1. education
2. school

2015 BIG Day of Giving
Nonprofit Stories Page | 1
ACC Senior Services
https://bigdayofgiving.org/#npo/acc-senior-services
Contact: Brenda Page, Fund Development Officer,
bpage@accsv.org (916) 394-6399
Mission Statement
The mission of ACC Senior Services is to promote the general welfare and enhance the
quality of life for our community by identifying, developing and providing culturally sensitive health and
social services for older adults.
Program: ACC Nursing Home
ACC Nursing Home (ACC NH) has been serving
seniors in the Sacramento area since 1986.
With a track record for excellent quality
outcomes, ACC NH has received the highest 5
Star Rating for the last 18 months running. We
are a not for profit, 99-bed facility focused on
enhancing the quality of life for our seniors.
Along with being "home away from home" for our long stay residents, we also focus on rehabilitation
for patients after a hospitalization. The number of community members we have been able to serve has
tripled over the past three years as we have worked to get folks back home after an illness or injury.
Program Successes:
 Five Star rating on Medicare Nursing Home Compare.
 Named as one of the top Nursing Homes in the country by US news and World Reports
 Recognized for QASP award as one of the top 10% of Nursing Homes in California.
 High resident satisfaction scores.
 High employee satisfaction scores and low turnover rate.
 Our ultimate goal is to assist frail elderly residents to live at their optimal level physically and
socially.
More Information:
ACC Senior Services (aka Asian Community Center) was
established in 1972 to provide programs for the
underserved Asian American community. Through the
years, our vision evolved to create an array of services
that help older adults sustain their independence and
life styles.
The first major program is the ACC Nursing Home (1987), a 99-bed skilled nursing facility in a
multicultural and multilingual setting. Among other awards, in 2014 ACC Nursing Home received a 5 star
rating from Centers for Medicare & Medicaid.
Visuals:
 Seniors enjoying ACC Rides
 Meals on Wheels by ACC delivering food to local homes
2015 BIG Day of Giving
Nonprofit Stories Page | 2
Assistance League of Greater Placer
https://bigdayofgiving.org/#npo/assistance-league-of-greater-placer
Contact: Shirley Lessiak, Team Member
shirleylessiak@gmail.com (916) 759-9033
Mission Statement
Assistance League of Greater Placer is a nonprofit, all-volunteer organization that puts caring and
commitment into action through community-based philanthropic
programs.
Program: Operation School Bell
Operation School Bell started in 1992 to serve the needs of public school
children from Head Start through 12th grade within the Greater Placer
communities. Operation School Bell provides new school clothing to
eligible children who are referred by school personnel. Shopping for
clothing takes place annually in the early fall and throughout the year as
needed at local department stores. This program also provides new shoes,
personal grooming kits, tutoring, backpacks and school supplies. In
addition, "Books of My Own" provides third grade students with a
personal dictionary to promote literacy. Schools are assigned Assistance League of Greater Placer
liaisons who work with them to implement Operation School Bell services. In 2009, we added a new
program, "Kids on the Block." This is an educational puppet program performed in schools to enlighten
children about bullying, school safety, learning disabilities and other school issues.
More Information:
1. Through our shopping program, 1240 children have shopped with their parents for their own clothes
and attend school wearing new clothes and shoes in 2013-14. Children can also begin the school year
with new school supplies that the districts are now asking children to bring on the first day of school.
According to teachers, this increases the children's self-esteem and helps them perform better in school.
2. The Kids on the Block puppetry program shows children how to
handle themselves in typical student situations. This information gives
them confidence, makes them feel safe at school, and helps them to be
aware and accepting of differences in children. Over 4500 students saw
a performance in 2013-2014.
3. The tutoring program brings our volunteers to the classroom to help
elementary school teachers with lessons on a one-on-one basis. This
gives students individual help where needed and enables teachers to
focus on other activities in the classroom. In 2013-2014 we tutored 120
children for 471 hours of classroom time.
4. Other successes in 2013-2014: 2371 dictionaries were distributed to 3rd graders. Early Eye Screening
Services were provided to 230 students. 226 backpacks filled with school supplies and 80 personal
grooming kits were distributed to children in need.
Visuals:
 Kids shopping for new clothes under the Operation School Bell program
2015 BIG Day of Giving
Nonprofit Stories Page | 3
CCHAT Center Sacramento
https://bigdayofgiving.org/#npo/cchat-center-sacramento
Contact: Licia King, Development Director,
liciak@cchatsacramento.org (916) 361-7290
Mission Statement
CCHAT Center Sacramento is a unique auditory/oral school whose mission is to teach children who are
deaf and hard of hearing to listen and develop spoken language.
Program: Infant/Toddler Early Intervention
Programs
Baby and Me Program: Infants 0-18 months attend
a parent participation class for 1 1/2 hours per
week and receive 2 hours of individual speech
therapy per week. This program offers training,
guidance and support to parents of the very
youngest children with hearing loss while teaching
them the foundation for their child's speech and
language development. Participation in the playgroup setting can start immediately after early
diagnosis.
Toddler Program: Children 18-36 months attend class 2-5 times per week for 2 1/2 hours per day and
receive a minimum of 30 minutes of individual speech therapy each day of attendance. School-wide
thematic instruction provides each child the opportunity to advance speech and language skills
according to individual developmental needs. Every child gains from a planned teaching strategy that
promotes his or her own ability to think; acquire speech and language from the manipulation of ideas;
and to listen with increasing skill and sophistication.
More Information:
Hearing loss is the most common birth defect,
affecting 2-4 of every 1000 births. With over 50,000
annual births in the nine counties typically served by
CCHAT, newborn hearing screening will identify
approximately 150 newborns with significant hearing
loss who need to be linked with an early intervention
program like CCHAT as quickly as possible. Access to
early intervention resources will help mitigate the
negative impacts of hearing loss on speech/language
acquisition, academic achievement and social/emotional development. Infants with permanent hearing
loss benefit in terms of language development from being enrolled very early, before 3 months of age.
