In December 2007, we provided a $500 grant to the Agape Network Food Co-op Of Mendocino County. The Co-op meets monthly at the Grace Community Church in Fort Bragg. Its goal is to provide families more buying power and value for their dollars and help meet a critical need in the area for lower food cost. Our grant will provide free membership for 42 single-parent families in the community.

Redwood Investments is glad that we can help families in the community during a time of growing need, and assist a worthy organization in its first year of operation.

In December, Redwood Investments granted $500 to the Parents and Friends Foundation. This organization helps developmentally challenged individuals in Fort Bragg integrate into our community. The Foundation operates the Job Connection, a program that helps these individuals find employment within Fort Bragg, as well as the Paul Bunyan Thrift Store. Our grant will go to funding the travelling and day-to-day expenses of the operation.

We are thrilled that we can help such a wonderful program operate. Bradley Gardner is the Vice President of Parents and Friends, and will continue providing his efforts to a deserving cause.

On November 28, Redwood Investments donated $500 to help rebuild Friendship Park in Mendocino.The field is used by coastal residents from Fort Bragg to Gualala for Little League, Soccer, High School Softball and the Annual Community Fourth of July Event. Unfortunately, it has not been maintained, and has become unsafe for use.

Redwood Investments is pleased that we can help improve the condition of this park. We always encourage the well-being ofareas within our community that provide a fun and safe place for people of all ages to visit.

On November 19, Redwood Investments approved a $500 grant to the Mendocino Audubon Society. Every year, the Society coordinates the “Introduction to Birding” program at various Mendocino County elementary schools. This year, the Society will give eight presentations at Redwood Elementary, two at Mendocino Elementary, one at the Albion School, one at the Comptche School, and one at the Elk School.

Redwood Investments is happy that we could help our local school children learn about science in an enjoyable and informative way. We plan to continue assisting associations that provide educational opportunities to children because we truly believe that investing in the minds of our children is the best way to make our community prosper.

In October, Redwood Investments made a generous donation of $500 to the Mendocino Coast Clinics, coordinated by Cindy Lemos. This will help the clinic to provide the resources for medical, behavioral, dental, perinatal and obstetric care to both insured and uninsured Mendocino Coast residents.

We have made a donation of $1000 to Habitat for Humanity for the Redwood Investments Community Grant this month. It’s important for us to give back to our vibrant community, and there’s no better way to do so than helping those who are less fortunate afford comfortable housing.  

Last week, I met with Habitat for Humanity’s director in the Mendocino/Fort Bragg area, Chuck Greenberg. He explained to me that our $1000 grant would actually help a multitude of families afford housing, as the costs are recouped and reused after a house is built and sold. Thus, we hope our gift will help allow a number of families to find the home of their dreams for many years to come.

On May 12, business partner Brad Gardner and I drove 13 developmentally disabled artists from Art Explorers in Fort Bragg to DeYoung Museum in San Francisco for a day-long adventure in art education.

After lunch in the museum cafe, we broke into small groups with docents who talked about paintings with the students. Then we visited the sculpture garden.

We finished off the trip with a visit to the rooftop observation area for a 360-degree view of the City, then headed to Healdsburg for dinner at a Mexican restaurant before returning to Fort Bragg.

These are very talented people and art education will stimulate new artwork that benefits the Art Explorers organization and ultimately the artists themselves.

Check out the Art Explorers’ studio at Oak Street between Franklin and Main Streets. I think you’ll be impressed with their talent.

The field trip was made possible by a $1,000 grant from Redwood Investments in Fort Bragg. Partners Dan Catone and Brad Gardner rented two 10-passenger vans to transport the artists and staff to San Francisco, helped with driving and paid for lunch and dinner. The remainder of the grant went to the Art Explorers for operations.