Thank You Contributors August 1, 2025-November 1, 2025
Palace Market Pet Food Express Point Reyes Adventure Co. Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Presidio Bowl Proposition Chicken San Anselmo Family Dentistry San Francisco Ballet Serenity Knolls SF MOMA SF National Maritime Park - Tour of USS Sheppard’s Tree Care Snoopy’s Home Ice Arena Sol Food Sonoma Adventure Sorella Caffe Spirit Rock Meditation Center Tahoe Adventure The Castle in Lagunitas The Good Earth Natural Foods The Hub Restaurant The Pump Tobys Feed Barn Trevor Nestler Swim Lessons USS Hornet Sea, Air & Space Museum West Marin Senior Services Woodacre Store GRANTS & FOUNDATIONS Anonymous Connie Smith Siegel Living Trust Freitas Foundation Giving Marin Hartford Foundation for Public Giving Jack and Patty Wright Foundation Kaiser Permanente LEAP Marin Community Foundation San Geronimo Valley Lions Club
Larry Enos and Sally Hutchinson Dennis and Elysha Irish Steve and Jean Kinsey Cindy and Paul Lawson Bob and Avis Licht Rudi Dundas and Jim MacDonald Laurel A. Marinelli Michaela Fleming and John McNeil Michael and Catherine McQuilkin Connie and Dan Morse Louise Nelson Amy and Pete Nestler Jack and Judy Obedzinski Stephanie O’Brien William Lee and Corey Omaha Patrick O’Neil David and Kylee Ortiz Morgan and Wayne Patton Scott and Diane Philips Ben and Heather Podoll Ruth and David Plant Lorne and Ilona Parker Carlos and Rebecca Porrata Carol and Steve Rebscher Zoe Fuller-Rowell David and Dana Russ Katherine and Colin Sanford Bob and Dorene Schiro Petra and Nobuo Toriumi Lealya and Justin Thomas Dennis and Jody Thompson Ryan Troy Paul and Juliette Valente Nicole Tostevin and Terry Schwartz Lynette McLamb and Todd Steiner Mark Wilson and Cory VanGelder Eileen Schatz and John Voytovich Danielle Fogel and Peter Werba Thelma and Mark Weiss Ashley Fullerton and Jesse Wernick Julie Egger and Al Weiler Amy Waterhouse and Julie Wynn Malcolm Kenneth Whyte and Julie McDade-Whyte
April Wolcott and Ted Wright Jim and Susan Yobp
Anonymous Todd Averback Manny and Kristy Arroyo Al and Lisa Baylacq John and Kathy Beckerley Alex Bernstein and Julie Benjamin David and Julie Bernard Patti and Stan Breitman Angela Strehli and Bob Brown
Companies Alpha Omega Amelie Restaurant Andrew Radar LAC MS Arti’s Asian Art Museum Bayline Painting, Inc. Beach Combing Magazine Berkeley Rep Blain Consulting Blue Waters Kayak Bowlero / Lucky Strike Bowl - Petaluma Bubbalas Cast Wines Charles M. Schultz Museum Comforts Cafe The Connie Smith Siegel Trust Dovetail Fairfax Nails Fine Arts Museums of SF - deYoung
Patty and Mark Brockley Susan and Walter Buster Daley and Jane Cort Dave and Howie Cort
Daniel Morrison and Cyndi Cady Albert DeSilver and Marian Cremin Gordon White and Felicity Crush Samantha and Michael Davidson Barbara Graham and Hugh Delehanty Leo and Barbara Denouden Snuey Pearlman and Wypke Devries
Pat and Cia Donahue Ian and Bita Edwards William and Carmelita Ellis Felicia Yu-Evans Donna and Steve Faure
Folkmanis Puppets Freight & Salvage
Giusto Bakery Supply Golden State Lumber Grass Roots Landscaping Guitars Not Guns Heidrun Meadery Hog Island Oyster Co. House of Air
David Lakes and Stephanie Fein Thomas and Cynthia Fetherston Bernard and Barbara Felling Jenelle Ferhart Gerald and Geraldine Fleming Amber Charne and Isaiah Fliessbach Mark Daley and Valerie Fowler Michael Simler and Maya Friedman Owen Clapp and Nicole Germano Zak and Jana Goodman Steve and Catherine Granville Carolina Balazs and David Guendelman Richard and Jacqueline Haber Michael Heffernan Natalie Hicks
International Orange JD Ranch & Vineyard KC Turner Presents Korbel Winery La Sirena Bo-Tique Lagunitas General Store Lost Sierra Fly Fishing Adventure M&G Burger Marin Shakespeare Company Marin Spine and Sports Mountain Ocean NESTLER Construction, Inc. OCN Culture
West Marin Fund County of Marin
Don and Shirley Holmlund Kelly Lawson and Kelly Hunt
Connection continued from page 8
What the Research Shows
You Don’t Have to Be an Extrovert
In 2023, the U.S. Surgeon General issued an advisory naming loneliness and iso- lation as a public health crisis, noting that a lack of social connection can be as harmful as smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day. This challenge affects communities everywhere—including rural places like ours. A national study of more than 3,000 adults found that one in three people aged 45 and older experiences loneliness . But the encouraging news is that social connection acts like medicine, improving everything from longevity to cognitive health.
Connection looks different for everyone. You don’t need to be outgoing or socially active all the time to reap the benefits. Some people need solitude—what matters is having meaningful, reliable relationships that fit your personality and comfort level.
Build Your Own Connection Plan
Just like starting a new exercise routine, connection grows gradually. The Community Center offers many ways to engage at your own pace: • Monday Lunch • Mah Jong • Monthly Freewrite Sessions • Drop-in Watercolors • Yoga & Tai Chi
Health Benefits of Social Connection
• Fewer chronic health conditions such as high blood pressure and heart disease • Lower risk of dementia • Reduced rates of depression and anxiety
• Monthly Kate’s Cafe music • Community Singing groups • Growing Old Gracefully groups
Small Steps, Big Impact
• Connection doesn’t have to be complicated. One remarkable study shows: • 61% of adults who have never spoken to a neighbor report feeling lonely, compared to • Just 33% of those who regularly talk with neighbors Even simple encounters—chatting with someone at the store or greeting your mail car- rier—boost feelings of connection and even improve physical function and mobility. In rural communities like ours, familiar faces matter more than we often realize.
…and many more opportunities to gather, volunteer, and have fun. We always have an upcoming event, and we love welcoming new volunteers and participants.
Taking the First Step
Unlike many aspects of health that feel out of our control, social connection is something we can always influence. That makes it a powerful tool for wellbeing. If you’re looking to try something new, revisit an old interest, or simply meet a few friendly faces, you belong here . Stop by, give us a call, or come to one of our programs. Sometimes the smallest “hello” opens the door to the most meaningful connections.
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