Initiatives have been funded, often for three years, to focus concerted effort upon a community identified issue or problem. During times of economic downturn, new initiatives are not encouraged.
Share the Care
In response to a growing set of needs from a significantly increasing population of older citizens, Gasser Foundation supports another volunteer based initiative, Share the Care. Under the auspices of Molly’s Angels, another Gasser grantee, in addition to the role of consumer watchdog and advocacy, Share the Care serves more than 300 people in a variety of ways:
- Emergency response
- Delivery of food from the food bank to home bound seniors
- Help with their animals
- Reading aloud to those with vision problems
- Celebrating birthdays
- Taking them to the bank, to the doctor, to the grocery store
- Establishing a donation pool for special needs through the online Gofundme
- Having a garage sale to benefit the elderly
- Providing dental care, hearing aids and other assignee devices
- Providing medical supplies and helping with them
- Creating a support group in Calistoga for elderly issues
Mental Health Initiative
In 2005, the Gasser Foundation provided a leadership role in bringing together the mental health programs in Napa County in an effort to develop a coordinated system of care effort on behalf of our residents suffering mental disabilities. The County of Napa and several non-profit organizations, including Aldea, Progress Foundation, and Family Services of Napa Valley joined the initiative. The Foundation developed a steering committee and provided a three-year grant of $300,000 to develop the initiative.
American Canyon Family Resource Center
In 2006 the Gasser Foundation was the lead funder in the establishment of a three-year initiative that began a multi-service, one-stop center for families in the growing community of American Canyon. The amount of the grant for the three-year initiative was $300,000.
Foster Care Initiative
The Gasser Foundation, based on the findings of a community-wide focus group, established a three-year initiative to address the needs of youth emerging from the foster care system. The collaborative consisted of Napa County Health and Human Services, Aldea, Progress Foundation, Napa County Probation Department, Napa County Schools, and law-enforcement. One of the outcomes of the initiative was the establishment of VOICES. The amount of the grant for the three-year initiative was $300,000.
The Senior Initiative
In 2007, the Gasser Foundation supported the establishment of a community-wide collaboration of organizations and agencies concerned with the development of a system of services to better meet the needs of our vulnerable senior populations. Included in the initiative were representatives from Family Service of Napa Valley, Area Agency on Aging, Hospice Adult Day Services, In-Home Supportive Services, the Ombudsman Program, Legal Aid, and the Commission on Aging. The amount of the grant for the three-year initiative was $ 255,000.
Sustainable Napa County
In 2007, the Gasser Foundation started an initiative to help local nonprofits conserve energy and water so that nonprofit financial resources could be directed to clients and services rather than utility bills. Because of its potential benefit to the community, this effort quickly developed into Sustainable Napa County (SNC), a private nonprofit dedicated to economic vitality, environmental health, and community engagement. Current efforts include finding ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs), increasing energy efficiency and the use of locally generated renewable energy, and enriching our county’s competitive economic advantage.
Thanks to ongoing support from the Gasser Foundation, as well as other community partners, SNC now works with local businesses and governments, non-profits, and individuals. SNC translates broader policies and ideas into those that are relevant to—and can be scaled to work in—the Napa County community. It then serves as an advocate: bringing together stakeholders, encouraging local involvement, and putting strategies and actions into the hands of community members and leaders.