Boletim informativo Power of Purpose - junho de 2025
Cara família da Fundação Comunitária do Condado de Ventura,
What a welcome! From the incredible VCCF staff, board members, donors, and nonprofit partners to the friendly barista at Old New York Deli & Bakery, I’ve felt an immediate sense of home and belonging here in Ventura County. I want to take a moment to share my reflections on my first 100-plus days and the deep hope and responsibility I feel stepping into this role.
After 22 years as CEO of a community foundation in Northern California, I stepped down last July in search of one final adventure—something meaningful to carry me into retirement with purpose. Vanessa and I have been friends and colleagues for over 10 years, and when she heard I was exploring what might come next, she invited me to Ventura County. From the moment I arrived, I was struck by the dedication, humility, and heart of this community. I knew I had found something special.
From day one, I was encouraged to get out and connect with the people and organizations doing the work. Board Chair Sean Leonard introduced me to housing initiatives supporting our unhoused neighbors, farm workers, and under-resourced families. I visited Westminster Free Clinic, Conejo Free Clinic, and the Samaritan Center in Simi Valley—each delivering life-changing services with grace and grit.
I’ve also connected with a wide range of nonprofits, from Ventura County Animal Services to MICOP to the Teaching Zoo at Moorpark College. Each visit has deepened my admiration for this region’s creativity, compassion, and resilience.
While the work I’ve seen has inspired me, I’ve also been reminded that many families are facing real hardships. From rising costs to increased uncertainty and reduced social services, this is a time of great need. That’s why I’m especially proud that just this week alone, the VCCF Board approved more than $550,000 in new community grants.
This includes $100,000 to seed a fund focused on reducing violence through a public health lens. We’ve also provided support for Know Your Rights workshops, supported our local Boys & Girls Clubs, helped fund Camp HOPE for youth healing from trauma, and sponsored MICOP’s upcoming Night in Oaxaca.
If these first 100-plus days are any sign of what’s ahead, then yes—I’ve absolutely made the right decision. I’m grateful for the chance to learn, grow, and serve in a community that leads with its heart, especially when times are hard. Thank you for making me feel so welcome and for being part of such meaningful work. With appreciation and hope,
Gary Byrne
Live & Upcoming Grant Opportunities!
Swift Memorial Health Care Foundation Charitable Fund
Now open! The Swift Memorial Health Care Foundation Charitable Fund was established following the dissolution of the Swift Memorial Health Care Foundation (SMHCF). SMHCF was named in honor of Dr. Floyd J. Swift and his wife, Ida Swift, in recognition of their significant contributions to improving the quality of life in Ventura County. The Swift Memorial Health Care Foundation Charitable Fund will carry on the Foundation’s legacy by supporting nonprofit organizations that assess health care needs or provide health care services to Ventura County residents through community-focused programs, projects, or events.
Programa de subvenções para artes e bem-estar VibeWell Ventura County
Opening soon! This grant program opportunity, funded through Ventura County Behavioral Health’s Prevention and Early Intervention (PEI) funds under the Mental Health Services Act, supports nonprofit arts and cultural organizations in delivering and evaluating programs that increase awareness of mental health conditions and treatment resources through artistic, creative, and cultural engagement.
District 2 Awards Night Benefitted Mountain Fire Relief
Thank you to the District 2 Supervisorial Leadership and Excellence Awards for their support of VCCF’s Ventura County Wildfire Relief and Recovery Fund. All ticket proceeds for the event went directly to supporting those impacted by and still recovering from the Mountain Fire. Thank you to everyone at the office of Supervisor Jeff Gorell, and congratulations to our community leaders who were honored! You’re all helping to make Ventura County a better place.
VCCF & Trusted Messenger Network Receives Recognition from Sacramento!
VCCF and the Central Coast Trusted Messenger Network have received a certificate of recognition from the California Office of Community Partnerships and Strategic Communications for ongoing efforts to engage and reach our community members on critical issues facing our entire state, such as extreme heat, mental health, and more. We’d like to thank every single one of our partners, from the counties of San Luis Obispo to Santa Barbara to Ventura, for their dedication and partnership, as well as a huge shoutout to our OCPSC Regional Project Manager Jaime Madrigal!
Celebrating Ventura County’s Trusted Messengers in Sacramento
Last month, VCCF President & CEO Vanessa Bechtel spoke on a panel at the 2025 Convening – From Connection to Action: Trusted Messenger Convening, along with leaders from across California. In their session “Building Coalitions for Impact,” they shared how coalition work takes humility, coordination, and trust.
We’re proud to be part of a conversation with the California Office of Community Partnerships & Strategic Communications discussing what it takes to build across institutions and communities!
Welcome, Kate and Mike!
We’d like to introduce VCCF’s newest team members: Director of Accounting Kate Jackson, and Staff Accountant Mike Derner! Read more about them below!
Congrats to Our VCCF Team Graduates!
Four of our student team members recently graduated from California State University, Channel Islands, and we’d like to celebrate them for this accomplishment! Congratulations to Jade Barth, Carolina Diaz, Nailea Gaytan, and Aidan Miner! We are so lucky to work with students as bright and dedicated as you all.
Nailea and Carolina wrote about their experiences as interns at VCCF, which you can read in the blog post below!
Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Oxnard and Port Hueneme
“We’d like to celebrate our friends at the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Oxnard and Port Hueneme for their recent groundbreaking of their Port Hueneme Clubhouse’s renovations! This milestone will allow them to expand their transformative services and programs to more of our community’s kids, as BGCGOP serves 5,200 youth annually!
The updated space will be named the Premier America Port Hueneme Clubhouse and include a STEAM lab, esports lounge, a teen lounge, and other amenities to help inspire and enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens.”