Agency can raise up to $75,000 in donations with public’s
assistance
Morgan Hill – Community Solutions has a welcome challenge to meet in the form of a Sobrato Challenge Grant, which gave the agency $25,000 earlier this month.
Funds raised are used by the agency to provide supplies for the domestic violence shelter, low-cost counseling to teens and others who need it and helping families in need.
The challenge is that the grant will be augmented by an additional $25,000 if the South County human services agency can raise a matching $25,000.
The total amount the agency could add to its coffers is $75,000 if it meets its fundraising goal by Feb. 28, 2007.
“We want the community to know that for every dollar they donate, Community Solutions will actually receive $3 that can be used to continue to support our programs,” said Cecilia Clark, development and communications manager for Community Solutions.
There are no stipulations on how the grant money can be spent, Clark said.
“The Sobrato Foundation Challenge Grant not only supports the agency today but it helps us strengthen our individual giving program for the future,” said Erin O’Brien, Community Solutions president and CEO. “But the real winners are the individuals and families we serve who benefit from this significant leveraging of dollars.”
Community Solutions runs a mental health program, which includes counseling and housing, transitional and permanent. There are also youth programs, including the El Toro Youth Center, truancy reduction programs, the Restorative Justice program, which is an accountability effort, and an independent living skills program for foster care teens.
Community Solutions runs a domestic violence shelter and offers numerous sexual assault services.
“Primarily the people we see are low income people who probably would not be able to afford the services we offer, for example counseling,” Clark said. “If they were to seek private counseling, it could be beyond their means.”
As part of the campaign to raise the matching funds for the grant, Community Solutions is working with the South Valley Quilt Association. Those who donate $150 or more to the agency will have the opportunity to honor a special mother in their life. The association will create a signature quilt – called Fabric of Our Community – with thoughts about mothers from the donors. During the campaign, the association will add to the quilt as donors contribute.
Donors and the community can view the quilt when it is displayed during the Taste of Morgan Hill on Sept. 23-24 and at various locations during the campaign.
“Right now, we can commit to having the evolving quilt on display for the Taste of Morgan Hill. We haven’t yet figured out how to have it on display while the women are working on it, but we’re investigating options at this point,” Clark said.
Marilyn Dubil covers education and law enforcement for The Times. Reach her at (408) 779-4106 ext. 202 or at md****@mo*************.com.
