_ Hello once again, friends and neighbors.  I am dedicating this month’s column to acknowledge an outstanding response by the members of our community.  BUT FIRST – let me remind you to hurry and register for the February 24 Avila Beach Town Hall Forum II.  It is likely that by the time you read this publication remaining seats will be few, if any.  If that’s the case, we can place you on the waiting list, but please log onto www.avilabeachfoundation.org and look for event information on our home page.

Now, getting back to the dedication, I cannot adequately express how impressed I am by the tremendous show of community spirit and generosity in the aftermath of the Foundation’s recently concluded Matching Gifts Initiative.  It began with three well-known private sector partners – Old Custom House, P.G. & E. and Chevron – joining the Avila Beach Foundation in ponying up $5,000 each to create a $20,000 challenge fund.  With a goal to spend the $20,000 by matching numerous individual donations collectively equaling that same amount, we hoped to infuse the greater Avila Beach area with $40,000 to support a variety of community organizations and special projects.  Part of the idea behind the Initiative was to inspire many new donors to offer financial support by doubling the value of their gift, and motivate previous donors of particular organizations to increase their level of financial support.  Also behind the Initiative idea was to enable local groups to expand their donor bases.  Seeking a high volume of donors rather than just a handful of deep pockets, a restriction was in place that only new or step-up donations between $50 and $200 were “match-able”.   Bottom line – the goal was met and surpassed!!!  By the end of the campaign year 142 donors stepped up to the plate and collectively contributed $23,689 – thus surpassing the $20,000 goal.  And $41,006 was distributed to the recipient organizations and projects involved.  Well done Avila Beach, well done!!!

Here is the actual breakdown of the campaign, which I think you’ll find informative.  Of the previously mentioned 142 donors, 126 were new and 16 were of “stepped-up” variety.   The largest recipient of the combined funding was the Avila Beach Community Center, which garnered $14,425 to help keep the doors open and the programs running.  Next was $13,950 that went to Bellevue-Santa Fe Charter School in Avila Valley to support the purchase of classroom technology and operations of their SciTechatorium.  Bellevue’s remarkable campaign took place in little over one week, and school parents deserve a big “attaboy/girl” for such a swift and generous response.  People’s Self Help Housing received $4,208 for community room improvements at their Lachen Tara subsidized living apartment complex in Avila Beach.  The Avila Beach Sea Life Center received $3,600 for ongoing operations.  The Cancer Well-Fit Program at the Avila Bay Club, through their Christmas fundraiser, earned $2,020 that enables them to conduct an additional session of free rehab fitness classes for first-year cancer survivors.  $1,300 goes into the Avila Beach Foundation’s Emerging Community Needs and Opportunities Fund. The Save Our Schoolhouse fund received $1,000 that will go towards restoring the original historic Avila Beach schoolhouse.  $400 went to the Literacy Council of San Luis Obispo to continue their ESL program at the Avila Community Center, and $400 went to Cal Fire for ongoing efforts to restore the original Avila fire engine, affectionately known as “Grandpa” and seen at many Avila events.

You math majors may be wondering about there being only $20,000 in the match fund, yet $23,689 collected in donations.  Well, a fair number of donors gave more than the maximum donation, even knowing a lesser portion would be matched.  To be accurate, only $17,314 of that received was eligible to be matched.  So, the good news is that a balance of $2,686 remains, and if matched in 2012 will be worth $5,372 in project fund availability.  While the campaign is over, steps will be taken to engage the community in identifying a specific new project that could use the funds, followed by a secondary campaign to raise that remaining $2,686.  It will be fun seeing how that turns out.  Do you have any ideas?  If so, you know where to reach me.

On a more personal note, I want to thank you readers who send me input, share ideas and raise community issues of concern.  Engaging the public and improving life in Avila Beach is our Foundation’s driving force.  By now you have figured out that the Avila Beach Community Foundation does more than just issue annual grants, though that remains an important function in our role as stewards of the UNOCAL settlement fund.  Expanding participation on your part will enable us to continue on a path that leads to a greater good.  Avila Beach is a treasure and we are ALL stewards of this legacy.  Before signing off with my usual “see you at the beach”, I have to divulge that my wife accuses me of trying to be the next Walter Cronkite by using those closing words.  I didn’t know she was old enough to remember Mr. Cronkite!!!   So, “see you at the beach”.