Coffee Guys at Vic’s 160
Alan & Carol Cohen 500
Chris & Linda Coleman 500
Joe & Sue Compton 200
Cheryl Cook-Kallio & John Kallio 100
The Craig Family 250
Rick Crawford & Ronda Hruby 100
Mr. Dave Cryer **
Isabel Curry **
Steven & Merry Dalcino 100
Barbara Daniels **
The Darrin Family 100
Mr. & Mrs. Randall & Elizabeth Davidson 250
Rick & Susie Decker 100
Richard & Judith Del Tredici **
Alice Desrosiers 100
Michael & Suzanne Dutra 100
Paul & Lorraine Ebright 100
Bob & Marianne Eisberg **
The Falls Family **
Bill & Maggie Foley **
Michael, Ana & Nicole Fong 250
Mike & Ilene Forman 200
Richard & Gloria Fredette **
Dave & Roz Gamble **
Mr. & Mrs. Frank Geasa 200
Dennis & Sylvia Glafkides **
John Glavin **
Roy & D’Aun Goble 100
Frank & Connie Gouveia **
Michael & Deborah Grossman **
Ms. Carol Guarnaccia 100
Hank & Corrine Hansen 150
Roger & Brenda Harris **
Tim & Sharyn Henshaw **
Mike Herman **
Ms. Jourdin Hermann **
Mrs. Janice Hermann **
Ed & Holly Heuer **
Bill & Fran Hirst **
Fred & Joan Hottinger **
Kay & Charles Huff **
Mr. & Mrs. D. Ronald Hyde **
Raymond James 200
Bobby Jensen 250
Rudy & Marge Johnson 100
Don & Jean Kallenberg **
Kem & Renee Kantor **
Jim & Elaine Keysor 300
Betty Kirvan 100
Jim & Pat Kohnen 100
Gary & Mary Lazarotti **
Mr. & Mrs. Blaise Lofland 100
Cameron & Jill Lorentz **
Lloyd & Kathie Lortz **
John & Lisa Loundagin 50
Mr. Walt Lupeika CPA 100
Thirza Lysakowski 100
Earl & Dorothy Maddox **
Mr. & Mrs. Albert Malatesta 100
Karen J. Mannering **
The Markel Ohana 500
Ken & Carla Marschall 100
SSgt John H. Marshall 100
Doug & Raeia Marshall 100
Mrs. Violet Masini 50
Miyoshi & Briana McGee 50
Jospeh, Christine & Mia McGovern
Steve & Kathy McNichols 500
Greg & Peg Meagher **
Meisnner **
Todd & Mindy Miller 250
Rodger, Laura & Stehanie Miller 50
Sharron Morrison 25
Jefff & Kathy Narum 100
Tim & Robin Neal 100
Steve & Kaaren Northup 250
Mr. & Mrs. Joseph O’Brien **
Mr. & Mrs. John O’Neill **
Dr. Iqbal Omarali & Dr. Tasneem Bader-Omarali **
Norm & Joyce Pacheco **
Bruce & Debra Parelskin 100
Bill & Peggy Paris **
Amy Pauly **
Jennifer & Brian Pearce **
Nancy Pennell **
Bob & Orley Philcox 500
John & Sharon Piekarski 100
John & Roxanne Plotts **
Andy & Valerie Poryes **
Alan & Jean Purves **
Thomas Rasmus 25
Mike & Lori Rice **
The Richwood Family 100
The Ristow Family **
Ms. Rita Rollar 100
Robert & Kathleen Russman **
Mr. & Mrs. Bill Ruvalcaba 300
Kevin & Sandra Ryan 100
Douglas & Mary Safreno **
Swati & Manoj Samel **
John & Sheila Sanches **
Tim & Belinda Schultz 100
Chris & Cecile Seams **
Howard & Emilie Seebach 100
John & Barbara Severini 250
Sonal & Ajay Shah **
Mr. & Mrs. Shaw 100
Sheng & Tien Shen 100
Charles & Mary Shoemaker 500
Mr. & Mrs. Joe Silva **
Robert Silva 100
Mr. & Mrs. Richard Simon **
Mr. & Mrs. Patrick Spangler 100
Mike & Kerry Jo Stephan 100
Mr. & Mrs. John & Kay Stewart **
Mr. & Mrs. Harold Swanson **
Robert & Carole Sygiel 100
Ms. Deborah Tomlin **
Jim & Debbie Tracy **
Carlo Vecchiarelli 100
Peter & Michelle Weeks **
Barry & Ann Weiss 100
Mr. & Mrs. Glenn Wenig 100
Kristen Winslow **
Bill Woodruff 100
Randy & Emily Yim 100
Mr. Richard Yue 100
Businesses & Organizations
Advanced Security Engineering 200
California Self – Defense Consultants **
DeBernardi Development Construction & Remodeling **
