On Sunday afternoon, December 6, 2009, more than 90 legacy donors to Sonoma Valley Fund and our nonprofit Partners thrilled to the classical and contemporary music of Musaic, an a cappella men's chorus based in San Francisco. The concert, which was held in the extraordinary and elegantly decorated wine cave of our generous hosts, Renee and Rick Dellar, kicked off the holiday season with flair, and was followed by champagne and chocolates, as well as other treats. Sonoma Valley Fund thanks Musaic and our hosts for helping to create this unique opportunity to recognize and celebrate legacy giving.

• Partner agreements with 11 valley non-profits to develop endowemnet programs, mansage reserver funds, or provide administrative support.
• Over $10 million non-profit funds invested through our affilaite Community Foundation of Sonoma County.
• Over $4 million bequests received by Sonoma Valley Fund.
• 27 donor gifts and legacy comittments made.

Quarryhill Botanical Gardens was the setting for the Sonoma Valley Funds’ annual celebration held on July 13 this year. At the event, the fund honored special volunteers selected by its eleven non-profit partner organizations, recognizing them as “Sonoma Valley Stars.”

The range of volunteer activities performed by the awardees covers everything from cooking meals for teens, bringing cheer and flowers to those hospitalized, helping seniors prepare tax returns and to spearheading fundraising events. Their levels of commitment and longevity of service as described by the presenting host from each organization are truly inspiring.

Also attending her first SVF celebration as the new president and CEO of Community Foundation Sonoma County (the parent organization of the SVF affiliate) was Sonoma resident Barbara Hughes.

“These volunteers stars are working for the arts and for education, encouraging understanding and fostering inclusiveness,” said Hughes. “They are making a difference for our teens, our seniors, our animals and for nature, preserving our past ani designing our future.”

This was the SVF’s third annual celebration for donors, nonprofit partners and community leaders. Over 200 guests wandered through Quarryhill’s Asian woodland gardens, learning about its unique botanical species from Executive Director Bill McNamara and docents, while enjoying refreshments prepared by board members and advisors led by Barbara Young.

Nonprofit organizations in the Valley may choose to invest funds by partnering with the SVF. Through Community Foundation Sonoma County, funds are prudently invested and managed. Partners also gain the benefit of expertise in marketing, building endowments and legacy planning. And donors gain the assurance that their legacies and other gifts will be used as they intend.

In encouraging everyone to think about how they can leave lasting positive effects on our community, Whitney Evans, President of Sonoma Valley Fund, closed by stating a popular quote by an unknown author, “ ‘Our deeds are like stones cast into the pool of time; though they themselves may disappear, their ripples extend to eternity.’ In this way, our legacy gifts extend our philanthropy to eternity and each of us thus strengthens our community that we love.”

Lisa Cavalli, Marchelle Carleton, Bonnie Gemmell and Fred Schwartz    Boys and Girls Clubs of Sonoma Valley Anne Golseth    Pets Lifeline Barbara White Perry    Sonoma League for Historic Preservation Sonoma Valley Hospital Auxiliary    Sonoma Valley Hospital Foundation Dinner Volunteers    Valley of the Moon Teen Center		Don Jose Fernandez    La Luz Bilingual Center Gaius Robinson    Quarryhill Botanical Garden Debra Garber    Sonoma Valley Education Foundation Jim Lamb    Sonoma Valley Museum of Art AARP Tax Assistance Program    Vintage House Senior Center
The Gary and Marcia Nelson Emergency Care Fund, a new Partner, only recently began operations and did not make an award.