Visuals:
 A baby in the Baby and Me Program
 A little boy plays with a rocket ship
2015 BIG Day of Giving
Nonprofit Stories Page | 4
Blue Line Gallery
https://bigdayofgiving.org/#npo/blue-line-arts
Contact: Hannah Puente, Marketing & Program Coordinator
hannah@bluelinearts.org (916) 783-4117
Mission Statement
Creating a vibrant community through the arts. Blue Line Arts is a non-profit organization and active
community resource established to promote the arts in Roseville, California.
Program: State-of-the-Art Exhibits
Blue Line Arts is home to three unique exhibition spaces:
 The Coker Family Main Gallery is dedicated to the presentation of
museum-quality work by nationally and internationally recognized
artists, including the 2012 Crocker-Kingsley Competition and an
exhibition of the Weisman Art Foundation's International Collection.
 The WestPark Workshop Gallery is specifically used for the exhibition
of work by California artists. It provides an excellent outlet for these
artists to professionally present and sell their work and earn
recognition throughout Northern California and beyond.
 The Eli & Edythe Broad Children's Gallery is home to our annual Next
Generation High School Competition (now in its 47th year) and a
number of other exhibitions with the express purpose of encouraging
creativity among local youth.
Blue Line Arts requires additional funding in order to continually increase the quality of our exhibitions
and expand our outreach through effective PR strategies and materials.
Program Successes:
 Hosted the 2012 Biennial Crocker-Kingsley
Exhibition, which had a Third Saturday turnout of
over 600 attendees.
 Raised over $25,000 through our annual Lottery For
The Arts event in 2012.
 Average of 500 visitors every 3rd Saturday during
the 3rd Saturday Art Tour Event in 2012, which
brings community members together with artists in
every field (increase of 15% from previous year).
 Collaboration with Roseville City School District and
Roseville Chamber of Commerce to create
exhibitions in locations throughout the community.
Visuals:
 Dad looking at art with kids
 Guests enjoy an event at our facilities
2015 BIG Day of Giving
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Center for Land-Based Learning
https://bigdayofgiving.org/#npo/center-for-land-based-learning
Contact: Christine McMorrow, Director of Development,
christine@landbasedlearning.org (530) 795-9569
Mission Statement
Our mission is to inspire and motivate people of all ages, especially youth, to promote
a healthy interplay between agriculture, nature and society through their own actions
and as leaders in their communities.
Program: West Sacramento Urban Farms
The West Sacramento Urban Farm Program provides space,
infrastructure and a supportive boost to small-scale farmers
looking to get started in an urban environment. In partnership
with the City of West Sacramento, vacant lots owned both
publicly and privately, are converted into urban farm sites where
graduates of the California Farm Academy, as well as local
residents with proven farming skills can start farming.
The largest barriers to beginning farmers being successful are
1) access to land, and 2) access to capital. The West Sacramento
Urban Farm program is able to procure many acres of land in West Sacramento, via leases, at very low
cost. This helps to solve the first challenge of land access. With respect to the second challenge, access
to capital, the Urban Farm Program helps to support these budding farms by lowering their cost of
operations. Via a Tool Lending Library and by fundraising, grant writing and building strong relationships
with donors the West Sacramento Urban Farm Program significantly reduces the cost of operations.
Program Successes:
Our Urban Farm farmers grow thousands of pounds of food per
month, which they donate to Food Banks and sell to residents
living in food deserts at below market pricing. The Urban Farm
Program is also supporting a Farm Stand site where farmers in
the program can sell together with pre-built farm stalls to
display their produce.
Visuals:
 A woman carries sliced apples
 Students tend to a bird house and learn about nature
2015 BIG Day of Giving
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Chalk It Up to Sacramento!
https://bigdayofgiving.org/#npo/chalk-it-up-to-sacramento
Contact: Jerry Perry, Executive Director
jerry@alivenkicking.com (916) 213-5059
Mission Statement
Chalk It Up to Sacramento produces an annual chalk art and music festival to
raise money for young Sacramento artists and Sacramento area youth art
programs.
Program: Chalk It Up Festival
The Chalk It Up Festival is a free 3-day, family-friendly chalk-art
and live music festival that takes place over Labor Day Weekend
at Fremont Park in midtown Sacramento. The event features
over 200 artists creating chalk art on the sidewalks surrounding
and running through the park. There is also live music from over
30 acts, participatory art areas, art & craft vendors, and food
vendors. Proceeds raised at the event pay are used to pay for
the festival and to benefit regional youth art programs.
Program Successes:
Our 3 day attendance at the annual event has almost doubled
from 20,000 persons to 35,000 persons, all coming out to see
local artists creating public art.
We've gone from a $9,000 festival loss in 2007 to a $9,000 festival net in 2012. We've been able to give
more to the local art programs for the last 3 years running.
The event itself is about getting the public to create public art, but
we've added even more (non-chalk) participatory art areas at the
event encouraging people of all ages to engage their creative sides.
We believe that our increased success demonstrates the
community's desire to not only experience public art, but to create
art as well, and we encourage that involvement beyond the event
with the programs we choose to benefit.
Visuals:
 An artist puts the finishing touches on chalk art depicting a
woman riding a lion
 Chalk art of a woman staring back at the viewer
2015 BIG Day of Giving
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Effie Yeaw Nature Center
https://bigdayofgiving.org/#npo/effie-yeaw-nature-center
Contact: Barbara Lezon, Development Associate
barblezon@gmail.com (916) 844-5623
Mission Statement
The American River Natural History Association and the Effie Yeaw Nature Center
are dedicated to bringing awareness of the beauty and diversity of the natural world
to children, families and the community through education initiatives that foster appreciation,
enjoyment and stewardship of the unique natural and cultural resources of the Sacramento region.
Program: K-8 Educational Programs
Our science-based educational programs offer students of all
ages and backgrounds the opportunity to come face-to-face
with nature! We offer both STEM and history education
through direct experience in an outdoor setting. Students who
visit the center to participate in our programs are able to:
 Explore the center's interactive museum and meet our
resident animals,
 Discover the trails of the beautiful 100 acre nature
preserve that edges the American River,
 Experience the traditions of the Nisenan Maidu native
culture in the replica village,
 And wade into local ponds and rivers, investigating life
under the water's surface.
