Editor's Note
We all profit from nonprofits
By Jason Walsh
to-work commuting. As part of the program, which I undertook as part of a cover story on the coalition, I biked twice a week from my home in Novato to our offices in central San Rafael—a 30-mile roundtrip—for six months. It was a wonderful program and I’ve been a regular cyclist ever since. (Though not necessarily to work; showing up
N orthBay biz’s January some of the lifeblood nonprofits of the North Bay—from homeless services and health care agencies to animal rescues and education advocates. The number of 501(c)(3)s working to better our communities is countless. (Not really, but there are more than 3,000 in Sonoma County alone.) This year’s issue happens to feature a trio of nonprofit subjects that issue has for years been dedicated to highlighting are particularly enlightening to me: up-close looks at the YWCA, local bike coalitions and the Doyle Trust “How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.” — Anne Frank
drenched in sweat with only the office restrooms for cleanup isn’t popular among coworkers, turns out.) Next, there’s Janis Mara’s story, In Doyle We Trust , which traces the origins of the Doyle Scholarship, which has helped tens of thousands of Santa Rosa Junior College students on their journeys toward earning advanced degrees, this editor included. Finally, we hope readers enjoy our salute to Redwood Credit Union, a sponsored section celebrating the 75th anniversary of the not-for-profit credit union dedicated to enriching the lives of its members, employees and the community at large. Together these nonprofit coalitions, programs and businesses are emblematic of thousands throughout the North Bay, in the above inspirational words of Anne Frank, “improve the world.” And they don’t “wait a
scholarships for Santa Rosa Junior College students. Writer Judith Wilson’s piece, Women and Children First , homes in on the efforts of YWCA Sonoma County to support and provide safe harbor for women in abusive domestic situations. The agency straddles a challenging line: keeping the locations of its safe havens discreet to ensure the safety of residents, while simultaneously elevating its brand beyond long-ago associations with the similarly acronymed health club and popular wedding-reception song. For those alternatively-transportation-minded, Janet Perry’s story, Two Wheels and the Truth , follows the path of the North Bay’s nonprofit bicycle coalitions—and their efforts to promote health, sustainability and fun by getting more people out riding bikes. As editor of the Pacific Sun a few moons ago, I took part in a Marin County Bicycle Coalition “challenge” to promote bike-
single moment” to start. g —Jason Walsh, editor in chief.
January 2025
NorthBaybiz 11
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