Dublin Tool & Manufacturing 100
Hacienda Bunco Group 75
High Tech Connect 1000
Law Office of Christopher Schlies 250
Life Science Writing Services **
Mission Pipe Cigar Shop 75
Pleasanton Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors 100
Pleasanton Pet Sitting 75
Ponderosa Homes **
Randick, O’Dea & Tooliatos, Attorneys at Law **
Scott – Anderson Associate’s 250
Sue Evans Photography 100
The Tuesday Bridge Ladies 135
Tim McGuire Team – Alain Pinel Realtors 500
Time 4 Order – Professional Organizing 100
Uncle Credit Union 250
In Honor of
Valley Care Lactation Services from the Manthas **
Frank Louwaert from Jeff & Debi Zentner **
Our “5” Grands from Richard & Gwen Spicka **
Ed Kinney Community Patriots from Accusplit Activity Wellness Team 200
Ace & Esher Simone from Melvin & Barbara Wilmore 100
In Memory of
Betty Patrick from Charles & Joan Brown **
Our Mom Lora from Lada & Dmitriy Kosarikov **
Mike, Matt & Diane from Jerry & Josine Pentin 100
Janet Reichlin from Mike, Lori & Michael Reichlin 500
Mary L. Erickson from Al Copher 50
Dave Hare 250
Eva, Adeline, Roy & Archie 100
Doris T. Walberg from Todd & Brenda Walberg 100
Mom – Mae Yip from Mr. & Mrs. Jeff Oh **
Lillian Cassani from Mike & Kris Harnett 100
Allan Hillman, Randy & Margie Warner & David & Marian Hillman from Sharon Hillman 150
John A. Mavridis **
Gam & Papa Abbott from The Casey Family **
Karl K. Witze 500
Jameson Lindskog, Specialist U.S. Army from Chris & Marty Miller 100
Brian Martin Love Kathy & Tricia **
Tony and Jennie Paradiso from Dorene Paradiso-Carroll **
Roselle Grimes, Verna Plummer & Evelyn Schrick from The Grimes Family **
Kenneth & Althea McGill from Marsha & RJ Grimes **
Mary May from Michael M. May 300
Joe & Doris Antonini from John & Carolyn Cardinalli 500
Judy Perko from Bob Perko 100
Dad – Shigeru Yamamoto from Bruce & Cindy Yamamoto **
Robert Kilpatrick from Dorothy Kilpatrick **
Grandpa John Morley & Nonno Richard Prima from Frank & Marie Morley **
Tony Prima from Teresa & Dan Morley **
Rob Meierding from Suzanne Meierding 200
Robert D. Williams from Mavis E. Williams 100
Jo Chapple 100
Our Moms from Bob & Sandy Holmes **
Jack Emmons from Margery Connor 99
Don Foreman from Marilyn Foreman 100
Jim Brennan, Wayne Emmett and Don Emmett from George & Jeanne Emmett **
Pearl St. Pierre from John & Julie Finegan 300
Roger Dabney, Hank Gomez, Ed Kinney, Gene O’Brien, George Spilotolous & Dee Wilson from Ken Mercer 300
Juanita Haugen & Mary Ann Butler from The Bob Group **
Our Fallen Military Heroes from The Gualandri Family 150
Nicholas Daniel Lesser from Bruce & Kathleen Lesser **
John A. Silva from Manuel & Catherine Silva **
Norm Bottorff from Dory Bottorff 100
Dick Waldron from Virginia Waldron **
Diane Burgard from Bill & Carolyn Lincoln **
Sarah Anne Lees from Donald & Judy Person **
Bill Haraughty from Anita Haraughty 25
Howard Hill from Sally Hill 100
Carol Bedell from Lonnie & Aelene Chase **
Michael & June Carboni from Richard & Nancy Shockley 100
Charles J. Sebahar Jr. & Charles J. Sebahar Sr. from Karen L. Sebahar 100
Bill & Alice Marsh from Bill & Audrey Sears **
Helene Castro **
Keith Mountford **
Burt Sperbek **
Gene Strom, Keith Strom, William Kolb & Donna Kolb-Miller from Carol Kolb-Strom 400
Kathy Capitini from John Capitani 500