Programs meet Common Core Standards, can be customized to support the teacher's curriculum, and
are offered at the Nature Center and Preserve as well as in school classrooms.
Program Successes:
Teacher evaluations report that the school programs provide
unforgettable learning experiences for the students; our participation
numbers confirm these successes:
Participation in all of the Nature Center’s programs has grown each year
since ARNHA assumed management in 2010. In fiscal year 2013-14, we
served 15,215 students through our K-8 educational programs.
Many of the children will begin to acquire a new awareness, appreciation,
understanding and enjoyment of the natural world, documented by
teachers/leaders who have sent letters to the Nature Center after their
class has received a program.
Visuals:
 Children check under bark to look for insects
 Staff shows the audience an American kestrel falcon “Rocky”
2015 BIG Day of Giving
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El Dorado Community Health Center
https://bigdayofgiving.org/#npo/el-dorado-community-health-center
Contact: Diana Labelle-Kantola, Outreach Director,
dlabelle@edcchc.org (530) 784-3104
Mission Statement
Our mission is to improve the health of our community through quality healing
and preventive services.
Program: Patient Services
The patient services department is a free service that
assists clients with social supportive services. Patient
Services helps clients find transportation, food, housing,
free or discounted medications, clothing, charity care
assistance, energy assistance, employment and other
social needs. Patient services department manages
all holiday food distributions and toy drive for over 100
families. In 2012 the patient services team included
management of enrollment assistance for patients
without insurance products.
Program Successes:
A particular Spanish speaking patient being treated for a severe MRSA infection was not successful in
achieving full recovery. The provider asked if the Patient Services Department could access the
individual to possibly identify barriers to care. Upon interviewing the patient it was revealed to the
Patient Advocate, he did not have the funds to launder his clothing. Additionally, though he was
cleaning his wound per the provider’s orders, he was reusing the latex gloves he wore while cleaning his
wound. The Patient Services Department purchased several items of new clothing and undergarments
for the patient. Provided him with laundry soap and $50 in quarters so he could wash his clothes and
three boxes of disposable gloves. Within 4 weeks his wound healed.
More Information:
The Center operates both clinics as primary medical care facilities
utilizing an integrated behavioral health model for the provision of
psychological services. Primary medical care provided includes all
normal family medical practice examinations and procedures
(except OB/GYN and pre-natal services; which are supplied by
referral). These services include care for acute and chronic illnesses,
wound care, immunizations, well baby and well woman
examinations, routine checkups of all sorts and family planning.
Most specialty medical services are provided by referral to specialist
physicians.
Visuals:
 Giving blood during the Affair of the Heart blood drive in Cameron Park
 A pediatrician gives a routine checkup
2015 BIG Day of Giving
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Elderly Nutrition Program Meals on Wheels of Yolo County
https://bigdayofgiving.org/#npo/elderly-nutrition-program-meals-on-wheels-ofyolo-county
Contact: Christine Skibbins, CEO/Executive Director
cskibbins@elderlynutritionyolo.org (530) 662-7035
Mission Statement
To nourish and enrich the lives of individuals in Yolo County with emphasis on those
age 60 and older, by providing nutritious meals to active and home bound people; thereby, promoting
their health, well-being and independence.
Program: Home Delivered Meals Program
The Home Delivered Meals Program offers temporary or long
term service to those 60 years and older and their spouse
regardless of age, who through illness or recent hospitalization,
cannot prepare nutritious meals for themselves and do not
have friends, relatives or paid help to provide assistance.
Volunteer drivers deliver the meals to clients on a regular
schedule between 11:00 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., weekdays. A
frozen meal is offered for legal holidays. In many cases, we are
the sole support system that allows a senior to remain living
independently in their own home.
Program Successes:
The Home Delivered Meals Program offers temporary or long
term service to those 60 years and older and their spouse regardless of age, who through illness or
recent hospitalization, cannot prepare nutritious meals for themselves and do not have friends, relatives
or paid help to provide assistance.
Volunteer drivers deliver the meals to clients on a
regular schedule between 11:00 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.,
weekdays. A frozen meal is offered for legal holidays. In
many cases, we are the sole support system that allows
a senior to remain living independently in their own
home. In addition, our program offers personal
interaction and safety checks from familiar volunteers.
Our program does not have any expectation of payment
from the senior only if they wish to contribute.
Visuals:
 Loading up meals
 Serving a holiday meal during Easter
2015 BIG Day of Giving
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Food Bank of El Dorado County
https://bigdayofgiving.org/#npo/food-bank-of-el-dorado-county
Contact: Mike Sproull, CEO/Executive Director
info@foodbankedc.org (530) 621-9950
Mission Statement
The mission of the Food Bank of El Dorado County is to provide comprehensive services in collaboration
with other Hunger Response Agencies that will help transform the lives of people in need by:
 Providing nutritious foods
 Advocating for and participating in various programs that promote self sufficiency
 Educating the general public on local hunger along with its causes and consequences
Program: No Vet Goes Hungry
In December of 2014, the Food Bank created a partnership with
the local Veteran's Commission to establish the No Vet Goes
Hungry Program. This program is a simple safety net for Veteran's
and their families in communities throughout El Dorado County.
The Food Bank works with Veteran's to assure that they have the
food they need to thrive. At risk Vets have a lot of thing to worry
about, being hungry should not be one of them.
Program Successes:
The Food Bank will track the Veteran's and their families and also
communicate with them to ensure the program's success. The
Food Bank will also collaborate with the local Veterans of Foreign War, the American Legion, the El
Dorado County Veteran's Association, and the El Dorado Community Foundation to assure
accountability and success.
Program: Homebound Delivery
On a monthly basis Food Bank staff and volunteers deliver
groceries to El Dorado County residents that are medically
homebound and unable to get to a regular distribution site. These
residents are primarily senior citizens and often fall through the
cracks with no caregivers or any other type of assistance.
Program Successes:
Over the last year, the Homebound Program has doubled in size.
