Santa Rosa Women for Good

Thank you to everyone who participated in nominating organizations for this milestone grant. Your thoughtfulness, passion, and engagement truly show what makes Santa Rosa Women for Good such a powerful community. 💛

With 14 incredible nonprofits nominated (the most we’ve ever had!) we are inspired by the amazing work happening across Sonoma County. Now it’s time to narrow the list down to our final three organizations.

This is our largest grant ever, $10,000 awarded in celebration of reaching 100 members, and your voice will help determine which nonprofits move forward.

👉 Please rank the nominees below in order of your preference.

⏰ This ranked poll will close on Friday, April 3rd, so be sure to cast your vote and make your voice heard!

Below are the mission statements and websites for each nominated organization to help inform your decision.

Petaluma People Service Center

Ppsc is much more than a collection of 59 human services programs based on best practice research with measurable outcomes. we are a community of caregivers existing within the larger community whose sole purpose is to help make people’s lives better. we strive to do this one child, one adult, and one senior at a time. last year we served over 12,000 people through our programs. the hands-on, face-to-face support that individuals receive from ppsc is wide ranging; counseling, job placement, gang prevention, daily hot meals, rides to the doctor, case management, financial assistance for homeless prevention, informational and referrals….people helping people.

https://petalumapeople.org/

The Lost Church

We create-sustain-defend spaces for live performances. we are a group of artists, musicians and industry professionals dedicated to the belief that people need beautiful, intimate performance spaces to share their ideas, stories and arts. Our goal is to create a network of Performance Parlors that can host and nurture local and touring artists in a way that the larger spaces never can Support small performance spaces under fire. Whether it’s by installing sustainable business practices, supplying legal and financial support, or helping with crisis management. Our dream is to build a strong Non Profit Arts Organization that handles the running of these spaces; the leasing, booking, and promoting… and allow local members of the community to run and curate the individual nights.

https://thelostchurch.org/

Our Village Closet

Our Village Closet (OVC) is committed to improving outcomes for youth and families of foster care by providing no-cost essentials, comfort items, support, and community connections. At OVC, we believe that no youth in foster care should feel alone, and no foster caregiver should face the challenges of last-minute placements or navigate complex trauma alone. Through collaboration, education, and advocacy, we empower youth and families to thrive by offering essential supplies, emotional support, and connections to others who understand the journey of fostering. Join us in creating a compassionate village that strengthens the foster care community of Sonoma County, one youth at a time. One family at a time. Together, we stand for hope, healing, stronger families, and more positive outcomes for all.

https://www.ourvillagecloset.org/

Redemption House of the Bay Area

Vision: Our vision is to create a world where every survivor of human trafficking has access to the comprehensive support and essential tools they need to build a happy, healthy, and fulfilling future. Our ultimate goal is to ensure that no survivor feels alone or without options, empowering them to regain control of their lives and achieve their full potential.

Mission: Our mission is to provide comprehensive services that promote healing, personal growth, and reintegration into society. By offering tailored support and resources, we aim to empower survivors to rebuild their lives and create a positive and sustainable future.

Values: Community, Empowerment, Survivor Support

https://redemptionhouseofthebayarea.org/

The Blue Rose Foundation

The Blue Rose Foundation strives to positively affect the future of economically disadvantaged children, their families, and society by raising funds to provide scholarship grants for children to attend a quality, accredited preschool and by bringing awareness to the fundamental need for all children to attend preschool.

https://www.bluerosefoundation.com/

Play It Forward Music Foundation

Play it Forward Music Foundation is a nonprofit arts organization whose mission is to foster connection through music. We provide programming, instruments, lessons, and performance opportunities to people with limited access. We believe music has the power to transform lives both internally and collectively as well as enrich our community. PlayItForward.com is a website where artists support non-profit organizations by selling their music in exchange for charitable donations. Although we primarily distribute music, we encourage the submission of all forms of original audio recordings including spoken word, slam poetry, stand-up comedy, guided meditations, etc

Home | Play it Forward

League of Women Voters of Sonoma County

The League of Women Voters encourages the informed and active participation of citizens in government. It influences public policy through education and advocacy. We never support or oppose any political party or candidate. The League of Women Voters has two separate and distinct roles.

• Voters Service/Citizen Education: we present unbiased nonpartisan information about elections, the voting process, and issues.
• Action/Advocacy: we are also nonpartisan, but, after study, we use our positions to advocate for or against particular policies in the public interest.

https://www.lwvsonoma.org/

Zane Templin Foundation Inc.

Our mission is to support mental health awareness and suicide prevention. Our focus is on the children, teens, and young adults of Sonoma County. ​

We believe in funding research, educating the public about mental health and suicide prevention, and supporting survivors of suicide loss and those affected by suicide.

https://zanetemplinfoundation.com/

Wiley’s Wish

Wiley’s Wish Animal Rescue is committed to saving the lives of vulnerable animals and giving them a second chance. We rescue, rehabilitate, and rehome dogs while promoting compassion, responsibility, and second chances—for both animals and people alike.

Our work is deeply intentional. Through Paws of Hope, our prison-based rescue dog training program, dogs are given structure, consistency, and compassion while incarcerated residents are given purpose and responsibility. Together, they learn, heal, and grow. Many of our dogs earn their AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC) certification, not as a title, but as a reflection of the care and guidance they’ve received.

We don’t rush the process. Every dog is supported as an individual—trained, nurtured, and loved until the right home finds them. When you adopt from Wiley’s Wish, you’re not just adopting a dog. You’re choosing a rescue built on intention, dignity, and second chances—for dogs and for people. Rescue. It does a doggie good.

https://wileyswish.com/

Free to Be

The youth mental health crisis is the defining public health issue of our time. Today’s youth face pressures no generation before them has known — constant comparison, instant judgment, and a digital world that never turns off.

