During the holiday season, we have the opportunity to give, not only to our loved ones but to help people in need. There are so many wonderful charities and organizations in the East Bay and beyond, and we encourage you to give as much as you can. Here are a handful of organizations that Red Oak agents choose to support this year.
Most people don’t think of donating to their local radio stations, but Ana & Pascal Forest have certainly not forgotten their favorites, including KQED for their informative journalism and KCSM to keep jazz alive. Personal to Ana is finding the cure for pancreatic cancer -- which took the lives of her mother, uncle and countless others -- through PanCan Network. They’ve also contributed to various BLM organizations and Alameda Food Bank.
As a long-term board member, Barbara Hendrickson adamantly supports Berkeley Public School Fund as well as American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and Planned Parenthood.
Catherine Stern donated to three organizations close to her heart including Living Jazz, which touches so many lives through its music programs; the American Jewish World Service for partnering with nonprofits all over the globe; and Doctors Without Borders, for saving lives throughout the world.
Cherie Carson & Elena Ronquillo are lovers of both the arts and cats. UpSwing Aerial Dance Company has had to cancel classes due to COVID-19 so they have pivoted to raise money to support artists and create dance films. Maine Coon Adoptions has recently merged with Cat Town Oakland to continue rescuing kitties.
To support local artists, Chris Crane donates to the Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive.
Eli doing a coat drive
Eli Fletcher went through a terrible divorce and lost nearly everything, leading him into despair. It was at this point where he started collecting coats and giving to those who really needed the help. He does this drive each year as a reminder that we all have a responsibility to make the world better and it starts for him right here with this gesture of warmth. One Warm Coat ambassador in partnership with White Pony Express. (This year the drive is only accepting new coats or money donations.)
To support education and the arts, Gillian Leslie donates to the Jazz and Democracy Project which incorporates the fun and liveliness of music with the fundamentals of democracy, bringing their support to the classroom to engage students.
Holly Bradford supports Habitot as it’s a great resource for local, young kids to learn and experience new things. Habitot has been hit hard by the pandemic and they need help to reopen when it’s safe to do so.
Jimmy Reina is inspired by his father who quit his job in his 70s to open up an inner city food bank program to give back to the community. A few of these charities include Bay Area Rescue Mission which serves the less fortunate in our community; Ronald McDonald House which provides room and board for families who must travel to be near loved ones who are hospitalized; Contra Costa Community College Scholarship Fund which provides access to education regardless of resources; Contra Costa Humane Society to improve the lives of animals; Planned Parenthood and the League of Women Voters. Although not charities, Jimmy also supports local resources such as Richmond Art Center and SF Camerawork.
The Glen Doherty Memorial Foundation was created when Judy Richardson’s close friend, Glen, was killed protecting the consulate in Benghazi in 2012. This organization helps military men and women transition to civilian life after they leave the service. Judy runs to raise money and support this charity.
Kate Tanaka’s guiding motto is, “A society that has more justice is a society that needs less charity.” The organizations she chooses to donate to are Common Cause, PublicCitizen, RootsAction and MECA, as well as corporate-free media outlets like CounterPunch, Common Dreams and The Intercept.
If you love the goofy, loving and very loyal boxers then you will love Keith Maddock’s story. In 2014 he and his wife fostered through West Coast Boxer Rescue in hopes of adopting their first dog. Since then they’ve adopted 3 boxers and helped place 20+ boxers in their “furever” homes. They continue to devote time, money, and supplies to the organization.
Near and dear to MAJ Realtors is UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital as Alissa and Jess’ children were patients there. Without the exceptional care, their children wouldn’t be the thriving kids they are today. MAJ Realtors aims to raise $50,000 and they will be matching the first $25,000. They have also chosen to give to Shawl-Anderson Dance Center (SADC)’s inclusive and diverse art community; The Adventure Project to end poverty in developing countries through job creation; as well as the schools their children attend including Peralta Elementary School, Kensington Hilltop and many more.
Negar Souza supports the Jack McGoverns Coats’ Disease Foundation: they help find a cure for a rare eye disease that affects children and takes their sight. She also donates to the Wilmer Eye Institute, which is dedicated to providing state-of-the-art eye care. She’s also contributed to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital, and Futures without Violence, a San Francisco-based organization that fights domestic violence and supports women’s health education.
Rose Heffelfinger chooses to donate to organizations and fundraisers such as Project Hotspot through ROOF which gave internet access to students in Contra Costa and Oakland Public Schools so that they could keep up with distance learning; West Oakland Punks With Lunch which is focused on radical compassion toward addicts by delivering free lunches and doing harm reduction work; and Friends of West Street Park which helps maintain and improve Berkeley parks - she started the Virginia Gardens Neighborhood Group that runs along the Santa Fe Railroad trail between Cedar and Delaware in Berkeley.
Roxanna Ahlbach chose to give to the Smile Train this year to help fund cleft lip and palate correction surgeries, and Hip Hop for Change which raises funds for local causes that enrich marginalized and historically oppressed communities.
Seth giving out free flu vaccines as a CERT Volunteer at the Albany YMCA
Donations come in many forms, one of which is time. Seth Franklin has been giving out free flu vaccines at the Albany YMCA as a CERT volunteer with a team of nursing students.
With Soul Shoppe, kids and entire school communities have powerful programs to build empathy and connection for kids in school. This organization is near and dear to Shawna Jones’ heart, as she worked for Soul Shoppe for many years and it changed her life, her relationships and the lives of thousands of children nationwide. This year Shawna has a goal to raise $2,500 for this Oakland-based nonprofit.
Tracy Klem chooses to donate to Glide Memorial Church in San Francisco where they provide meal programs, a crisis intervention center, women’s safe center, child care, health services, recovery center and so much more. She also donated to the World Central Kitchen, Feeding America and animal rescue organizations like the Mio Foundation in Point Richmond and the Northern California German Short-haired Pointer Rescue, where she fell in love with her dog, Hans.
Terry Pedersen supports The Salvation Army that helps meet human needs without discrimination, Bay Area Rescue Mission, and YES which seeks to remove the barriers that impede access to nature for youth and families of color, as well as those who identify with other non-dominant backgrounds.
Be sure to check with your Red Oak agent to find out who they contribute to. We hope these acts of kindness and charity inspires you to give back, no matter how small.