The Food Bank is currently delivering food to homebound in
multiple communities throughout El Dorado County. The Food
Bank has branched out to severely rural areas where residents
have very little access to assistance. While distributing food to
these homebound recipients it also gives staff and/ or volunteers an opportunity to talk and fellowship,
sometimes these recipients are so lonely from their circumstances that these visits give them someone
to talk to, an important part of this outreach.
Visuals:
 Volunteers from Target assisting in the creation of our 2,400 bags we distribute each month
 Youth hosted a haunted house and asked for food or monetary donations as admission
2015 BIG Day of Giving
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Gender Health Center
https://bigdayofgiving.org/#npo/gender-health-center
Contact: Heather Woodford, Social Work Counselor
hwoodford@gmail.com (916) 402-2752
Mission Statement
To provide education, advocacy, mental health and other health services, to
underserved and marginalized populations as an act of social justice with a
specialization in gender and sexual identities.
Program: Mental Health Services
Counseling appointments are offered on a sliding-fee scale basis.
Counselors have expert knowledge in transgender and queer
identities and experiences. GHC provides affordable and accessible
counseling services for everyone. While the organization specializes
in gender and sexual identities, 28% of clients identify as
heterosexual and cisgender (non-transgender). GHC serves
approximately 250-300 people each week. In 2013, 15% of clients
drove over 40 miles to access services, both rural and urban areas.
Seventy-six percent of clients are from urban and rural areas of
Sacramento. No one is ever turned away for inability to pay.
Seventy-three percent of clients pay $10 or less per session.
Counseling services are offered in English and Spanish to
individuals, children, couples and families. In 2013, GHC held over
5,000 counseling appointments.
Our counseling services focus on client-based narrative therapy which utilizes the power of people’s
personal stories. Clients are encouraged, through a respectful and cooperative relationship, to address
the issues in their lives that exist amidst social, political, and cultural storylines.
Program Successes:
 Help over 1500 clients through our Counseling program since
we opened
 Received a grant from Sierra Health Foundation in 2015 to
provide respite services for community members in a mental
health crisis to reduce rates of suicidality
 Have seen and continue to see an increase in self-advocacy and
empowerment in our clients. Helping them to engage in
problem-solving and participate in their own case-management
which results in better outcomes.
Visuals:
 A couple smiles for a photo
 Staff helps enroll the community in healthcare coverage
2015 BIG Day of Giving
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Gold Country Wildlife Rescue
https://bigdayofgiving.org/#npo/gold-country-wildlife-rescue
Contact: Sallysue Stein, Board President
sssarcastic@goldcountrywildliferescue.org (530) 269-1450
Mission Statement
To protect, preserve and rehabilitate Placer County's diverse wildlife while promoting
human awareness toward wildlife and the ecosystems we share. Our ultimate goal is
to successfully release orphaned and injured wildlife back into their natural habitats.
Program: Wildlife Education
Not only is Gold Country Wildlife Rescue dedicated to the
rehabilitation of injured and orphaned wildlife, we are also
committed to educating the public about wildlife ecology, biology
and conservation. Our wildlife educators can visit your school or
community group. Custom designed programs are available to
meet the needs and interests of your group. Presentations can
include live raptors (birds of prey), corvids (songbirds), or
reptiles. Our wildlife ambassadors serve as invaluable tools in
conveying the importance of wildlife conservation and how to
live in harmony with our wild neighbors. These magnificent
animals are powerful and effective teachers who leave a lasting
impression on those who meet them.
Program Successes:
Audiences who attend GCWR Wildlife Education presentations:
 Learn how to safely and ethically live in harmony with wildlife.
 Become involved in wildlife conservation efforts and
projects.
 Become aware of the proper steps to take if they should
find an injured or orphaned wild animal.
 Involve local schools in promoting wildlife education.
 Receive educational literature related to assisting and
supporting local wildlife.
Visuals:
 Volunteers give a rescued bird medication
 Volunteers remove a fishhook from a dusk
2015 BIG Day of Giving
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Iu-Mien Community Services
https://bigdayofgiving.org/#npo/iu-mien-community-services
Contact: Susun Saephanh, Youth Specialist
ssaephanh@unitediumien.org (916) 383-3083
Mission Statement
Our mission is to support and develop healthy Iu-Mien families and communities through culturally
responsive programs and services.
Program: S.A.E. Mien Youth Club
S.A.E. Mien is a safe and fun environment for youth to
socialize and practice interpersonal skills in community
involvement. The program provides opportunities to
increase knowledge about the Iu-Mien culture and
their community, identify healthy and unhealthy signs
of mental and physical health issues, and develop
leadership and social skills. These lessons are learned
through interactive activities where they demonstrate
skills like public speaking, group work, working under
pressure, etc. Some activities we have utilized have
included open discussions on life concerns (school, family, friends, etc.), demonstration on self-defense
techniques, preparing healthy meals, and a mock challenge of popular TV show "Project Runway".
Program Successes:
Youth participation has shown improvement since the start of the program in 2013. The regular
meetings allow students to bond with each other and recognize the community resources that are
available in their area. We've achieved in youth engagement and acquired their involvement with the
community. A few examples below:




Three of the regular youth attendees attend our
weekly Mien class held on Mondays and
Tuesdays. One of the three is a non-Mien youth.
One of our youth, a high school senior
rehearsed his mock interview with his peers at a
real interview and landed a job before he
started college at UC Davis.
10 of the youth took part in helping our college
student volunteers in organizing games for IMSC
16 fundraising events.
One youth co-lead a Mien language workshop
with our Mien language instructor for 70 middle
and high school students at IMSC 16.
Visuals:
 The S.A.E. Mien Youth Club
 lu-Mien performers during the 2013 Annual Banquet
2015 BIG Day of Giving
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La Familia Counseling Center
https://bigdayofgiving.org/#npo/la-familia-counseling-center-inc
Contact: Suzie Vang, vsuzie@lafcc.org (916) 452-3601
Mission Statement
To improve the quality of life for at-risk youth and families
of diverse backgrounds by offering multi-cultural
counseling, support and outreach services and programs to
help families to overcome adversity, to become
empowered and to succeed in their lives.
