Hello Carlsbad Charitable Foundation (CCF) Members and Friends!
I’m excited to share a few words with you, even if briefly. This continues to be quite the calamitous year and I hope this finds you and your family healthy in mind and body. I’d like to acknowledge, thank and ask that we keep our first responders in our thoughts and prayers. The wildfires to the North are devastating and the destruction so sad. I was speaking with a friend who is a Firefighter just a few days ago—he had just returned home to Carlsbad for a week of rest with his young family before he heads out again after 19 straight days fighting fires up North. Can you even imagine?
I’d like to share a poignant quote from Mahatma Gandhi:
“We but mirror the world. All the tendencies present in the outer world are to be found in the world of our body. If we could change ourselves, the tendencies in the world would also change. As a man changes his own nature, so does the attitude of the world change towards him. This is the divine mystery supreme. A wonderful thing it is and the source of our happiness. We need not wait to see what others do.”
The silver-lining of such a troubled year as 2020 is that it provides each of us with an even greater opportunity and need to change the world beginning with ourselves. And you are already a part of that change in what you do through the Carlsbad Charitable Foundation. There is no possible way to measure the positive ripple-effect of your contributions to our nonprofits in receipt—it’s ultimately life changing for someone. This is our 14th year and I believe that all our years before this one have provided us the launchpad to do more good for more people than ever before when it is needed most.
This is the year that each of us must share what we do here at CCF with more of our friends and consequently attract even more members and deepen the pool of grant dollars. I humbly ask that after reading this blog today, you take that next big step, however uncomfortable it might be for you, and pick up your cell phone and call just one friend in Carlsbad that you know would love our cause and should be a member. Just introduce us, “Hey, I’ve been meaning to share one of my charitable involvements here in Carlsbad with you…”. If you’d like my assistance, send me an email and I’ll hop on a call with you pronto. Remember, our grant dollars receive a 100% match and our nonprofit grant recipients, whoever they turn out to be this year, are hurting.
Now, a hallmark of our foundation, and one that makes us unique, is that our membership votes individually to determine ‘who’, ‘what’, ‘when’, and ‘how’ your financial investment for grantmaking is allocated. This ensures transparency, accountability and integrity of the grant process and, moreover, ensures we all share in the collective decision-making for our Foundation which builds community here in Carlsbad.
This year, during our 14th grant cycle, you voted to support COVID-19 recovery and relief efforts, by a natural landslide. The Grants Committee has been working hard since August to develop the grant application, revise processes and procedures and engage our membership to join the committee. The Request for Proposals will go live on the CCF webpage on October 30, and will close December 7, 2020.
In addition, our Grants Committee is holding a Grants Seeker Forum via Zoom on November 13, 2020. Please help us get the word out and/or contact our regional affiliate manager, Estela Mitrani at estelam@sdfoundation.org if you would like to attend the Grant Seeker’s Forum. Lastly, please enjoy our member spotlight and grantee impact story below. I hope they inspire you as much as me! Thank you for your continued support of CCF. Together, we are making a difference.
Member Spotlight: Sandy Bonner
Sandy Bonner, born and raised in Corona, CA, moved to Carlsbad a little over a year ago. If not golfing or coaching softball, she is executing events as the General Manager for Wedgewood Weddings at the landmark Carlsbad Windmill location. Wanting to embrace her new community of Carlsbad, she joined CCF and began working on the Membership Committee, focusing on recruiting new members. Since joining the Foundation, she has been able to help plan events and connect with the great people of Carlsbad.
“Carlsbad has an amazing vibe and feel,” says Sandy. “The community has welcomed me and I want to help give back to them.”
On behalf of all members, thank you, Sandy, for your support and membership!
Grantee Spotlight: Boys & Girls Clubs of Carlsbad
With generous support from CCF and its members, Boys & Girls Clubs of Carlsbad was able to take BGCC youth to Rancho Carlsbad during the 2019/2020 academic school to garden, plant, weed, water, grow and harvest organic vegetables. Back at the Clubhouse, youth would participate in cooking classes that used the vegetables grown in the garden, as well as learn about good nutrition and healthy snack choices.
“Through this collaborative work, most kids truly break out of their shells and shine,” said Robin Rafferty, BGCC Development Coordinator. “While the program was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s clear the Rancho Carlsbad residents find so much joy in teaching the BGCC youth how to garden. They have created a strong bond and it’s given the kids a sense of responsibility and confidence.”
In total, the CCF grant enabled Boys & Girls Clubs of Carlsbad to connect 33 youth with five seniors from Rancho Carlsbad to garden, harvest, and cook meals together. Thank you CCF for helping make gardening and healthy eating more accessible to youth and seniors alike in Carlsbad!
