Women’s Center’s Major Gifts Campaign Crucial to Sustaining Services

STOCKTON – With state and county funding uncertain and the local giving declining, the Women’s Center’s annual fundraising campaign is more critical than ever, said Joelle Gomez, Executive Director for the agency.

“The generosity of the community has helped the Women’s Center thrive and grow for more than 30 years. We are proud to be able to offer a wide range of services at no cost to our clients. The support of local businesses and individuals is absolutely crucial if we are to continue providing our services at the same level,” Gomez said.

The Women’s Center has been serving victims of domestic violence and sexual assault throughout San Joaquin County since 1976. Due to state and county funding cuts, and the recent delay in the signing of the state budget, the Center has tightened its belt to avoid reductions or interruptions in services, Gomez said.

“We’ve implemented a temporary spending freeze to ensure that our services – counseling, support groups, shelter services, outreach – continue as usual for our clients. In difficult economic times, our first obligation is to the victims who need our help,” Gomez said.

The Women’s Center is launching its Major Gifts Campaign, “Opening Doors, Transforming Lives,” in order to raise the funds it needs to sustain services for the coming year. Income from the campaign accounts for a significant portion of the agency’s budget, said Gomez.

Donna Anderson and Rick Berger will co-chair the Women’s Center’s 2008 Major Gifts Campaign, themed “Opening Doors, Transforming Lives.” Donna Anderson is the Adult Services Division Chief for Human Services Agency, and serves as Treasurer for the Women’s Center’s Board of Directors. Rick Berger is a Retired Deputy Fire Chief for the Stockton Fire Department and formerly served on the Women’s Center’s Board of Directors.

The co-chairs will be joined by a committee of community leaders:

• Carlos Almanza, Vice President/Northern California Manager of Community Development for US Bank;
• Mary Bava, Senior Consultant for Assemblymember Cathleen Galgiani;
• Nikki Beasley, owner of B. Wise Consultants;
• Kimberley Borgens, CEO of Be A Legacy and owner of Delta Protective Services;
• Dave Erb, Deputy Director of Children’s Services for Human Services Agency;
• Marian Jackson, Director of Government Affairs at Comcast;
• Karen Moran, Washington Mutual;
• Jolene Saldivar, General Manager at Holiday Inn Express in Tracy;
• Nancy Slatten, owner of Nancy Slatten Insurance Services;
• Kelly Stump, Clinical Decision Support Analyst for Lodi Memorial Hospital
• Dave Tygett, Retired
• Linda Verdun-Brown, Outreach Recruiter for Humphreys College
• Doug Wilhoit, CEO of the Greater Stockton Chamber of Commerce

The campaign brings education and awareness to the community, renews donor commitments and establishes new partnerships. The committee will be challenged to raise $60,000 between now and the end of the year. The campaign accounts for a generous percentage of the agency’s operating budget and helps sustain services and programs that reach over 30,000 individuals countywide each year.

The Women’s Center’s mission is to provide a wide range of supportive, educational, and crisis intervention services to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, enabling them to regain control of their lives. Last year, the agency reached more than 30,000 women, children and men through crisis intervention and outreach and prevention programs. For more information on the campaign, please contact Joelle Gomez or Kate Macek by calling (209) 941-2611, or visit www.womenscenterofsjc.com.