I work for Sonoma County Regional Parks and so directly see some of the benefits of the support of the Parks Foundation. They allow me to do really meaningful work due to them funding some of my programs such as providing funds for camperships (so youth can go to camp for 75% off), funding for Youth Exploring Sonoma's River (so teens can get outside for 8 weeks over the summer at no cost to them), and providing resources so I can lead the Latino Family Campout. They do so much more, but are directly a part of how Sonoma County Regional Parks is able to create more equity within our outdoor spaces.
Previous Stories
I work as a coordinator for Sonoma County Parks, and have so much admiration for the support and work of Sonoma County Parks Foundation which allows me to lead phenomenal programs and is a reason I’ve stayed with the agency for so long. I believe in sharing resources with the community and ensuring we have relatable programs which support the interests of our community which I believe we are able to do so because of the foundation. Plus we are encouraged to support our marginalized communities with the foundation’s support-which otherwise would not be as feasible being that grants take time and resources to write. We wouldn’t be able to support anything close to the number of people we are currently able to without the foundation’s support. Thank you Parks Foundation for making so many of our programs possible
The Sonoma County Regional Parks Foundation continuously works to grow the roles nature and recreation play in our communities. Support from the Foundation expands County Park program offerings, assists the financing for new parks, and helps kids discover parks through its youth programs. I’m happy to be affiliated with the Foundation, and I would encourage anyone and everyone to support, explore, and enjoy their regional parks today!
Previous Stories
The Sonoma County Parks Foundation has done spectacular work throughout the whole region! It's amazing to see the number and types of programs supported by this group. If you haven't seen it, I'd recommend checking out their website:
https://www.sonomacountyparksfoundation.org/
You've gotta love a Foundation that supports parks and dog-friendly hikes. Don't miss the Water Bark at Spring Lake each year!
They make a The Sonoma County Regional Parks Foundation is doing incredible work to elevate our local parks. Their fundraising efforts have been game-changing, making parks accessible and enjoyable for everyone in the community. From new trails to educational programs, they're making a real impact.
The Sonoma County Regional Parks Foundation is a passionate, diverse group whose dedication and expertise drive critical funding that helps Sonoma County Regional Parks sustain and grow their life-changing youth and community programs, and enhance trails, accessibility, and fire readiness within our growing acreage of beautiful, inspiring, nurturing parks.
The Sonoma County Regional Parks Foundation is a vital partner to the Sonoma County Regional Parks system. Its leadership is stellar; its board of directors is highly engaged, and its dynamic executive director heads up a lean, talented team. I regularly donate to the Parks Foundation with confidence that my gift will be used for a cause that matters so much to me -- helping assure access to our beloved parks for people who may face barriers to using them, and supporting projects that rangers and park stewards deem important. Studies continue to underscore the value of natural spaces to our health and well-being. The Parks Foundation does a great job promoting our parks and fundraising for improvements that help make them excellent!
Previous Stories
I spend time in Sonoma County parks every week, and I am a donor to the Parks Foundation. As a Sebastopol resident I consider Ragle Ranch like my second home! There are a lot of needs in our parks that simply cannot be funded through the County budget alone, and sometimes there are also needs that are time sensitive, to which a government agency is not agile enough to respond in time. That's where the Parks Foundation comes in. I love the fact that the Foundation helps the staff of Regional Parks buy important equipment that makes their jobs easier and makes them more efficient! And I like that the Parks Foundation provides matching funds to Regional Parks which provide leverage to secure millions of dollars in grants every year.
One of the best non-profits to assist our Sonoma County Regional Parks. Offering over $1.5M in park assistance annually to help climate action, maintenance and creation of parks and trails as well as programs tailored for our youths (Youth Career Pathways, YES! Programs, Science field trips and more). One of my favorite events put on by the Sonoma County Parks Foundation is the Water Bark event during the September weekends. Amazing time to see all the dogs having fun in the Spring Lake swimming lagoon and a great way to raise money for the parks. A financially astute organization with a mission that serves us all... our local parks.
