archived press releases

Impact100 members gathered at the Historic Maysonnave House on November 15 for an Introduction to Social Media Workshop led by member Ligeia Polidora who has 25+ years of experience in Public Relations and Marketing. The sold-out group was treated to an introduction to the basics of Facebook and Instagram. While most members were familiar with Facebook, Ligeia included important lessons on privacy settings, tagging, hashtags, and some of the more nuanced options on that platform. The discussion of Instagram was captivating to the attendees as only a handful had experience with that app. Attendees were polled as to their interest in follow-up workshops. Based on their enthusiasm, stay tuned for a follow-up lesson that will include Twitter in 2019!

Guest Chris Villalovoz, Sarah Carroll, guest Clare Yeakel and Melissa Parker

Impact100 members and their guests were dazzled by the welcome extended to them on November 7 by The Panel owners Dar and Charlie Rhodes and their daughter Zoë, manager of the wine, beer and espresso lounge.

Lisa Gonsier, Kim Schuh and Patricia Akay

Conversation was easy and intimate as guests mingled throughout the charming cottage, then everyone gathered to hear Diana Rhoten of the Sebastiani Theatre Foundation share touching stories and successful outcomes which resulted from the $20,000 2018 Community Grant her organization received to fund 83 scholarships for Latino youth of low-income families to attend Sebastiani’s after-school and summer performing arts camps.

Impact100 Sonoma is pleased to announce five new participants in the NextGen Program, designed to inspire and empower young women to become actively involved in serving our Sonoma Valley community. The new members, pictured above from L to R, are Dayane Mendoza Solis, Sarah Gaschler, Allison Wiley-Weekes, Vianette Contreras and Betzy Chavez.

The NextGen Program provides the next generation of women an opportunity to become full Impact100 members and participate in community nonprofit engagement and the grant-making process. Participants are encouraged to join a grants committee and participate in leadership development workshops, professional networking, and other opportunities offered by the two-year program. Donations from our members and a grant from the Vera C Hendry Foundation make the program possible.

Click here to learn more about the NextGen Program. Donations in any amount are welcomed online or by mail.

The North Bay Business Journal is awarding its 2018 Nonprofit Leadership Award to Impact100 Sonoma. Each year the Journal selects individual leaders as well as a nonprofit organization to receive the honor. The award presentation and a luncheon will be held Thursday, October 25, at the Hyatt Regency in Santa Rosa.

Impact100 Sonoma is a women’s collective grant-making organization. Since its founding in 2009, Impact100 has granted $2,062,000 to nonprofits serving Sonoma Valley, making it one of the valley’s largest funders. The concept of Impact100 is simple: one woman + $1,000 = one vote. One hundred percent of every membership donation is used to fund grants each year. Membership scholarship programs are available for interested women with financial need.

In June of each year, Impact100 awards one $100,000 Impact Grant along with $10,000 Impact Finalist Grants; and approximately eight Community Grants from $5,000 – $20,000. In 2019 a one-time 10^th Anniversary Grant of $50,000 will be awarded to celebrate the organization’s milestone.

The diversity of grants Impact100 Sonoma has awarded over ten years touches every age and aspect of life. Service grants have supported those who are experiencing homelessness; disabilities; bullying, abuse and harassment; grief; financial, food and housing crisis; lack of job and language skills; pre-school to college financial and education needs; family and personal issues. Program grants have supported projects as diverse as gang prevention; health and environmental issues; wildlife and land protection; animal companions, adoptions and neutering; arts, science and literacy education; and end of life care.

A complete list of Impact100 Sonoma grant recipients can be found at:

https://impact100sonoma.wildapricot.org/Grant-Recipients

Impact100 Sonoma current and former presidents:                                         

Impact100 Sonoma presidents past and present celebrate the kick-off of the organization’s tenth anniversary. From left: Gera Vaz, Lynne Lancaster, Sydney Randazzo, Celia Canfield, founders Christine Dohrmann and Annette Lamont, Wendy Hoffman and Judith Walsh.

It took fewer than 36 hours to fill every spot for the members-only Cultural Understanding gathering on July 12 at the home of Cam McKinley. Betzy Chavez, Impact100 member and Director of School Programs and Education at La Luz Center, led a conversation and participatory exercises on topics that included religion, politics, judgments, cultural assumptions, socio-economics, empathy and engagement.

Betzy, born in Mexico and raised in Sonoma County, with a Masters Degree in Counseling and years of working locally, has a comprehensive understanding of the pulse of our Latino neighbors. She, along with member Vianette Contreras, generously offered their perspectives on the dynamics at play in Sonoma Valley. They, and everyone present, shared and expressed the vision of Impact100 Sonoma – a thriving Sonoma Valley (for all!). 

