San Bruno Community Foundation Honors Crestmoor Scholars

at June Board Meeting

At its June 1, 2016, meeting, the San Bruno Community Foundation Board of Directors honored the 2016 Crestmoor Scholars.  Through the Crestmoor Neighorbood Memorial Scholarship, the Foundation is supporting seven outstanding San Bruno students who have demonstrated a strong commitment to the San Bruno community with multi-year college scholarships totaling $100,000.  The 2016 Crestmoor Scholars include (pictured above, left to right) Anthony Harvey, Jamie Chen, Giselle Hengst, Alejandra Andrade, Allie Stines, Erick Sullivan, and Leitu Takapu.   

The Board hosted the Crestmoor Scholars and their families at a reception preceding the June 1 meeting at the San Bruno Senior Center.  At the opening of the Board meeting, President Nancy Kraus introduced each Crestmoor Scholar, while Board Member Pat Bohm and Secretary Emily Roberts congratulated them at the podium.  Reflecting on the 2010 gas pipeline explosion in San Bruno's Crestmoor neighborhood and the community members affected by the tragedy for whom the scholarship is named, Mayor Jim Ruane applauded the Crestmoor Scholars and the importance of "making something good come out of something horrible.  This moment is so exciting for [the Crestmoor Scholars], for the City Council, and for the City of San Bruno."  

San Bruno Enjoys Community Day

The San Bruno community enjoyed a beautiful spring afternoon at San Bruno City Park for the third annual Community Day.  With its first strategic grant of $30,000 to the City, the Foundation underwrote the costs of the event, which was held on June 5, 2016, in conjunction with the San Bruno Lions Club's annual Posy Parade.    

Thousands of community members convened at San Bruno City Park, enjoying carnival rides, games, music, food booths, baseball games, the Lions Club's classic car show, and a beautiful spring afternoon. A festive community spirit permeated the park.

Community Grants Fund Created

At the June 1 Board meeting, the Foundation Board approved the creation of the Community Grants Fund, with a $200,000 program budget for the 2016-2017 fiscal year.  As presented by Pat Bohm, chair of the Ad Hoc Committee on Foundation Program Development, this responsive grantmaking program will allow local community groups to apply for grant funding to support new or existing programs that benefit the San Bruno community in one of the 11 focus areas identified in the Foundation's Program Strategy Framework.

The Foundation plans to launch the program by the beginning of July.  At that time, the online grant application will be available, and several workshops will be held prior to the September 30, 2016, grant application deadline to provide information about the Community Grants Fund and the application process.  

San Bruno community organizations will be able to apply for grants up to $25,000 for projects or programs to be implemented in 2017.  The Foundation expects to announce grant awards in December 2016.  

More information about the Community Grants Fund will be disseminated through the San Bruno community by early July.  

June Board Meeting Summary

The Board of Directors of the San Bruno Community Foundation held its regular monthly meeting on June 1, 2016, at the San Bruno Senior Center.  In addition to honoring the 2016 Crestmoor Scholars and creating the Community Grants Fund, the Board handled other agenda items, including:

Report on Grant Projects with the City: On behalf of the Ad Hoc Committee on Program Strategy Development, Nancy Kraus provided a brief update on the status of the four projects the Foundation has proposed to the City of San Bruno.

• Community Facilities Vision Plan: The City continues to work with Anderson Brule Architects on the pre-planning report and hopes to move forward with the Community Facilities Vision Plan this summer, which will include engaging the community in conversation similar to the Fundation's 2015 Community Listening Campaign.
• Community Day: President Kraus encouraged everyone to attend Community Day on June 5.  
• Pedestrian Safety Improvements: The City has enlisted the assistance of a traffic engineer to look at circulation paths in the downtown area and near schools in order to propose various pedestrian safety improvements in those areas to be funded by the Foundation.
• Florida Avenue Park Development: On May 24, 2016, the City Council approved a demolition contract for the 324 Florida Avenue site.  Demolition of the site is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2016.  The proposed capital budget that the City Council will consider in June includes $425,000 in City funds, in addition to the Foundation's proposed $200,000 contribution, to cover park design and construction.  The City also plans to begin a conceptual design process for the park in June, which will include at least two community meetings.  

Approval of SBCF 2016-2017 Budget: Executive Director Leslie Hatamiya presented the Foundation's proposed budget for fiscal year 2016-2017, which the Board approved.  The budget includes $975,000 in program disbursements, including $100,000 for the Crestmoor Neighborhood Memorial Scholarship, $200,000 for the Community Grants Fund, and $675,000 for strategic grants in partnership with the City.  

Creation of Investment Committee: Now that the Foundation has taken possession of the resititution funds from the City, the Board created, at the recommendation of the Ad Hoc Committee on Investment Strategy, a standing Investment Committee that will provide ongoing guidance to the Board on all investment management-related matters. As Treasurer, Ben Cohn will serve as chair, and the Board appointed the Committee's other members, including Vice President Frank Hedley, Tony Clifford (a longtime San Bruno resident and Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of First National Bank of Northern California), Dr. Mark Hayes (former Managing Director of the Stanford Management Company who previously advised the Foundation on investment matters), and Georganne Perkins (Senior Advisor at Fisher Lynch Capital who has extensive experience in nonprofit investment management).  

Creation of Ad Hoc Committee on Elections Process: The Board created the Ad Hoc Committee on Elections Process, charged with proposing a process for the annual election of officers.  The Board appointed Board Member Regina Stanback Stroud as chair and Vice President Frank Hedley and Board Member John McGlothlin as committee members.  

Next Foundation Board Meeting

July 6, 2016 * 7:00 p.m.

San Bruno Senior Center

1555 Crystal Springs Road