Starlight Children's Foundation Australia’s Post

🌟 Celebrating the Legacy of the Black Panther Party's Free Breakfast Program🖤 In 1968, under the leadership of Bobby Seale and Huey P. Newton, the Black Panther Party initiated their groundbreaking Free Breakfast Program in West Oakland. What began modestly, serving 11 children on its inaugural day, quickly transformed into a vital lifeline for over 20,000 kids/day in 1968-1969, nationwide. Building on the success of the free breakfast program, the Panthers' Free Food Program established food pantries to support adults as well. Their commitment to nourishing the bodies and minds of their community members solidified their profound understanding that hunger is not just a physical condition but also a systemic injustice. The Panthers' initiatives transcended past food. They established free medical clinics staffed by volunteer doctors, nurses, and medical students, often housed in low-rent facilities donated by supportive community members. These clinics served as symbols of solidarity in neighborhoods underserved by traditional healthcare systems. Yet, the Panthers' impact extended beyond their direct services too. They leveraged their grassroots network to advocate for systemic change, rallying local businesses for donations and boycotting those who refused to participate in their effort to build community solidarity. Their efforts spoke volumes and represented the power of collective action. Though many aspects of their work were considered controversial in their time, today many recognize The Black Panther Party as powerful role models of community organization and activism that addressed systemic injustices like food insecurity long before many organizations like ours came into existence. Today, we honor their monumental contributions to fighting hunger in their communities. 💙 If you're interested in learning more about the work of the Black Panthers, we encourage you watch the incredible Oakland Museum's Black Panther documentary: https://lnkd.in/e_q4WjPE Photo credits (in order): Stephen Shames, William P. Straeter, Jones Pirkle, Stephen Shames, Howard Bingham #FoodJustice #FoodInsecurity #BlackPanthers #blackhistorymonth

Flipping it forward is in our DNA

Redwood Credit Union (RCU) has a rich history and a wide-reaching impact in its community. Here are some fun and interesting facts about Redwood Credit Union: Community Reach and Size: Redwood Credit Union serves over 415,000 members across several counties including Sonoma, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, Mendocino, Lake, Contra Costa, and Solano. As of July 31, 2022, it is the largest credit union in the North Bay, boasting $7.6 billion in assets. It's the 37th largest credit union in the U.S. among approximately 5,200 credit unions and the 8th largest in California out of 300. RCU operates 19 branch locations, with 18 in the North Bay and 1 in San Francisco. They also provide over 30,000 free network ATMs and an out-of-network ATM fee reimbursement program for members. History and Development: Founded in 1950 by seven employees of the County of Sonoma, it later changed its name to Redwood Credit Union in 1982 to reflect the increased demand for affordable financial services in the North Bay. By 2004, RCU's membership had reached 100,000 and by 2007, its assets had grown to $1 billion. They also moved into a new corporate building in Santa Rosa, CA, which is recognized as a silver LEED-Certified green building. Recognition and Awards: RCU has been recognized by Forbes as one of "America's Best Small Employers 2023". It has received the title of the healthiest credit union in California and ranked sixth healthiest in the nation among large credit unions. The credit union has also been acknowledged as the "Best Credit Union" by the readers of Press Democrat every year and has achieved numerous other accolades including a 5‐Star Bauer Rating and an A+ Excellent Rating from Weiss Ratings. Community Impact and Services: RCU is committed to helping its members improve their lives and making a positive difference in the community. It has been active in this regard since 1950, aiding people in achieving their financial goals and dreams. The credit union offers a full range of financial services for both personal and business use, including checking, savings, loans, credit cards, investments, insurance, and auto purchasing/brokerage. Employee Base: Employing 720 individuals, RCU contributes significantly to local employment. Moreover, RCU has been named one of the best places to work for the 17th consecutive year by the North Bay Business Journal. These facts paint a picture of a credit union deeply rooted in its community, committed to providing excellent service and value to its members, and recognized both locally and nationally for its stability, service, and workplace culture. Cheers to the team and leader Brett Martinez

