Local Advisors Give Back to Underserved Youth

Twenty-two local professional advisors including CPAs, estate planning attorneys and financial advisors recently pooled their philanthropy to make grants supporting six programs serving youth in Placer County.

The Advisor Giving Circle at the Placer Community Foundation awarded nearly $29,000 in grants to provide economically disadvantaged youth ages 14-21 with training and support by peer and adult mentors around violence prevention, leadership and communication skills, self-esteem, and relationship building. Nonprofit organizations receiving the grants include: Boys & Girls Club of Auburn, Child Advocates of Placer County, PEACE for Families, ReDirect/Nuevo Camino, Roseville Police Activities League and Sierra Forever Families.

Members of the Giving Circle provided funding for the grants, which was then matched by the Foundation. The members then carefully reviewed all of the applications, met with the applicants directly and presented their funding recommendations to the Foundation’s Board of Directors for approval.

Many of the nonprofit organizations that applied were worthy of a grant,” states Jason Cardinet, a member of the Advisor Giving Circle from the accounting firm Gallina LLP. “These groups are doing the hands-on work that can positively change the direction of a young person’s life.” It felt good to be part of a process that will support these organizations in reaching kids that currently feel they have no future.”

The Youth Development program at Placer Community Foundation funds organizations that support youth in acquiring the personal and social strengths needed for successful transition into adulthood. It is an approach that helps youth build strong relationships with others, learn new skills and give back to the community. PEACE for Families was funded for their My Strength program, which works with at-risk teenage boys.

“Our adult facilitator works closely with young men who live in a culture steeped in violence and who see no alternative to embracing it,” states Michelle Coleman, Executive Director of PEACE for Families. “The My Strength program helps them build their understanding of their world and their own role in it. It teaches them healthy ideas about masculinity and empowers them to prevent men’s violence against women. We are thankful to the Giving Circle and the Foundation for their support.”

“Support of the Youth Development program through the Advisor Giving Circle is a perfect example of how philanthropy can be leveraged to maximize good work in our community,” states Jeff Birkholz, Chairman of the Board for Placer Community Foundation. “Our board and staff feel fortunate to facilitate the bridging together of community-minded advisors with local, committed nonprofits.”

The Placer Community Foundation gratefully acknowledges the following advisors for participating in this year’s Advisor Giving Circle:

• Paul S. Aronowitz, Law Offices of Aronowitz & Skidmore
• Donna Book, Bobst, Book & Associates, C.P.A.'s
• Jason J. Cardinet, C.P.A., Gallina LLP
• Sheila Cardno, LPL Financial Services
• Debbi Christensen, Propp Christensen Caniglia LLP
• Andrew Edwards, Andrew Edwards & Associates, Financial Advisors
• Guy Gibson, Gibson & Gibson, Inc., A Law Corporation
• George Graziano, Scinto Graziano LLP
• Dewey Harpainter, Attorney at Law
• Margaret Heiser Fulton, Robinson, Lyon & Fulton
• Barbara Jicha, C.P.A.
• Jimmy Louis, Certified Public Accountant
• Ellen MacInnes, Senior Vice President, Morgan Stanley Smith Barney
• Joe Milam, Legacy Capital Management Inc.
• Steven Phillips, Kuppinger & Phillips CPA's
• Tim Sands, Attorney
• Don St. Clair, CFP, EA, a Registered Investment Advisor
• Dieter Stenger, Homer, Stenger & Company Inc.
• Kent R. Suemnicht, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans-The Sierra Foothills Group
• Doug Summers, Robertson Woodford & Summers LLP
• Mike Wilson, Wilson Wilson & Taylor CPA's
• Randy Wilson, Kronick Moskovitz Tiedemann & Girard

Send Us Feedback

Was this helpful?
No Very

Name (optional)

Website (optional)

Email Address (optional)

Please fill in the text in the image in the box below

Comment (optional)