Program: Birth and Beyond
The Birth and Beyond Program is funded by the First Five
Commission, monitored by the Child Abuse Prevention
Council (CAPC) and provides services to families with
children 0-5. Home Visitation, Effective Parenting classes,
Crisis Intervention support, transportation, parent support
groups/activities, school readiness, car seat safety training
and other support services through a Family Resource Center are provided to families to enhance their
parenting skills and help them develop positive parent-child relationships. Birth & Beyond program
annually served 3530 through the Family Resource Center (FRC), 170 through the Parenting classes
and 468 children through home visitation. The FRC and Parenting classes’ service area is Sacramento
County, Home Visitation program serves South Sacramento, Galt and Downtown.
Program Successes:
A mom receiving Home Visitation services had multiple
issues within her family, which made it difficult to focus on
the NPP curriculum. Mom was short on rent, her husband
was incarcerated. The Home Visitor (HV) assisted and
referred her to 3 Rent Assistance Programs, provided
emotional support and referred her to legal resources. The
HV noticed that the mother’s 2 year old son scored low in
speech on the Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ). The HV
made a referral to Alta Regional Services for an evaluation
and he is now receiving speech therapy. The HV also
worked with the Intervention Specialist to complete a
referral for Infant Mental Health services and is being seen
by a UCD clinician to address behavior concerns. HV also,
referred mom to the LFCC Health Navigator Program to
assist her to manage her diabetes.
Visuals:
 Our mission is to improve the quality of life for at-risk youth and families of diverse backgrounds
 There are many health and safety resources you and your family can access when you need it
most.
2015 BIG Day of Giving
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Latino Leadership Council
https://bigdayofgiving.org/#npo/latino-leadership-council
Contact: Carlos Quiroz, Board Chair
carlos@latinoleadershipcouncil.org (530) 333-3283
Mission Statement
The mission of the Latino Leadership Council is to advance the wellness and
leadership capacity of Latino populations.
Program: Access to Health and Wellness
First and second generation Latinos in the US face many
challenges and access barriers when seeking medical or
mental health services. Many Latino families are faced with
language barriers, transportation challenges, social and
cultural stigmas and providers who are unfamiliar with or
dismissive of the impact that culture has on the physical and
mental health of Latinos.
We develop and manage a network of promotores to work
in the community and help families overcome these
challenges. Promotores perform in-home visits; make
referrals to health providers; coordinate community-based health screenings; organize wellness classes
and programs; and advocate for Latino families who need additional or more advanced medical services.
More importantly, promotores help families find a medical home so that they experience improved
health and decreased emergency medical treatment resulting from delayed access.
Promotores are extremely effective, helping individuals be more
involved in their healthcare decisions, comply with their physician’s
orders and follow-up care, and experience better health outcomes.
Program Successes:
Of the nearly 1,000 adults receiving community health screenings in
the last three years, we have provided individual / family support to
more than 400 families and connected them to a primary care
provider and provided nutrition consults in the home. Of these,
more than half have reported weight loss, decreased stress,
improved glucose levels, more energy, reduced ER reliance and
overall improved outlook.
Visuals:
 Promotora Maria Cordova and Pastor Dan Beltran are among the LLC folks working every day
with Latino families in Placer County.
 At a health fair, a family receives an eye exam
2015 BIG Day of Giving
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Placer Land Trust
https://bigdayofgiving.org/#npo/placer-land-trust
Contact: Kara Walker, Community Relations Manager
Kara.walker@placerlandtrust.org (530) 887-9222
Mission Statement
Placer Land Trust works with willing landowners and conservation partners to permanently
protect Placer County's natural and agricultural lands for future generations.
Program: Land Protection
Placer Land Trust believes that quality of life in Placer County
deeply correlates with the presence of natural open spaces and
agricultural lands. We treasure the local food, natural
playgrounds, and scenic vistas that we all enjoy and find
ourselves on. Placer Land Trust leads the region in the
permanent protection of Placer County’s natural wonders and
quality of life. We envision a future in which natural landscapes
are integral parts of our thriving communities. Protecting these
lands creates and maintains a healthy environment, economy
and quality of life for our community now and forever.
We protect land using two primary tools: conservation
easements or fee title purchase. A landowner can decide if they wish to retain a property and retire the
development rights with a conservation easement, or they may choose to sell the property outright and
Placer Land trust may choose to purchase it.
Program Successes:
Oest Ranch Cold Springs Preserve – In 2012 Placer Land Trust
protected158 acres of the Oest family ranch. The preserve is
located on the North Fork American River canyon rim and
contains mixed oak conifer woodlands that will be used for
seasonal livestock grazing, along with a half-mile riparian
corridor.
Aeolia Preserve – Protected in 2013, the 7.5-acre Aeolia Preserve
protects some of the last remaining open space and habitat
between the American River Canyon and the residential Aeolia
Heights neighborhood of Auburn. The land contains portions of
historic olive orchards and a neighborhood trail.
Big Bend North Fork Preserve – Placer Land Trust’s acquisition of the 417-acre Big Bend North Fork
Preserve in 2014 permanently protects a stretch of the North Fork American River above Lake
Clementine and ensures the public’s access to the river. Our stewardship of the property will ensure that
no development occurs, keeping the river wild, scenic, and publicly accessible forever.
Visuals:
 A beautiful rainbow over Miners Ravine Preserve
 Aeolia Preserve photo taken by Keither Sutter
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Runnin’ for Rhett
https://bigdayofgiving.org/#npo/runnin-for-rhett
Contact: Larisa Perryman, Director of Development
larisa@runninforrhett.org (916) 335-6850
Mission Statement
Inspire young people so they have a chance of a better future.
Program: Runnin’ for Rhett Youth Fitness Program
Obesity is an issue requiring innovative actions and dedicated organizations and individuals to resolve.
The obesity epidemic is a complex issue reflecting changes to our social, economic, and built
environments over decades. Approximately, one in
every nine California children, one in three teens,
and over half of adults are already overweight or
obese. This epidemic affects everyone, although
rates are highest among Californians from lowerincome households and those with disabilities.