It was an honor to serve RaiseUp Families as their Executive Director for nearly 4 years. In that time, the organization experienced unprecedented growth: ✅ Expanded Board of Directors by 50% ✅ Doubled the number of families (clients) being served ✅ Client outcomes improved by 100% (average income increase in signature 9-month HandUp program went from 35% - 71%) ✅ Client graduation rate improved from 80% to 91% ✅ Revenue growth from $450,000 to $1,000,015 (donations from private sources) These outcomes are a result of the Board of Directors and staff working together towards a common goal, each person utilizing their unique skills and abilities in their individual role to help the bus arrive at its desired destination. They are the result of hours and hours of innovation, hard work, and determination. As RaiseUp Families celebrates its 30th Anniversary of stabilizing families from vulnerable communities who face unexpected financial crises so their children can focus on their education, giving them the opportunity for a better life, it needs a full-time leader with passion, vision, and experience to lead it forward. I could not be happier that Kate Yadan will pick up this torch and lead RaiseUp into the future! "We know that change is a natural part of life, and those who embrace it grow while those who do not slowly die, metaphorically. Two of the largest obstacles to change are ego and pride. Moving out of our own way is the toughest battle most of us will face. Giving up our seat for someone else, stepping down when it's time for someone else to step up, and gracefully exiting when we have added all the value we can, are what we should all strive for." -Angela Burgess, Are You on the Right Bus?

Way to go Evluma! Want to learn more about AreaMax? Give us a call!

re: A small glimpse of our work from the frontlines of philanthropy For the last quarter-century, we've been right there with you, working on the frontlines of philanthropy. It's been an incredible journey, and it's shown us something truly remarkable: when philanthropy and brand unite, magic happens. When tearing down those old barriers and joining forces, the results are nothing short of spectacular. We have experienced firsthand this formidable partnership creating massive waves of fundraising and awareness that have propelled missions forward. These mission-moving results would not be possible without program participants and their families who courageously shared their stories and generously granted permission to us to share them. Some of the visuals and messaging in our body of work may evoke strong emotional reactions or discomfort for some viewers. If you feel that you might be affected by such content, we recommend proceeding with caution or choosing to view our work at a time when you feel more prepared. 👉 Take a look at a tiny cross-section of our work: https://bit.ly/3Ymt9KE

Well done to you both

Step by step you can achieve big results 💙💛

re: A small glimpse of our work from the frontlines of philanthropy For the last quarter-century, we've been right there with you, working on the frontlines of philanthropy. It's been an incredible journey, and it's shown us something truly remarkable: when philanthropy and brand unite, magic happens. When tearing down those old barriers and joining forces, the results are nothing short of spectacular. We have experienced firsthand this formidable partnership creating massive waves of fundraising and awareness that have propelled missions forward. These mission-moving results would not be possible without program participants and their families who courageously shared their stories and generously granted permission to us to share them. Some of the visuals and messaging in our body of work may evoke strong emotional reactions or discomfort for some viewers. If you feel that you might be affected by such content, we recommend proceeding with caution or choosing to view our work at a time when you feel more prepared. 👉 Take a look at a tiny cross-section of our work: https://bit.ly/3Ymt9KE

re: A small glimpse of our work from the frontlines of philanthropy For the last quarter-century, we've been right there with you, working on the frontlines of philanthropy. It's been an incredible journey, and it's shown us something truly remarkable: when philanthropy and brand unite, magic happens. When tearing down those old barriers and joining forces, the results are nothing short of spectacular. We have experienced firsthand this formidable partnership creating massive waves of fundraising and awareness that have propelled missions forward. These mission-moving results would not be possible without program participants and their families who courageously shared their stories and generously granted permission to us to share them. Some of the visuals and messaging in our body of work may evoke strong emotional reactions or discomfort for some viewers. If you feel that you might be affected by such content, we recommend proceeding with caution or choosing to view our work at a time when you feel more prepared. 👉 Take a look at a tiny cross-section of our work: https://bit.ly/3Ymt9KE