title
Authorize the County’s contribution of $3,600 from the General Fund contribution allocated to District 3 to benefit the following organizations, including Water & Education International ($1,000), Solano Community College Education Foundation ($1,000), Food is Free Solano ($800) and Soroptimist International of Central Solano ($800)
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 $3,600 from the General Fund contribution allocated to District 3 to benefit the following organizations, including Water & Education International ($1,000), Solano Community College Education Foundation ($1,000), Food is Free Solano ($800) and Soroptimist International of Central Solano ($800).
SUMMARY/ DISCUSSION:
District 3 has identified four (4) 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.
Solano Community College Educational Foundation, $1,000
The Solano Community College Educational Foundation (SCCEF) was founded in 1985 to support students and educational excellence at our local community college. SCCEF provides a hand up for higher education. SCCEF’s dream is to help every person in our community striving to achieve a college education and improve their life. Since 2013, SCCEF has provided $3M to support the College, including $940,000 in donations to departments and programs, $549,000 for student scholarship awards/stipends, $105,000 for the Athletic Department and $60,000 for the establishment of the Alumni Association. In addition, the Foundation has provided $541,000 to produce outreach and fundraising events to help market the College and has generated $238,000 to support Foundation activities (providing a cost savings to the College). SCCEF retains approximately $592,000 in immediately available funds to support nearly 100 College programs. These funds will be used to support the financial endeavors of the SCCEF for the college.
Food is Free Solano, $800
Food is Free Solano is a local free food resource run completely by volunteers and supported by the local community. The program addresses the issues of food insecurity on an ongoing basis. Its Senior Food Box Program proudly offers the commodity food box program for Solano County Seniors aged 60 and older. These funds will be used to provide much needed financial resources to ensure that the Senior Food Box Program continues to serve local seniors impacted by food insecurity.
Soroptimist International of Central Solano, $800
Soroptimist International of Solano County provides award opportunities for women seeking financial assistance for education and other needs. The Soroptimist Live Your Dream Award helps women who provide the primary source of financial support for their families by assisting them with resources they need to improve their education, skills and employment prospects. While the Chance to Rise is an awards program for women who have demonstrated that they can overcome personal challenges to forge a path for a successful future. These funds will be used to assist in providing funds for both the Live Your Dream and Chance to Rise Awards going to women in Solano County.
Guidelines for Grant Funding Requests:
During the FY2023/24 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 $3,600 in contributions are included in the Department’s FY2023/24 Working Budget. The costs associated with preparing the agenda item are nominal and absorbed by the department’s FY2023/24 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