In Sonoma County, teens have lived through wildfires, a pandemic, school disruptions, and the relentless influence of social media during their most formative years.

We show up so young people can feel grounded in who they are — online and off.

https://freetobeteens.org/

Soul Yoga Foundation

Soul Yoga Foundation exists to support the community by sharing the tools of yoga in classes, leadership development, and fostering outreach programs that increase access to these tools for all people, including and beginning with our youth.

Our Vision - All public schools in Sonoma County will have in school yoga programs which introduce and reinforce the social emotional learning competencies of self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making through the practice and skills learned on the yoga mat. Soul Yoga Foundation will train and mentor yoga teachers to accomplish our mission and continue to grow and support our amazing community.

https://www.soulyogafoundation.com/

PEP Housing

PEP Housing provides dignified, affordable housing for older adults and other vulnerable community members, paired with supportive services that help residents age safely in place. Established in 1978, PEP Housing is a long-standing 501(c)(3) nonprofit affordable housing provider in the North Bay. We develop and operate affordable housing communities and ensure residents (especially seniors) remain stably housed with access to supportive services that improve health and quality of life. 100% of the residents residing at PEP Housing properties are low-income seniors and older adults living in affordable housing. The average annual resident income across PEP Housing is $20,339

https://pephousing.org/

Verity-Compassion Safety Support

We, the women and men of verity, working in partnership with the community, strive to eliminate all forms of violence, with a special focus on sexual assault and abuse. sexual assault is an unacceptable and unconscionable form of oppression, which is destructive to the lives of survivors, their families, and friends. verity facilitates healing and promotes the prevention of violence by providing counseling, advocacy, intervention, and education, in our communities.

https://www.ourverity.org/

Ruthless Kindness

Ruthless Kindness was started by 2 veterinarians and a domestic violence survivor. After working as shelter veterinarians and seeing women forced to abandon their pets, we wanted to learn more about the human animal bond during times of crisis. We completed a 2 year needs assessment, and launched programs to eliminate barriers for the most at-risk women, children, and pets.

https://www.ruthlesskindness.org/

🌟After voting closes, the top three organizations will move on as finalists, and members will have the opportunity to learn more before the final vote to determine our Grow the Good grant recipient.

Thank you for helping direct this milestone gift to an organization making a meaningful difference in our community. We can’t wait to see which three nonprofits advance! 💫

Join us for our April Happy Hour! 🌷

We’re excited to gather this month at Wilibees Wine & Spirits in downtown Santa Rosa for a relaxed evening of connection and conversation.

These casual happy hours are a great way to spend time with fellow members, meet new faces, and continue building the community of generous women who care about Sonoma County.

During the evening, we’ll also be reviewing the nonprofits that members have voted through to final consideration for our Spring $10,000 grant, giving everyone a chance to learn a bit more about the incredible work being done in our community ahead of the final vote.

Food and drinks will be available for purchase. Whether you’ve been part of the group for years or recently joined, we’d love to see you there.

As always, feel free to bring a friend who might enjoy connecting with our community!

📍 Wilibees Wine & Spirits – Downtown Santa Rosa

🗓 April Happy Hour

🍷 Food & drinks available for purchase

Come say hello, catch up, and enjoy a spring evening together. 💛

We’d love to invite you to join us for a meaningful community event supporting the Zane Templin Foundation at the Out of the Darkness Walk for suicide prevention on April 11th. Let’s see if we can gather a group of SR Women for Good members to walk together with Team Zane and show our support for this important cause while getting to spend time together. The more the merrier so bring your friends and family along to walk with us!

Registration is FREE, and walkers have the option to fundraise in support of this important cause. If you sign up with Team Zane and raise $100, you’ll receive a “You Matter” t-shirt to wear on walk day.

For those who are newer to Santa Rosa Women for Good, you may not yet have met @Fran Templin, founder of the Zane Templin Foundation, long-time member of this group, and Zane’s mom. Fran is an incredible person and the Zane Templin team do lifesaving work supporting suicide prevention and mental health awareness in memory of her son. Our group previously awarded a grant to the Zane Templin Foundation, and we’re grateful for opportunities like this to continue supporting their impactful work.

On a personal note, suicide prevention is a cause that is very important to me as I know it likely is for many of you. My life has been impacted by someone close to me who experienced a mental health crisis, and I’ve seen firsthand the lifesaving difference that supportive programs like those funded by the Zane Templin Foundation, can make in someone's life. I'm grateful for their work in our community and glad we will be able to walk with them at this event.

I’ll be there and hope to see some of you walking alongside us 💜

To sign up with Team Zane, click here.

Saturday, April 11th, 2026

Santa Rosa Junior College Quad

Event  Check In: 9:30 AM

Event Start Time: 10:15 AM

Mark your calendars for our next Coffee + Community Meetup

These casual monthly gatherings are designed to bring local women together over coffee, conversation, and connection—no agenda, just a chance to spend time with one another and strengthen our community.

Whether you’re new to our community, or have been part of the circle for a while, this is a casual space to get together, build relationships, and enjoy time together with likeminded women.

We’d love for you to join us, grab a cup of coffee, and enjoy some relaxed community time together. We'll be meeting again this month at Central Coffee (1229 N Dutton).

And let me know in the comments if you prefer having this at a consistent location like Central Coffee every month or if you would prefer we vary the location and try out different coffee spots :)