title
Authorize the County’s contribution of $2,500 from the General Fund contribution allocated to District 3 to benefit the following organizations, including Water & Education International (WEI) ($1,000), BayNorth Church of Christ ($1,000) and Food is Free Bay Area ($500)
body
Published Notice Required? Yes ____ No _X _
Public Hearing Required? Yes ____ No _X _
DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION:
Supervisor Williams requests that the Board of Supervisors authorize the County’s contribution of $2,500 from the General Fund contribution allocated to District 3 to benefit the following organizations, including Friends of Water & Education International (WEI) ($1,000), BayNorth Church of Christ ($1,000) and Food is Free Bay Area ($500).
SUMMARY/ DISCUSSION:
District 3 has identified three (3) local non-profit organizations for which to contribute its non-county contribution allocation, including:
Water & Education International, $1,000
Water & Education International (WEI) is a global humanitarian organization that was founded and incorporated in 2007 by Ricky Nutt, a veteran school official. WEI’s driving purpose is addressing the need for safe water in developing countries and educational opportunities of the world. WEI also promotes wellness through health education. The mission of WEI is to combat poverty and disease while promoting education, sustainability, wellness, and nutrition by providing safe water and educational opportunities to the underprivileged on the global community, thereby improving their quality of life.
WEI Scholarships locally are awarded annually to deserving high school seniors who graduate from a high school in either Solano, Napa, Contra Costa, or Alameda Counties or lived in Solano, Napa, Contra Costa, or Alameda Counties and attended an accredited virtual high school. These funds will be used to award scholarships to Solano County students looking to further their educational endeavors.
BayNorth Church of Christ, $1,000
BayNorth Church of Christ located in the City of Fairfield was founded in 2001 and serves the Fairfield/Suisun/Cordelia areas of Solano County. Currently under the leadership of Pastor Sam Morris, BayNorth Church of Christ strives to be a beacon of light in Solano County. As education is the key to people having opportunities to make positive changes in not only their own lives but in the lives of those that they encounter, BayNorth is committed to being a benefit to help students achieve their academic goals and realize their dreams.
Annually, BayNorth Church of Christ co-sponsors a Golf Classic tournament to raise scholarship funds. BayNorth then awards scholarship dollars to students in Solano County to promote their access to education. These funds will be used to award scholarships to Solano County students looking to further their educational endeavors.
Food is Free Bay Area, $500
Food is Free Solano is a local free food resource run completely by volunteers and supported by the local community. Food is Free Bay Area addresses the issues of food insecurity on an ongoing basis.
Understanding that the needs of the community extend beyond food insecurities, Food is Free Bay Area also has a Monthly Diaper Program. Each child enrolled in the program will receive up to 50 diapers per month. These funds will be used to provide much needed financial resources to ensure that the Monthly Diaper Program continues to serve county residents in need of this assistance.
Guidelines for Grant Funding Requests:
During the FY2025/26 Budget Hearings, the Board appropriated $75,000, $15,000 to each supervisorial district, to allow Board members to support community service programs. The Board directed County Counsel to provide guidelines on how to recommend funding for qualifying agencies or programs. The Guidelines are as follows:
1.) Each supervisor must submit the proposed expenditure to County Counsel and the Auditor-Controller for initial review.
2.) The Board must approve the expenditure by a majority vote.
3.) The Board must determine that the expenditure is for a public purpose.
4.) The Board may authorize an expenditure of public funds to a nonprofit organization so long as the County retains ultimate control over the exercise of judgment and discretion of the intended program.
5.) To ensure accountability, all expenditures are subject to periodic audit by the Auditor-Controller; and
a) If the recipient provides an activity, program or service (“activity”), it shall provide an activity report within 30 days of the activity that states the number of persons attending (if applicable) or participating activities carried out, feedback from participants (if applicable) and benefits of the activity. The recipient’s failure to provide a report may result in its being considered ineligible for future funding.
b) If the recipient is purchasing property or making improvements, it shall use the funds for only the specified purposes and allow representatives of the county to inspect and/or audit the purchase or the contractor’s performance, the facility or the portion improved with the funds and/or the records pertaining to the expenditures. The recipient shall retain for inspection and audit purposes any and all books, receipts, documentation and other records of the expenditures for three (3) years from date of receiving funds.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The expenditures totaling $2,500 in contributions are included in the Department’s FY2025/26 Working Budget. The costs associated with preparing the agenda item are nominal and included by the department’s FY2025/26 Working Budget.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board could choose not to authorize these expenditures; however, this is not recommended as this is consistent with Board policy.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
There is no other agency involvement.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
APPROVE DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION