RSFWF Press Releases

RSF Women’s Fund 

15^th Anniversary Celebration 

And Grant Awards Ceremony 

Special performance by The Mission Bay Preservationists 

RANCHO SANTA FE, CA, May 17th, 2019:  The 15th Anniversary of the Rancho Santa Fe Women’s Fund and Annual Grant Awards were elegantly celebrated on May 15th at the Del Mar Country Club to mark over $3.7 million that the members have collectively granted to local charities.  Members and guests were entertained by the Mission Bay Preservationists, a 12 member New Orleans-style jazz band from Mission Bay High School, a Title 1 magnet school.  By the end of the evening, a total of $292,500 was granted to 11 nonprofit organizations in San Diego County, the largest amount ever granted in a single year by the Rancho Santa Fe Women’s Fund.   
 
The entire evening was dedicated to the charter members of the Rancho Santa Fe Women’s Fund, including their Founder, Gayle Gillies-Mize.      These women have developed a superior vetting process that has resulted in full and persistent confidence that all grant recipients are providing valuable services to those less fortunate in our community.  Two focus areas for grants are voted in by the 120 members annually.  Members dedicate countless hours to the Grants Committee that evaluates over 100 grant requests annually, organizes site visits to 12-15 nonprofit organizations every Spring, and then presents a final ballot of approximately 12 potential grantees for the entire membership to vote on.  Each grant is a maximum of $50,000, thus creating a meaningful impact on the ability of the grantee to provide services for their clientele.   
 
Membership in the Fund is open to all women who reside within the two zip codes of Rancho Santa Fe.  The minimum annual contribution consists of $2300, where 87% of all contributions are distributed directly to grants made.  The annual schedule of activities includes 3 speaker meetings, a white party dubbed “Bubbles & Blanca”, the Grant Presentations, and the Grant Awards.  More information can be found atrsfwomensfund.org. 
 
PHOTOS ATTACHED 

Facebook: Rancho Santa Fe Women’s Fund 

Instagram: RSFWF 

Check out these photos.

Over 90 purses collected for Dress for Success!

Matt D'Arrigo, CEO of A Reason to Survive, who received a $50,000 grant from the Rancho Santa Fe Women's Fund last year, was chosen as the Editor's Choice for the Best Non-Profit Leader.

Well done ladies.  We always pick the best. 

We had a lovely group go down to see the Tender Loving Canine Training program in action behind bars at Donovan Correctional Facility.  Those who attended were Jeanne Norling, Sandra Coufal, Sandra Zarcades and her daughter, Sandy, and Gillian Gillies.

The group was  met by Victoria Cavaliere and Karen Schultz of Tender Loving Canines Assistance Dogs (TLCAD) at the flag pole of the entrance to the prison.  The Warden, Daniel Paramo, came out to meet us and joined us on the tour.  Security was tight, we were not allowed to bring anything in but our identification and sunglasses, no phones or purses.  

We walked through several 20-foot-high barbed wire fence gates that were controlled by the tower.  We then moved to a yard that confined level three inmates.  The prison was on lock down as they searched for weapons so the yard and cell areas were eerily quiet. We met in the chapel where eight prisoners met us with four service dogs in training along with three dog trainers from TLCAD.  Each dog has two trainers, a lead and back-up.  Each prisoner/dog trainer demonstrated the skills they had taught their dog such as fetch, sit, down, and tug.  The tug skill is used to open drawers, refrigerators and doors.  

The prisoner/dog trainers were so gentle and patient with the dogs as they gave commands and reinforced constantly with treats.  Only positive reinforcement is used throughout the training program.  

This is a remarkable program where both the prisoner, the recipient of the dog, staff at the prison as well as other prisoners all benefit from having dogs trained at the facility.  The time to train a service dog is 6 months at a prison versus 18 months to 2 years outside a prison.  The program hopes to expand to include more yards in the prison with the potential to train up to 30 dogs at a time.  

Well done ladies for funding such a fabulous program!!

Here is an update of the details regarding the TLCAD prison tour on July 13 at 9:30AM

A carpool will meet at 8:00 AM on that morning at the Village Church in the South parking lot by the Fellowship Hall.  The prison address appears in the email below.

If you plan to attend, please send Victoria Cavaliere the following information (or respond to this email by Monday.  Also if you do send directly to Victoria, please copy me or otherwise let me know that you have sent her the required background information so I know who plans to attend).  

Full Name

DL number

Birthdate

Social Security number

You may also call her if you prefer not to send this information in an email.  

However, PLEASE DO THIS BY END OF BUSINESS ON MONDAY, JUNE 27^TH as she needs to send the information for background checks by the 28^th.

Nancy Hashim

619-384-1953

womensfund@rsffoundation.org

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subject: Re: Tour of TLCAD prison program

The prison is located at 480 Alta Rd, San Diego, CA 92179 right near the border off 125.  The tour should be about an hour and I will need full names, DL numbers, birthdates, and social security numbers to provide the Community Resource Officer at RJD.  He will be running background checks on all attendees.  There is a dress code: no blue denim or dark green attire.  Only a driver’s license should be brought in, photos are not allowed and all personal items (especially cell phones) should be left & locked in your car.  

Thank you!

Victoria Cavaliere, KPA CTP

Programs Director

Tender Loving Canines Assistance Dogs, Inc.

Ofc: (858) 461-6827 | Direct: (858) 461-8603

Email: victoria@TLCAD.org

www.TenderLovingCanines.org

The Coast News recognizes RSFWF Grant to Tender Loving Canine Assistance Dogs.

Read more here.

The RSF Women’s Fund recently received kudos from the Coast News in their June 10th edition featuring an article about one of our 2016 grant award programs.  The RAFFY program at Miracosta was awarded $20,000 at the May 13th awards event.  Click below to read the full article.

On May 18th, we present ed 8 non-profit organizations with grants.  We gave away more than $250,000!!  To date, we have awarded just under $3 Million in Grants.

In the Economic Development and Education focus group we are gave grants to the following:

Dress for Success- Suits to Self Sufficiency Program $10,000 

Monarch School-Internship Program- $50,000 

Reality Changers-College Town, College Apps Academy, The Alumni Network- $50,000 

Tender Loving Canines- $21,438

In Youth Services, we fully funded the grants for the following organizations:

A Reason To Survive- Creating Vibrant Neighborhoods Initiative- $50,000 

Eric Paredes- Save a Life Foundation $25,000 

Girls Rising Mentor Program- $ 25,000 

Mira Costa College Foundation-RAFFY-Resources and Assistance for Former Foster Youth- $20,000