Between 40-80 percent of overweight children will
become overweight adults. As a direct result of the
obesity epidemic, children’s doctors are seeing a
significant rise in chronic illness in children.
R4R's Youth Fitness Program is in alignment with the vision of the California Obesity Plan: "Californians
will understand the importance of physical activity and healthy eating, and they will make healthier
choices based on their understanding." We hope to expand the YFP to even more schools gaining
greater outreach to those populations at highest risk for obesity and
inactivity in the four-county region we currently serve, hoping to expand
to an even larger population catchment. Not only is childhood obesity an
issue that needs to be addressed immediately, but physical inactivity is a
serious problem. Health-risk behaviors such as substance use, violence,
and physical inactivity are consistently linked to academic failure and
often affect students’ attendance, grades, test scores, and ability to pay
attention. Researchers have found health is critical to academic success.
By ingraining lifelong habits in youth at an early age of staying physically
active and eating nutritiously dense food through training and
education, the R4R YFP provides the underprivileged, vulnerable, at-risk
youth a chance to garner academic success and lead long and healthy
lives.
Program Successes:
We have funded over $279,000 to 180 Sacramento region schools, allowing 9,662 of our youth to
complete a 5-week after school youth fitness and nutritional program.
The programs are led by school representatives and served by Runnin' for Rhett volunteers each week.
Visuals:
 Youth begin a Runnin’ for Rhett marathon
 Runners celebrate reaching their 50th mile
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Sacramento Covered
https://bigdayofgiving.org/#npo/sacramento-covered
Contact: Rose Hanks, Grant and Fund Development Coordinator
rose@sacramentocovered.org (916) 414-8342
Mission Statement
Sacramento Covered is dedicated to connecting uninsured
families and children to health and nutrition resources with
culturally-competent and in-language assistance for the
region’s most vulnerable populations. Our mission is to
create a community that has complete and continuous
access to health services and other wellness resources,
regardless of income, language or any other barriers to care.
Program: Health Access and Navigation
For the last 15 years, Sacramento Covered has been focused
on increasing rates of health insurance among our region’s most vulnerable populations, and our Health
Access team is at the heart of our work to connect every resident to care and coverage. This team of
health access specialists and health navigators represents the beautiful diversity of our region as they
provide in-person assistance to children, families and individuals across five counties, 15 neighborhoods
and in 13 different languages. As trusted community health advocates, they ensure that residents
understand their health care options, get affordable health and dental coverage, and understand how to
access health, nutrition and other services. In 2013, Sacramento Covered provided a total of 4,350
health coverage and access services to local residents across the region- a figure we expect to only grow
in the coming years.
Program Successes:
Overall, SC provided 5,796 total health access services in
2013, including in-person health coverage enrollment
assistance, renewal/redetermination assistance, CalFresh
and CalWORKs enrollment assistance, retention services as
well as navigation services. In Medi-Cal services alone, SC
enrolled 2,012 individuals into the programs and provided
renewal/retention assistance to an additional 519 clients. SC
has also been very successful in connecting our traditional
target population to health coverage and services since being
founded in 1998. Over the course of sixteen years, the
program has served more than 50,000 children with health
and nutrition coverage enrollment. In our FY 2012-13 alone,
SC was able to assist 993 children under the age of 5,
including pregnant mothers.
Visuals:
 A dentist checks a child’s teeth while her mother watches
 Helping families sign up for health coverage on Healthy Kids Day 2013
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Sacramento Splash
https://bigdayofgiving.org/#npo/sacramento-splash
Contact: Emily Butler, Executive Director
emily@sacsplash.org (916) 508-7607
Mission Statement
Helping children understand and value their natural world
through scientific investigation and outdoor exploration.
Program: Splash Elementary Program: Investigating Vernal Pools
The Investigating Vernal Pools program integrates a 13-lesson,
standards-based science curriculum with a field trip to the
vernal pools at Mather Field. There students get to meet the
fascinating plants and animals they’ve been studying in their
classroom.
Extensive classroom preparation is the key difference between
Splash field trips and traditional field trips because the students
arrive already knowing a lot about the subject at hand. This
knowledge empowers the students and results in an exciting,
interactive field trip in which information is shared among the
students and Splash field guides.
To date, more than 30,000 local fourth- and fifth-graders have experienced our Investigating Vernal
Pools program and we greet another 80+ classes every year. These students come from every part of
Sacramento County and West Sacramento and are a perfect cross-section of our region’s diverse
population. For many of them, Splash is their first introduction to a world beyond the pavement.
Program Successes:
 The program has a 3-year waiting list of teachers
eager to enhance their students’ education with this
hands-on, place-based program.
 In a recent survey, 90% of teachers reported that
their students would not have had the opportunity to
explore the outdoors without Splash.
 In a recent survey, 100% of teachers said that their
students were more environmentally conscious after
participating in the program.
 Results of an assessment administered before and
after the 13-week program indicate a 40% increase in
students' understanding of science concepts and
water pollution prevention.
Visuals:
 A girl peers through a microscope
 A group of children explore vernal pools
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Sierra College Foundation
https://bigdayofgiving.org/#npo/sierra-college-foundation
Contact: Sonbol Alaibadi, CEO/Executive Director
foundation@sierracollege.edu (916) 660-7020
Mission Statement
The Sierra College Foundation supports students by funding their pursuit of a higher education, and
providing the resources to help guide them toward success.
Program: Former Foster Youth Care Pack Program
The Sierra College Foundation is seeking funding to
purchase care packs for former foster youth attending
Sierra College. The care packs include basic items needed
to help these students get on their feet and give them a
good start to a successful educational career. In 2007, a
group of staff and faculty at Sierra College decided to take
action on the growing lack of resources for former foster
youth (FFY). They came together and formed the College Transition Support Team (CTST), which is a
partnership between community foster youth services professionals and Sierra College Faculty and Staff.
CTST addresses the needs, concerns and issues that affect the success and retention of FFY students
attending Sierra College. In the midst of compiling educational resources for foster youth, the College
Support Team found a major gap in the services provided to these students. That missing piece was how
to address the financial need that exists to purchase basic hygiene products and food. It became
apparent that these students needed some form of a care pack to get them started.