Previous Stories
As a long time parks hiking and biking user, I recently was able to join the board. The Parks Foundation is an amazing group of individuals all dedicated to assisting our parks with their project funding for developing new parks and trails, restore habitats and protect wildlife, supporting environmental educational programs, hosting popular events such as Spring Lake Water Bark, and helps sponsor programs for under-served communities, seniors and youths. I'm very proud to be working with and supporting such a vital organization within our community. If you haven't been out exploring lately, find a park location that interests you at https://parks.sonomacounty.ca.gov/visit/find-a-park!
The Sonoma County Park system is among the largest and most diverse in the world and the Foundation's role in ensuring that the parks' needs are met is very important to me. I love the ParkPals program for monthly automatic debit.
Who Doesn't Love Parks? But - guess what, Parks aren't free. They need to be maintained and opportunities provided to ensure that the widest range of people are enjoying the benefits.
The Sonoma Parks Foundation is vital to the health and well being of our Regional Parks. They allow the Parks Department to leverage funds many, many times over; they fund programs for children and youth, provide needed maintenance and improvement dollars, and even are a great asset in park expansion.
This organization is extremely well run with a very active Board.
I have been a donor and avid park used for over 10 years. They do a phenomena; job raising funds and leveraging government grants to provide youth programming, expanded trails and park improvements. Thank to their work, many of our local parks have better trails, are more fire resilient and host hundreds of low income youth each year.
Previous Stories
Sonoma County Regional Parks Foundation does critical work in the county to keep parks accessible to all. They raise desperately needed funds to help create trails, build play areas, sustain award-winning summer programs for underserved youth, and implement park improvements such as fire hardening and increasing fire resilience, etc. The list is long about how they are essential to keeping our parks healthy and strong. They leverage Measure M funds and their support helps bring in millions in additional funding from state and other government grants. Volunteer board members come from across the county and actively seek local input on users priorities.
I am continually impressed with the due diligence this organization takes when handling their donor's money. I have entire confidence and trust that my money is going to where it is needed most, and that they are making the right decisions based on the community needs. Top priorities include fire resiliency, trails and park maintenance, and community based programs to encourage kids and young adults to enjoy our beautiful surroundings! Very proud to be a supporter of this important work.
Previous Stories
We are lucky to live in a region with spectacular natural beauty. While so many are blessed to be able to afford to explore and have adventures in the Regional Parks, there are many Sonoma County neighbors who are struggling to make ends meet.
The Parks Foundation becomes a tremendous resource for children whose families wouldn't be able to afford experiences that most of us take for granted, such as summer camp, kayaking, hiking, and exploring the land. Some kids in Santa Rosa neighborhoods have never put their feet in the ocean until participating in their programs. I am a proud donor because I believe all children should have access to nature and adventure, and the Parks Foundation makes it happen!
I'm so excited to help the Foundation with its mission. I enjoy our local Sonoma County parks and they saved my friends and I during the pandemic. I love how the Foundation thinks of the community needs in creating programs and projects that meet community where it is. It was genius to have life saving vests at the river for the public to check out and use. This became important life saving measure since some immigrant farmworkers were accidentally drowning for lack of water skills. As a Latina woman, I'm proud to be helping this nonprofit accomplish its mission.
The Sonoma County Regional Parks Foundation provides so many opportunities to hikers, youth, and families, it’s hard to begin to tally its impact. Fabulous parks, camping, birding, boating, and programs to get folks outside.
Sonoma County Regional Parks Foundation has supported the development and maintenance of over 50 parks as well as nature education programs for all ages. In addition, through its fundraising efforts, the Parks Foundation has created and nurtured a strong partnership between community donors and the parks they enjoy. The Foundation donors take great pride in fostering the open spaces that can be enjoyed by all.
Previous Stories
In 2017 every member of the board of directors is engaged in the work of the SCRP Foundation - thanking donors, volunteering at events, contributing financially, advocating for regional parks. The Foundation provides environmental education programs for schools, raises funds for county parks (trails, benches, habitat, etc.), offers water safety programs for families, and responds to the recreation interests of diverse populations. Board members represent the 5 supervisorial districts of the county.
