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Donor News - Summer 2010
In This Issue:
- Donor Profile: Mauree Jane and Mark Perry - Investing in People
- Strengthening the Safety Net: A New Report Helps Funders Focus Response
- Donors Connect at the Women Changing the World Luncheon
- Join Us: The San Francisco Foundation 2010 Community Leadership Awards
- Your Philanthropic Services Team
Donor Profile: Mauree Jane and Mark Perry
Investing in People
- Mauree Jane and Mark Perry, with former Meritus Scholar Stella Obi.
Mauree Jane and Mark Perry’s passion for education stems from their families. Both of their fathers received academic scholarships to college and graduate school that were essential for them to gain an education. Inspired by the impact these educational opportunities had on their lives, their belief in the value of education, and their desire to give back, Mauree Jane and Mark have supported the Meritus College Fund for nearly 15 years.
Back in 1997, just a year after local physician Dr. Henry Safrit launched the organization, one of his co-founders and a friend of Mauree Jane’s from Vassar approached her to jointly provide a Meritus College Fund scholarship to support a woman who wanted to attend one of the Seven Sisters colleges. The next year, she was so excited about the young woman who went on to Barnard that she and Mark teamed up to support someone who was the first in their family to go to college. Since then, they have entrusted Meritus to select the student. “We just want to support these fabulous young people,” Mauree Jane explained.
Meritus College Fund provides four-year college scholarships to academically determined San Francisco public school students, many of whom are the first to graduate high school or go to college. The support reaches well beyond a check for tuition and books. Donors usually build personal relationships with the young students and participate in their activities and choices. Mauree Jane and Mark are no exception – they are donors and mentors, and now Mauree Jane is also a board member.
“We are so impressed that 100% of the donations support the scholarships, and the success rate is about double the national college graduation rate,” said Mauree Jane. “Seeing so many students thrive, complete college, and have exciting career paths ahead of them is quite inspiring.” They have shared dinners with scholars, opened their home to them, and attended their graduations and weddings. “It gets to be very personal and we enjoy that,” she said.
One student in particular, Stella Obi, became very close friends with the Perrys over the past ten years. When she was 14, Stella’s parents sent her to live with an aunt and uncle in San Francisco to have educational opportunities not available to her in her native Nigeria. During her four years of high school and another four on the Dean’s list at UC Berkeley, Stella wasn’t able to see her parents. However, Mauree Jane and Mark supported Stella by connecting with her often, mentoring her, and even visiting her classes.
They are incredibly proud of her successes. Stella helps run the women’s jail as a deputy in the San Francisco Sheriff’s Department, is getting married next year, and is a member of the Meritus Alumni Circle, an opportunity for alumni to strengthen their career networks and give back to their community.
Mauree Jane and Mark are passing along their value of giving from the heart to the next generations of their family. When they receive letters from Meritus scholars about their latest accomplishments, they pass these along to their four adult children across the country. “Actions speak stronger than words,” Mauree Jane said. “Our children see what we do, they are now also passionate about education, and are involved as mentors, volunteer teachers, and school board members in their communities. By sharing what we care about and letting them know the real pleasure we get from seeing these young people grow, they understand.”
At The San Francisco Foundation, Mauree Jane and Mark found the partner they were looking for to help identify outlets for their commitment to giving. In addition to their engagement with Meritus, they attend Foundation events to learn about community issues and recently began supporting local community health clinics as a result.
“We are honored to be able to give back to the community now and help build the future,” said Mauree Jane.
Strengthening the Safety Net
A New Report Helps Funders Focus Response
Many of you have given generously to the Safety Net Impact Fund to help the region recover from the economic downturn. The San Francisco Foundation has worked this year to develop strategies that leverage your investments alongside those of like-minded funders. With this in mind, we launched the first-ever Safety Net Funders Network beginning with five core local foundations, growing the coalition to an unprecedented 21 funders.
- Mother and daughter at Shelter, Inc.
Together, we joined forces to release a report, entitled “Strengthening the Safety Net: Bay Area Philanthropy’s Response and Early Lessons,” which details lessons learned for strengthening the safety net in the Bay Area. “Given the tumultuous economy, organizations are regrouping and rethinking how to continue providing critical mission-related services,” said Denise Martin, the Foundation’s Program Director, Public Policy, Advocacy, and Community Health. “This report identifies important trends and strategies so that funders can make the most of scarce resources.”
The report highlights a number of Bay Area grantmaking trends:
- Safety net grantmaking has increased in response to the recession.
- $170 million was granted to 1,500 safety net nonprofits from 2008 through November 2009.
- Community foundations granted the largest proportion of safety net grants in California, distinguishing the state from national trends, where independent foundations played a larger role.
- Of the safety net nonprofits, housing and shelter received the most funds, and mental health services and information and referral received the least.
Collaboration, public-private partnerships, and systems change were identified by the report as keys to successfully strengthening the safety net nonprofits, and the public agencies that support them.
The San Francisco Foundation remains dedicated to closely monitoring the community’s needs as the economic environment shifts, and will continue supporting safety net providers as a key priority as the economy recovers.
Download the full report here [2.7 MB PDF].
Donors Connect at the Women Changing the World Luncheon
- Cathy Koshland and Sarah James at the Women Changing the World Luncheon in June 2010.
San Francisco Foundation donors connected with the power of philanthropy at the Women Changing the World luncheon on June 2nd. Donors, their daughters, granddaughters, nieces, sisters, and friends joined with San Francisco Foundation philanthropy experts, including Vanitha Venugopal and Denise Martin, in a conversation about women’s highengagement philanthropy. From the art and science of giving to the intuition they rely on, they discussed impact and how to align passion, purpose, and philanthropy.
For a photo gallery from the luncheon, please click here.
Join Us: The San Francisco Foundation 2010 Community Leadership Awards
Please join us for an evening of inspiration, fun, and food at The San Francisco Foundation 2010 Community Leadership Awards Celebration. The annual Awards recognize individuals and organizations whose leadership has made a significant impact in their particular Bay Area community. We also invite donors to join us for the Founders’ Reception to honor and remember the individuals whose dedication and leadership inspired these Awards.
We are proud to announce this year’s impressive winners:
- Dr. Washington Burns, executive director of the Prescott-Joseph Center for Community Enhancement, for working tirelessly to meet the needs and better the lives of West Oakland residents and for inspiring others to narrow disparities in health and social services access and to strengthen their own community.
- Anna Halprin, choreographer, for pioneering the post-modern dance movement and for developing and performing dances for more than 60 years that teach, inspire, heal, and transform.
- Sylvia Rosales-Fike, founder, president, and chief executive officer of AnewAmerica Community Corporation, for spearheading social and economic development opportunities and policies that empower immigrants and strengthen their essential place in our society.
- East Bay Asian Local Development Corporation, for transforming neighborhoods by creating new economic opportunities for low-income communities through housing, economic development, and historic preservation programs.
Visit our Community Leadership Awards page to learn more about this year's winners.
WHEN:
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
5:00 p.m. Founders’ Reception
6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Ceremony and reception
WHERE:
Herbst Theatre
San Francisco War Memorial Veterans Building
401 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco
Directions
RSVP:
Online or call 415.733.8577
Your Philanthropic Services Team
We are here to answer your questions and support your giving and grantmaking. Contact The San Francisco Foundation Philanthropic Services team at 415.733.8500 or donorservices@sff.org.