Program Successes:
Since the inception of this program, the retention rate
has increased from 40% to 81% from the fall to spring
semester. Their grades also improve because they are
able to concentrate on their studies. And perhaps
most importantly: it lets the students know that
someone believes in them and cares enough to invest
in their success!
“Thank you for your help! I have been worried and
wondered how I would ever make it through college
without any help. Now with your generosity and the
kindness of your heart, my dream of going to College is a reality,” said Rachel, a former foster youth
attending Sierra College.
Visuals:
 Students smile on campus
 International students smile for the camera
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Sojourner Truth Multicultural Art Museum
https://bigdayofgiving.org/#npo/sojourner-truth-multicultural-art-museum
Contact: Shonna McDaniels, CEO/Executive Director
sojomuseum@gmail.com (916) 320-9573
Mission Statement
To foster personal and civic well-being in our community through fine, applied,
and performing arts
Program: Outreach For The Arts and Education Program
Museum tours, classroom talks, and workshops are linked with
the California Department of Education's K-12 Curriculum and
Standards in Social Studies, English and Language Arts, Art
History, World Languages, and other subjects. Offerings include:
 Interpretative tours of exhibitions
 Historical reenactments
 Special educational and cultural programs for the K-12
community
 Workshops
 Seminars
 Community Festivals and Events
 Partnerships and collaboration with schools and organizations that serve the K-12 community
The Collections staff is responsible for collecting and maintaining a rich collection of artifacts, objects
and fine art; planning traveling exhibitions; maintaining our permanent exhibition, Sister Sojourner; and,
conceptualizing and creating new exhibitions.
Through our outreach efforts, we strive to engage people of all ages, genders and cultures to engage
and enjoy art.
Program Successes:
The Sojourner Truth Multicultural Art Museum…
 Provides educational opportunities to thousands of
children throughout the region
 Presents over 50 education and public events
annually
 Serves over a one hundred thousand people per year
through exhibitions, programs, websites, partnerships
and events such as the Sacramento Banana Festival
and Sacramento Museum Day
The ultimate change from this program will be the desire for
all people who have visited the museum to utilize creativity,
culture and history as an essential optimum to human
expression and development.
Visuals:
 Youth creates art in our Art Education and Community Outreach program
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Stanford Settlement Neighborhood Center
https://bigdayofgiving.org/#npo/stanford-settlement-neighborhood-center
Contact: Julie Rhoten, Group Work Coordinator
julie@stanfordsettlement.org (916) 927-1303
Mission Statement
Stanford Settlement Neighborhood Center helps build healthy communities
through individual, family, and neighborhood services.
Program: Teen Center
The Teen Center is a voluntary delinquency prevention
program that provides support and encouragement for
teens to stay in school, set and strive towards goals, and
build healthy relationships with peers, parents, school, and
the community. Youth in the 7th through 12th grades may
participate.
The drop-in program is open four days per week, after
school and into the evening. Socialization groups meet
weekly to promote relationship skills and positive selfesteem through the group process. Teens help each other
solve problems with the help of their group worker. Teen
Center members can take advantage of assistance in the form of home visits, school visits, opportunities
for volunteer work and employment, assistance with re-entry into school, and other advocacy.
Program Successes:
In 2009, a new, larger facility was built for the Teen Center
program, allowing ultimately more youth to be served. In
the past two years, social work staff have done outreach to
the local junior high and high schools, resulting in a "smaller
world" for those youth that we serve. Our small groups
continue to have a huge impact on individual teen’s social
skills and resiliency. In 2009, a new, larger facility was built
for the Teen Center program, allowing ultimately more
youth to be served. In the past two years, social work staff
have done outreach to the local junior high and high
schools, resulting in a "smaller world" for those youth that
we serve. Our small groups continue to have a huge impact
on individual teen’s social skills and resiliency.
Visuals:
 Teens take a photo in the Teen Center
 Our Emergency Assistance program is designed to help area residents who have an immediate
need or crisis
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The Gathering Inn
https://bigdayofgiving.org/#npo/the-gathering-inn
Contact: Suzi deFosset, CEO/Executive Director
suzi@thegatheringinn.com (916) 791-9355
Mission Statement
To provide physical, mental and spiritual restoration for homeless women, men and children in south
Placer County.
Program: Nomadic Shelter
At the intake site in Roseville, guests have access to showers,
storage bins, clean clothes and a place to relax. With the aid
of our case management team, individuals can also receive
healthcare, housing and employment opportunities.
Each evening guests are picked up in Auburn and
transported with those at the Roseville site to one of the
many hosting churches in south Placer County. These
churches commit the use of their facilities on designated
evenings to provide a safe and secure place for up to 60
homeless individuals or families to have dinner, enjoy
hospitality, share fellowship, and sleep inside where they are
protected and warm.
Program Successes:
With a strong partnership from our hosting churches each year, The Gathering Inn provides 20,264 bed
nights and warm meals to a total of 403 women, children and men each year. On average, every day
someone new to homelessness seeks assistance at The Gathering Inn. Having the basic needs of life
provided allows them to focus on a solution to what caused
their homelessness, find financial resources, and access
medical and mental health care needed for them to become
stable.
The number of churches supporting the program has grown
annually. Some have said it’s a privilege to partner with The
Gathering Inn to meet its mission. Having a safe place to sleep
helps some guests control their addictions, keeps them off the
street, reduces the number of homeless persons in area
emergency rooms, and reduces the number of police calls
throughout the area. The program points them toward a
solution.
Visuals:
 503 Placer county residents sought assistance in the last fiscal year, and 33% were over the age
of 50
 31% of our guests are adult females (up from 28% from last year)
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Training Towards Self Reliance
https://bigdayofgiving.org/#npo/training-towards-self-reliance
Contact: Amanda Kurtz, CASS Instructor
a_kurtz@sbcglobal.net (916) 583-1803
Mission Statement
It is the mission of TTSR to empower the persons we support to live self-reliant,
independent and fulfilling lives.