The Parks Foundation is an incredibly well-run, efficient nonprofit that consistently provides innovative programming, meets diverse community needs, reaches out to marginalized groups, defends and enhances the environment, promotes outdoor recreation and outdoor education, and helps us all to love our surroundings a little bit more. You will not find a more professional approach that makes a difference in environmental protection and enhancement in Sonoma County, while also serving youth and many other constituencies. How many organizations can bridge that gap so effectively?
I'm so touched by the many programs they sponsor that afford disadvantaged, under-served youth to experience our wonderful parks. The parks should be for everyone and they help that happen.'
I'm proud to be a donor, not just for the trail work and fire mitigation which are, of course, very important, but for the other important programs.
The tireless fundraising efforts of the Sonoma County Regional Parks Foundation positively impacts not only our parks, but our community. We chose to become Park Pals because we value the environmental and educational programs they sponsor for children. We like learning about the programs our donation supports and feel good knowing we are helping the Foundation continue its mission.
The Parks Foundation has been great to work with in supporting Natural Resources projects that benefit wildlife protection, water conservation, and habitat enhancement for Sonoma County Regional Parks. The staff are well organized and efficient, and are helpful in supporting small projects and also strategic providing seed money to larger projects to assist Regional Parks in obtaining larger grants to support ecological restoration, park enhancements, and protecting habitat for wildlife in Sonoma County.
Sonoma County Regional Parks Foundation works relentlessly to save some of our most precious open spaces in the area, many of the trails and creeks we enjoy and the lovely scenic sites that makes us fall in love with the area we live in over and over. The Foundation educates, stewards and fund raises so that we can pass beauty and cleaner air for generations.
The Regional Parks Foundation does an amazing job supporting the numerous beautiful parkland in Sonoma County. All the new trails recently have been fantastic to explore, like at Helen Putnam and Taylor Mountain. My kids have enjoyed multiple Regional Parks field trips that the Foundation partially funds, and the programs the Foundation funds to help make the parks more accessible to all is truly inspiring.
Sonoma Parks Foundation has been INVALUABLE to our wonderful parks system, using Foundation funds to leverage dollars from other sources, funding a variety of needs of Parks Rangers that can't be funded otherwise, funding programs for youth and children as well as trail restoration and fire resiliency.
This amazing nonprofit "sibling" to the incredible Sonoma County Regional Parks system helps raise funds, match funds for grant applications and support programs, initiatives, outings for 56 county regional parks that keep our community emotionally and physically healthy and fit
The Parks Foundation plays an excellent and vital role in supporting our 56 regional parks and programs. As a pediatrician, I find that the parks are a cherished resource for us all to share as they support getting children and their families outdoors and active. The parks and the foundation sponsor programs that help decrease childhood obesity together with promoting love for nature and the outdoors as we unplug our children and help prevent "nature deficit syndrome". From building new trails to teaching water safety to our youth (Vamos a Nadar) to providing nature education (Environmental Discovery Center), the Foundation is instrumental in supporting and enhancing our precious Sonoma County Regional Parks System.
Previous Stories
The Parks Foundation plays an excellent and vital role in supporting our 56 regional parks and programs. As a pediatrician, I find that the parks are a cherished resource for us all to share as they support getting children and their families outdoors and active. The parks and the foundation sponsor programs that help decrease childhood obesity together with promoting love for nature and the outdoors as we unplug our children and help prevent "nature deficit syndrome". From building new trails to teaching water safety to our youth (Vamos a Nadar) to providing nature education (Environmental Discovery Center), the Foundation is instrumental in supporting and enhancing our precious Sonoma County Regional Parks System.
With my 17 years of experience with Regional Parks I am amazed each year at the amount of support the foundations not only gives back to the parks but to the community that enjoys and uses the parks. Each year they exceed the amount of money raised to give back to the community through programs like environmental education, water safety programs, the restoration and amenities within the parks, and events like the Funky Friday, Water Carnival, Water Bark and many more. Thank you Regional Parks Foundation for doing such an awesome job!!!
As the Owner/President of Green Valley Consulting Engineers, I have had the privilege of working directly with the SCRP for the past twenty years (and counting)! Our cooperative work has developed new scenic coastal trails, created walkable and bikeable communities, transformed gravel pits into recreational lakes, and restored native habitats. There is a reason "googling" any Sonoma County Park (there are 50-plus) will yield 4 and 5 star user reviews!
