It was wonderful to see so many of you at our Holiday Party and it felt especially wonderful to hear from our 2013 grantees on the progress and impact they have made with our grants. May I suggest that you read these 2 presentations when you are feeling blue and want to be cheered up and left thinking, “Wow, we really ARE making a difference!” What these organizations are accomplishing with our help is truly remarkable and inspiring.

1. Click here for the Hope Bangladesh Grant Report 

A highlight: In part due to the One Sky grant, Hope Bangladesh was able to reduce the cost of safe hospital deliveries. “Normal” deliveries were reduced to $13 per from $20 and c-sections were reduced to $65 from the regular $90. I’m speechless.

2. Click here for the Women’s Community Clinic Grant Report –

A Highlight: WCC decided this year to expand their service offering from women’s health only (i.e. Pap smears, birth control, etc.) to a comprehensive preventative and primary care offering for poor and homeless women in SF.  Our grant was among the donations that helped make that possible. Our own Patricia Martell has now recently joined the board at this fantastic SF resource. What a perfect example of how educating ourselves on the issues can lead to deeper, more impactful engagement. I am loving the ripple effect!

It brings me great joy  to announce the winners of our 2014 grants as well as the tremendous positive impacts of our 2013 grants!

This year we are investing over $30k in preventing the crime of Sex Trafficking and breaking that heinous cycle. If our 2014 grantees are anything like our 2013 grantees, I am sure our investment will pay off 10x!  Congratulations to these excellent organizations and to all of you for putting your money where your beliefs are.

2014 Grant Awardees

Domestic- Polaris

International- Apne Ap

Our two runners up, The  West Coast Children’s Clinic and Love 146, are also receiving smaller additional grants.

2015 Funding Focus

And second drumroll please—Our 2015 funding focus will be “Women’s Empowerment through legal rights and constitutional amendments.”  I’m so looking forward to delving into this issue and to our learning about the most impactful ways to apply effort and money.