Program: Community Activity Support Services (CASS)
Our Community Activity Support Services (CASS) is a
day program designed to assist individuals with
developmental disabilities to access the community as
well as educate them on core academics and skill
building that can be applied in life and social
situations. Classes are held Monday through Friday
and attendance can vary from part time or full time
based upon an individual's wants and need. The CASS
day program focuses on academics as well as social/ recreational classes. CASS is partnered with the
Sacramento Public Library for our literacy curriculum. All classes incorporate life skills training, exploring
their creativity, and problem solving strategies. Classes include, but are not limited to: math, cooking,
physical fitness, relationships, history, theater, and art. Some classes provide safe community access
within the Sacramento areas.
Program Successes:
Success at CASS is measured by watching the growth
of our consumers in various areas. We have had
consumers come to our program without knowing
how to read. They worked hard on their goals and
have gone on to attend the local junior college. We
have other consumers who did not speak any English
when they began our program. One of them was
recently able to pass his citizenship test without any
accommodations. Some of our consumers want to
build their current skills in reading and math so that
they can go out and join the job force.
Visuals:
 An individual learning to water the garden
 Exploring nature with friends in the program
2015 BIG Day of Giving
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Yolo Basin Foundation
https://bigdayofgiving.org/#npo/yolo-basin-foundation
Contact: Shoshana Zeldner, Fund Development Coordinator
shoshana@yolobasin.org (530) 757-4842
Mission Statement
Dedicated to the appreciation and stewardship of wetlands
and wildlife through education and innovative partnerships.
Program: Bat Talks and Walks
Bat Talks and Walks are Yolo Basin Foundation’s most popular
outreach activity after the Discover the Flyway program.
Attendees learn about and view live bats up close. Following a
45 minute indoor presentation on bat natural history, the
group carpools out to the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area to watch
one of the largest colonies of Mexican free-tailed bats in
California as it emerges in large ribbons to hunt insects at
sunset.
To get to the bat viewing site, participants travel through leased rice farming fields to an area not open
to the public. The whole experience takes about 3 hours. This is a family friendly event with a small
amount of walking. Those in wheelchairs or unable to walk view the bats by car.
This program is extremely popular and sells out early. Tickets must be reserved in advance. Private tours
for larger groups are available and can be arranged with our staff.
Program Successes:
Yolo Basin Foundation is the only organization in the region
to offer an educational bat viewing field trip. Bat Talks and
Walks provide a rare and meaningful opportunity to learn
about and view live bats. This program helps dispel and
confront many misconceptions or fears that people have
about bats, while informing participants about how bats
support our ecosystem. Bat Talks and Walks are extremely
popular and sell out early each year. Over 2,000 people
participate in the program over the summer.
Visuals:
 A crowd takes photos during Bat Talks and Walks
 Youth discovering environmental science during Discover the Flyway
2015 BIG Day of Giving
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Yolo Farm to Fork
https://bigdayofgiving.org/#npo/yolo-farm-to-fork
Contact: Beth Harrison, CEO/Executive Director
info@yolofarmtofork.org (530) 219-5859
Mission Statement
Our mission is to educate the public, especially our children,
about the value of a farm-to-table community food system
that also teaches us to value the environment.
Program: Davis Farm to School
Davis Farm to School was founded in 2000. We initiate and
sustain edible school gardens and support the Davis Joint
Unified School District in their goals to provide farm- and
garden-based education, increase farm fresh foods in school
meals, and reduce solid waste through recycling and
composting programs.
The mission of Davis Farm to School is to create an educational and cultural environment in our schools
that connects food choices with personal health, community, farms, and the land. We have strongly
impacted Davis school children since 2000 by:
 maintaining edible gardens at 15 school sites serving over 5,000 students;
 initiating farm visits to teach children where their food comes from;
 helping student nutrition services provide more fresh, local produce for school meals;
 offering a competitive matching garden grant program to interested school sites in Davis and
Yolo County;
 and supporting student-led recycling and composting programs, helping save the District money
and protect the environment.
Program Successes:
Some measurements of success include:
 Increased amounts of kids participating in (and
food produced in) school gardens;
 Increased amounts of local, fresh produce used
in school meals;
 2nd graders visit local farms and gain a deeper
understanding of the link between the
environment, farming and where their food
comes from by meeting farmers, participating
in garden and farm activities and tasting farmfresh snacks;
 The Davis RISE recycling program continues to
save the District funds.
Visuals:
 Kids enjoying farm garden-fresh foods in their school meal
 One of our edible school gardens in the Davis Join Unified School District
2015 BIG Day of Giving
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Yolo Food Bank
https://bigdayofgiving.org/#npo/yolo-food-bank
Contact: Britta Lindstrom, Marketing & Communications Coordinator
info@yolofoodbank.org (530) 668-0690
Mission Statement
The mission of Yolo Food Bank (YFB) is to alleviate hunger and malnutrition in Yolo County.
Program: Kids Farmers Market Program
Description The Kids Farmers Market Program increases food
security and improves nutrition among low-income children
and their families by providing a weekly amount of fresh
produce, nutrition related activities and nutrition education
materials to children at several schools throughout Yolo
County for 30 weeks. The Food Bank collaborates with
schools where 70% or more students qualify for free and
reduced price meals by eligibility status. This program began
in school year 2011-2012 as a pilot program with one school
then replicated in 2012-2013 at 3 schools. For the 2013-2014
school year, this program will serve at least 1,518 low-income
children each week for 30 weeks at 5 schools in Yolo County.
Program Successes:
Elementary school kids get produce to take home, get introduced to new foods, learn nutrition
information and get to shop with play money.
Program: Emergency Food Assistance Program (EFAP)
Emergency Food Assistance Program (EFAP), which is
managed by Yolo Food Bank for Yolo County, is a USDA
commodity food distribution program. Distributions are
monthly to families who self-certify they are in need
and meet federal poverty guidelines. Twenty-two
distribution sites, and 14 food pantries and meal
programs receive food.
Program Successes:
Food insecure residents of Yolo County for whom food
is unavailable and/or inaccessible have received food assistance to alleviate their need.
Visuals:
 Children enjoying the Kids Farmers Market Program
 Providing families with fresh produce