VCCF Power of Purpose - Marzo 2024
Estimada familia de la Fundación Comunitaria del Condado de Ventura,
“I dwell in Possibility/A fairer House than Prose” – Emily Dickinson
In moments like these, I find myself turning to the arts to fuel my soul and lift my spirit. This morning, I found comfort in the words of Emily Dickinson’s poem “I dwell in Possibility.” In just a few short lines, Dickinson reminds us to choose hope, the key to attracting goodness into our shared world. Her words feel like a call to action, inviting us to give what we can, to reach out to one another, and to remember that Possibility is a place we can choose to live.
Every once in a while, I forget and begin to feel small in the face of the challenges ahead. But our VCCF family, time and again, shows up and reminds me of the incredible power we have when we act with love and purpose—together.
My husband often says the work we do at the community foundation is like making stone soup, a reference to the Tom Chapin song inspired by European folklore. It tells of a stranger who comes to town hungry and convinces the children to help him make soup from just a few stones. As the pot begins to boil, he suggests it might taste even better with a soup bone…and maybe some carrots…and before long, the whole village has come together to create a delicious meal, enough to feed everyone.
That’s exactly what I see here in Ventura County. Let us not lose sight of the incredible impact we’ve had together, more than 23,000 of us, all committed to making Ventura County the best place to live for all.
Just remember for a moment, after the Mountain Fire struck, hundreds of you mobilized to help. Together, we witnessed acts of extraordinary generosity and care, raising more than $1 million to support our neighbors during their time of need. I continue to be deeply inspired by the leadership of Interface Children & Family Services, 211 Ventura County, Ventura County VOAD, Anne Whatley, and Supervisor Jeff Gorell—each of whom were honored by the VCCF Board this past week for their dedicated service—and many others who worked tirelessly to protect and support our community.
And while challenges remain, we hold on to what’s possible. Dr. Jamshid Damooei’s recent study “Affording a Dignified Life on the Central Coast” reminds us just how hard it is for families to meet even their most basic needs. Our nonprofit partners are feeling this pressure daily as requests for help continue to rise.
And yet, there is still so much hope. I’m thrilled to share that three extraordinary new colleagues have joined our VCCF team, bringing fresh energy and deep dedication to our mission. With them—and with all of you—I believe we can keep building a future where everyone in Ventura County has the chance not just to get by, but to truly thrive.
If you’re feeling the weight of these times, please know you are not alone. We see you. We’re with you. And together, by choosing to dwell in possibility, we’ll make it through—stronger, kinder, and more connected than ever.
With gratitude and hope,
Vanessa Bechtel VCCF President & CEO
“Affording a Dignified Life on The Central Coast of California”
Cal Lutheran’s Center for Economics of Social Issues 2025 Conference
Last week, Dr. Jamshid Damooei shed a light on what it takes to to live a dignified life on California’s central coast at CESI’s annual conference, which featured panelists from VCCF including Board Member Dr. César Morales and President & CEO Vanessa Bechtel.
Dr. Damooei’s full study includes eye-opening figures on the urgent struggles Californians face, ranging from living wages to early childhood education to food stamps. Learn more by viewing some key highlights of the study below.
We’ve Rebranded! Meet Your New VCCF
VCCF is delighted to debut our new rebrand! We invite you to dive in and explore our brand new website. Take a look!
VCCF Funding Opportunities – Open Now
We have two grant opportunities you won’t want to miss! More info available on our Grants page.
Fondo Bert M. y Mildred O. Dahl
Grants from the Bert M. and Mildred O. Dahl Fund are to be used in Ventura County for general charitable purposes to benefit the youth of Oak View, California. Nonprofit organizations must be establishing or assisting programs for the youth of Oak View. This may include the construction and maintenance of facilities for such programs. Application deadline is Monday, March 17 at 5 p.m. PST.
Fondo Barbara Barnard Smith para las Músicas del Mundo
Grants from the Barbara Barnard Smith Fund for World Musics are to support live performances or programs representing non-Western musics. Application deadline is Friday, March 28 at 5 p.m. PST.
Welcoming New VCCF Team Members!
We’d like to introduce VCCF’s newest team members: Director of Strategic Initiatives Roshin Mathew, Vice President Gary Byrne, and Marketing & Communications Intern Nailea Gaytan! Read more about them below!
Safety Around Water: Southeast Ventura County YMCA
SEVYMCA is committed to making drowning prevention a priority for our community, ensuring all children have the opportunity to learn water safety techniques through Safety Around Water, a free program that teaches water safety and basic swimming skills to those with little or no experience.
To learn more about this life-saving program and other services, visit SEVYMCA’s website.
Nuevo Teatro Art City
Founded in early 2023, New Art City Theatre is a professional theatre company dedicated exclusively to developing new works for the stage. The unique mission at NACT is to provide equal access to critical resources for playwrights, composers, and lyricists of all backgrounds, and to expand audience participation by offering free admission to many NACT events. NACT brings writers from around the country to Ventura where plays or musicals are developed through live readings and workshops. The nonprofit has established a collaborative space for artists and audience alike, so that everyone can take part in the exciting process of creating theatre. VCCF is proud to support NACT, and we encourage you to watch “A Show That May Change the World,” demonstrating the power of theatre and the journey to make the magic happen. Be sure to check out the recording from their Virtual Lunch & Learn this month.