KELSEYVILLE >> Organizers of the #LakeCountyRising fundraising effort have begun distributing money from its Fire Relief Fund with the first round of giving designed to support the needs of youth in the impacted communities. The organization has been working directly with community leaders to help identify some of the most pressing community needs and funding gaps.
Middletown Unified School District received $40,000 to support the sixth grade science camp for students attending elementary schools in Cobb, Middletown and Hidden Valley Lake and the K-12 music program. The balance went toward gift cards for students impacted by the fire.
Another $10,000 was delivered to the Lake County Fair Foundation to assist Future Farmers of America (FFA) and 4-H youth programs with the replacement of jackets, uniforms, equipment, tack and animal needs. The group also sent $10,000 to the Lake Family Resource Center to help with immediate housing and other needs of client families who lost homes in the fire.
Established shortly after the Valley Fire erupted, the organization has received more $500,000 in contributions. “The outpouring of support has been remarkable,” said Debra Sommerfield, president of the Lake County Winegrape Commission.
As donations to the Lake County Rising Fire Relief Fund began to arrive, organizers recognized the need to establish a steering committee that could guide the distribution of funds to assist individuals, businesses and organizations where the need is acutely felt, as well as generate awareness and solicit funds beyond Lake County borders.
Based on an initial assessment of community needs, the steering committee determined the first checks should help restore some sense of normalcy for children who have suffered as a result of the fire. Many youth lost equipment, instruments, supplies, uniforms, even animals used in agricultural programs, all of which are vital to their extracurricular activities. Also at risk are other youth programs, like science camp and music programs, which require monetary support through fundraising drives in their communities — a difficult task given the devastation of the Valley Fire.
The steering committee includes Kaj Ahlmann, President, Lake County Wine Alliance, and Owner, Six Sigma Ranch; Andy Beckstoffer, Chair and Owner, Beckstoffer Vineyards; Rob Brown, District 5 Supervisor; Elizabeth Gore, Entrepreneur-in-Residence, Dell; Peter Molnar, Partner and General Manager, Obsidian Ridge Vineyard; Brad Onorato, District Representative for U.S. Congressman Mike Thompson; Tiffany Ortega, Assistant Administrator, Sutter Lakeside Hospital.
This group will guide future distribution of aid. They will also develop continuing fundraising strategies, particularly in Napa, Sonoma and the San Francisco Bay Area.
From the start, Rep. Thompson and Supervisor Brown have been integral in providing insight, support and on-the-ground experience for the #LakeCountyRising organizers and steering committee. Thompson and his supporters also contributed $52,500 to the fund.
“Tragedies have a way of showing what a community is made of, and the Valley Fire is no different,” Thompson said. “This is one of the worst fires in California’s history, but it’s shown the absolute best of Lake County. We are a community of strength, resolve, gratitude and generosity, and that is how I know Lake County will rise again.”
The fundraising effort was kicked off with a $50,000 donation from Andy Beckstoffer of Beckstoffer Vineyards. “We hope this will motivate other people to give,” Beckstoffer said at the time. Since then, numerous businesses, associations and individuals have generously offered their support to survivors of the Valley Fire with contributions to #LakeCountyRising.
Trinchero Family Estates contributed $100,000. Rabobank N.A. sent $25,000, as did Napa County’s The Hess Collection. The Savings Bank of Mendocino County added $20,000 to the fund. Other initial contributors included Calpine, Homestake Mining Company and Cache Creek Vineyards.
Calpine’s geothermal operations at The Geysers is one of Lake County’s largest employers and many of its employees lost homes in the Valley Fire. “Calpine has supported #LakeCountyRising from the beginning,” said Danielle Matthews Seperas, Manager, Government & Community Affairs at Calpine. “We feel this was the one local organization that could immediately help those impacted by the fire. All of our events and outreach are focused on supporting this cause so we can help our community rebuild as quickly as possible.”
Although located in Napa County, the Hess wine estate recognized the need to help.
“We experienced devastation firsthand — we are still rebuilding after the Napa earthquake,” said Tim Persson, CEO, Hess Family Wine Estates. “Lake County is part of the Hess Community and we feel strongly about helping the recovery from this devastation.”
The Lake County Wine Alliance, a 501(c)(3) organization, is managing the collection and distribution of funds for #LakeCountyRising. According to Bill Groody, Marketing Director of the Wine Alliance, more than 30 wineries, vineyard owners and other businesses have donated to #LakeCountyRising, and more than 200 individuals have supported the fundraising effort.
“It’s extremely gratifying to see that what started out as a wine industry response to the Valley Fire has blossomed into a broad-based response, with donations coming in from places as far away as Alaska, Florida, New York and Washington, D.C.,” he said.
Future giving will be based on an in-depth community needs assessment currently underway and identification of needs not covered by other funding sources. Areas of focus will include community-building activities to support long-term recovery efforts for the communities of Middletown and Cobb.
Individuals and businesses that would like to support the #LakeCountyRising effort and ensure their donations go to help survivors of the Valley Fire may visit www.lakecountywinegrape.org/LCR or www.facebook.com/LakeCountyRising. Or they may send a check made payable to “Lake County Rising Fire Relief Fund” to P.O. Box 530, Kelseyville, CA 95451. Donations are tax-deductible.