Member Betzy Chavez sharing her professional and personal experiences as a Latina raised and working in Sonoma Valley

Impact100 Administrative Assistant Chelsea Gregory, Mary Marcussen, Lynne Lancaster, Betsy Chavez, Vianette Contreras, Sarah Carroll

Under the welcoming shade of a weeping willow and surrounded by vineyards and flower beds, members honored Impact100 Sonoma founders Annette Lamont and Christine Dohrmann for their vision and tenacity in forming our organization that – ten years later – has become one of Sonoma Valley’s largest funders. In addition, every past President of Impact100 was able to attend (except for BJ Bischoff who was out of town) and be acknowledged for her contributions to growing and shaping the organization.

Impact100 presidents past and present: Gera Vaz, Lynne Lancaster, Sydney Randazzo, Celia Canfield, founders Christine Dohrmann and Annette Lamont, Wendy Hoffman, Judith Walsh

Penny D’Allaird once again hosted this favorite summertime event and, this year, as the kick-off celebration of “Ten Years of Impact”, there were a few surprises – live piano music provided by Impact member Paula Szoka, a gorgeously decorated 10th Anniversary cake that was cut by the founders, a special “All about Me” drawing of products and services won by guest Joei Malpass, sumptuous food prepared by member and former-professional chef Tracy Reynes, and of course wines from top local vineyards.

Claudia Sims, Skye Halberg and guest Gayle Jenkins

Ten years worth of thanks go to many people for the success of the lovely afternoon - All of the members who purchased tickets to attend and who bought raffle tickets that raised $3210 to support our growing organization’s operating expenses; host Penny D’Allaird; members Barbara Chatham, Jerica Tercero and Joanne Warren for donating the items in the drawing; Don Sebastiani & Sons and Landmark Vineyards for wine; and all of the Event Committee volunteers.

The Impact100 Sonoma NextGen Program gives the next generation of women—particularly those who may not have the financial resources—an opportunity to become Impact100 Sonoma members through two-year scholarships. If you are between the ages of 25 and 39 and are looking to further your professional career or have an interest in joining a thriving network of community-minded women in Sonoma Valley, the NextGen Program may be of interest. NextGen members serve on grant review committees, gain leadership skills and experience, and expand their professional and personal networks. We are delighted that NextGen members Angela Ryan, Sarah Carroll, and Chelsie Running serve on the Impact100 Board of Directors. For more information and to apply online, go to https://www.impact100sonoma.org/join-participate/nextgen. For questions please contact NextGen.

New board members of Impact100 Sonoma (from left to right): Sarah Carroll, Assistant Membership Chair; Dana Simpson-Stokes, Co-Community Grants Chair; and Marney Malik, Co-Treasurer.

The Board of Directors of Impact100 Sonoma recently elected three new members to its now sixteen-member board:

Sarah Carroll will serve as Assistant Membership Chair. Sarah joined Impact100 Sonoma in 2017 as a NextGen member.  With a background in travel and hospitality, she spent many years traveling through work, and she is now learning the wine industry from within the marketing team at a family-owned wine company in Sonoma. 

Marney Malik will serve as Co-Treasurer. Marney is a retired corporate executive. She was formerly the VP Administration and Controller for the Greenbriar Companies, a NYSE-traded company.  For 13 years she served as the Treasurer and was a Board member for Easter Seals Oregon.  She has experience in finance, accounting, management, resource development, policy development, program evaluation, personnel / HR matters and nonprofits.

Dana Simpson-Stokes will serve as Co-Community Grants Chair. Dana moved to Sonoma after living in three other states and three European countries. She worked in retail buying and interior design before “retiring” to raise two children. She has served as an officer for many school and community organizations, is a docent with the di Rosa Center for Contemporary Art, and serves on the board of Sonoma Plein Air.

A complete list of Impact100 Sonoma board members can be found at: https://www.impact100sonoma.org/about-us/board-of-directors/ .

Impact100 Sonoma 2018 board of directors.

Impact100 Sonoma is a collective grant-making organization started in August 2009 that brings together at least 100 women with a common purpose: to award an Impact Grant of $100,000 every year to a Sonoma Valley nonprofit organization that would otherwise not have access to that level of funding.  To date, its members have granted a total of $2,062,000.

In 2019, in celebration of its tenth Anniversary, Impact100 Sonoma will offer a one-time $50,000 10^th Anniversary Grant, in addition to the annual Impact Grant and Community Grants of up to $20,000.

The mission of Impact100 Sonoma is to empower women of Sonoma Valley to invest in a more sustainable nonprofit community through collective giving and responsible stewardship. Impact100 Sonoma invites all women who want to make a difference in Sonoma Valley to become a member. Information about joining can be found at www.impact100sonoma.org or by calling 707-939-5007.

Sonoma, CA —July 1, 2018—The Board of Directors of Impact100 Sonoma recently elected three new members to its now sixteen-member board.

Sonoma, CA —July 1, 2018—The Board of Directors of Impact100 Sonoma recently elected three new members to its now sixteen-member board.