We can't think of a better way to use our time and talents - supporting the SCRP's mission of creating healthy communities and contributing to the economic vitality of our beautiful Sonoma County home! And when not improving a park, we are using it - below is my "significant -dog - other" Hannah and I enjoying an afternoon outdoors at Crane Creek Regional Park.
My family and I have spent countless afternoons hiking the beautiful Sonoma County Trails. They offer us a fun way to get physically fit while always reminding us of how lucky we are to live with such natural beauty. My children have also developed a deep appreciation for "the great outdoors". Thank you SCRP for all the wonderful work that you do to build, maintain, and preserve our parks so that we can continue to get up close and personal with our environment!
Sonoma County Regional Parks Foundation
Supports our wonderful parks , Continuing the Funky Friday at Hood Mansion.
The new Visitor Center at Doran Beach , Helping provide the needs of Park staff
Our Parks would not be as wonderful as they are without the Foundation.
Thank You Parks Foundation
In the four years I have been contributing to Sonoma County Park Foundation I have been consistently wowed by the they do in support of our Regional Parks. They are there for regional parks in so many different ways. Raising money to allow the parks department to leverage those amounts many times over in grants. Reaching out as an exceptional advocate to bring more residents to the parks, providing flexibility that allows the department to nimble and responsive beyond what governmental agencies can achieve. And finally find ways and resources to enhance the effectiveness of the day to day operations.
The Sonoma County Regional Parks Foundation has been giving scholarships to students in need in order to strengthen their knowledge of the natural world through empirical experiences at the education center. What an amazing foundation!
This board is doing an excellent job supporting the Regional Parks. It is a pleasure working with such like minded individuals. The goals and mission statement are what the foundation is focused on completing
The Sonoma County Regional Parks Foundation has grown substantially over the 10 years that I have been a donor and beneficiary of their generosity and compassion when it comes to providing valuable resources and support to the community and the department.
I have been part of projects that helped to restore Watson and Fort Ross School's to help preserve our local history and culture. As a tennis player, my crew benefited from the community and Foundation fundraising for resurfacing the Occidental tennis courts when parks department funding was not available. As an avid hiker and trail designer, the Foundation has sponsored many fundraising events and trail construction projects throughout the County that provide recreational trails for residents and visitors everyday.
In addition, the Foundation is a primary sponsor of the programs that serve the residents, and especially children, in the north bay. This gives many of them an opportunity to experience nature in a fun and educational environment, many for the first time.
The Foundation continues to grow and evolve into an integral part of the parks department and the community, and everyday I am thankful for their efforts.
Sonoma County Regional Parks Foundation is the best! They not only help staff to obtain tools and services that are needed to improve efficiency, but they also provide funding to recreation, education and lifesaving programs. Recently the Parks Foundation wrote and received grant funding to provide 12 scholarships for a Rushing Down the Russian River summer camp to underserved youth. 12 campers were able to have a life-changing experience due to the work of this foundation.
Annually the Parks Foundation provides scholarships to environmental education field trips, provides summer camp scholarship, funds swim lessons for Vamos a Nadar (Let's Go Swimming), purchases life jackets and finds funding for the Water Safety River Patrol. These are all programs that educate and save lives and would not be available in Sonoma County without the Regional Parks Foundation. The Sonoma County Regional Parks Foundation is the Best!
I worked with the Sonoma County Regional Parks Foundation Board and I found the organization to lack focus, goals and specific objectives. They do a great job approving funding requests by Sonoma County Regional Parks with little or no investigation.
The committees rarely if ever meet and the group does not accomplish very much other than approving funding requests by Sonoma County Regional Parks. Their financial ratios are poor and they have very high turnover and poor communications among the board members.
Sonoma County Regional Parks Directors are very well paid and have excellent salaries and benefits. All of which is at the expense of the tax payer and the park system. The Regional Parks has the resources to make the parks in Sonoma County best in its class, but perspective donors would be best advised to provide other organizations their resources.
Review from Guidestar