2024-2025 Annual Report for the San Geronimo Valley Community Center.
You Belong Here
2024-2025 ANNUAL IMPACT REPORT
MESSAGE FROM OUR LEADERS
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ALEXA DAVIDSON & BOARD PRESIDENT DAVID LAKES
This year, the San Geronimo Valley Community Center remained steadfast in its commitment to fostering belonging and serving our community with adaptability, compassion, and care. Amidst the complex and often overwhelming challenges facing our society, the Center continues to be a trusted place of stability and connection. Often called the heart of our community, we embrace that role—providing the steady beat that sustains community life: meeting essential needs, nurturing creativity, and supporting growth so that people of all ages, backgrounds, and circumstances can thrive. For decades, our community has trusted us to show up in times of both calm and uncertainty. As we look to the future, we are planning with intention and care—strengthening our strategy, deepening collaboration, and advancing our mission with heart and purpose.
We are honored to work alongside our community to create the kind of place we all want to call home.
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OUR KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Aging in Place & Older Adult Advocacy Our Elders Advisory Council continues to lead with vision, ensuring older adult voices are at the center of planning and advocacy. The Older Adult Needs Assessment created a vital platform for innovation, guiding us toward new programs that address transportation and home safety. These initiatives strengthen our commitment to helping older adults age in place with dignity, security, and connection. Advancing Early Childhood Equity This year we deepened our work to ensure that every child in our community has a strong foundation in life. Through our free bilingual playgroup and our five-week Summer Bridge program, we created opportunities for children under five to learn, play, and build social connections—regardless of family income. We also introduced swim lessons and science/tech education, joined the Disability Coalition, and partnered with early learning providers to improve early intervention assessments and services for young children. Expanding Access to Services Living in West Marin offers the gift of seclusion, but it also creates challenges in accessing essential services. This year, through our food bank, congregate senior meals, regional health fairs, free bilingual 0-5 playgroups, and new partnerships like the medically tailored meals program with the Ceres Project, we brought critical resources directly to our community. By bridging these gaps, we ensure that residents of all ages not only meet basic needs but also have the opportunity to thrive.
LIVING OUR VALUES COLLABORATION GENEROSITY EMPOWERMENT INTEGRITY
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Meet Jerome
One of our longtime community members and former board member, Jerome, received financial assistance through the Community Center’s Older Adult Cash Assistance program. These monthly payments helped Jerome break free from the cycle of financial stress and reimagine the next chapter of his life. Jerome is a musician and financial hardship had made it hard to focus on this passion. With this support, he not only returned to performing at Kate’s Café open mic but also took his music back on the road for a European “If Not Now then Fuggedabout it” tour—something he had not done in 50 years. Health & Connection 3,000 nutritious Senior Lunches served. Weekly free exercise classes — open space strolls, chair yoga, tai chi, and fitness sessions. Two peer-led “Growing Old Gracefully” support groups meeting weekly. Monthly LGBT Senior Support Group fostering inclusion and connection. 25 Tea & Cookie social gatherings bringing neighbors together. Weekly enrichment activities including Mah Jong, writing groups, and more! Quarterly excursions to museums, parks, and cultural spaces beyond the Valley.
THRIVING IN THE NEXT CHAPTER: SENIOR PROGRAMS
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THE ART OF GETTING OLDER
Older Adult Needs Assessment From critical data collection to innovation and action.
A t t he San Ge r onimo Valle y Comm u ni ty Cen t e r , w e belie v e olde r ad u l ts a r e defined no t b y age , b ut b y e xp e r ience , v i t ali ty , and a life t ime of con tr ib ut ion s t o o ur comm u ni ty. O ur pr og r am s hono r and supp o rt t hem a s t he y na v iga t e bo t h t he jo ys and challenge s of aging .
of respondents said they need transportation support right now. As a response we are launching a volunteer driver program. of respondents said they needed home modification support to be able to age in place. and 30% reported an in home fall in the last year. In response we have launched a collaborative project to assess home safety, provide key recommendations, and address financial barriers for aging in place.
18%
68%
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BUILDING BRIGHTER FUTURES: YOUTH PROGRAMS
“Zoila’s and summer camp have been essential for us. Nicasio School doesn’t provide aftercare, so we very much rely on these programs to keep life running smoothly as two work-from-home parents. The staff has been wonderful and we appreciate seeing each child getting personalized attention; We as a family feel very welcomed as part of the community and are so grateful for the programs they provide. Our daughter Hazel participates in Zoila’s during the school year and the Community Center summer camp each summer. She loves these programs and adores the staff and children there - she goes to Nicasio school, so while her circle is very close, it is rather small. Participating in these programs has allowed her to keep close contact with her friends from her daycare days, as well as meet new children she enjoys being around. I personally love that each program allows for any disposition; she can quietly read or draw, or let loose with friends outside!” Meet Hazel and her parents Stephanie and Matt
A s t he pr ima ry local o pt ion fo r y o ut h and t een en r ichmen t in o ur comm u ni ty , t he San Ge r onimo Valle y Comm u ni ty Cen t e r i s dedica t ed t o making i t t he be st o pt ion — affo r dable , incl us i v e , and in sp i r ing ! Th r o u gh Zoila ’ s and t he LOFT childca r e pr og r am s , d y namic af t e r s chool o pp o rtu ni t ie s in sp o rts , s cience and t ech , t he o ut doo rs , a rts , tut o r ing , in t e r n s hi ps , and sup e r - f u n cam ps , p ai r ed w i t h r ob ust s chola rs hi ps t ha t en sur e acce ss fo r all . We n urtur e lea r ning , c r ea t i v i ty , and belonging fo r e v e ry y o u ng p e rs on w e w o r k w i t h .
We are proud to offer scholarships and financial assistance to 30% of children enrolled in our Community Center Youth programs.
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“I’ve been involved in the Youth Programs at the Community Center for over 20 years, and every year I’m inspired by how we continue to innovate and expand opportunities for local kids. This year, I’m especially proud of our ongoing partnership with Nicasio School, which gives children in rural West Marin access to tutoring, after-school enrichment, sports, and childcare, resources they simply wouldn’t have otherwise. For kids in such a remote area these programs are essential to their well-being and help advance equity in access and opportunity. That same commitment to equity guided our decision to add free swim lessons to the Summer Bridge program this year. We wanted every child to have the chance to learn this vital life skill— something that builds safety and confidence. Affordability is also central to our program model. We ensure that regardless of a family’s ability to pay, all kids get to participate in our community.” — Nicole Ramirez, Director of Programs
“ Greenstitch [our teen climate internship program] has shaped more than just the goals for my education and career, but has changed how I interact with the people and world around me. Connecting with other young people with a drive to advocate for the environment and social justice issues has made me feel empowered and hopeful for my future amidst the uncertainty of these times. I am now a junior at UC Santa Barbara pursuing a degree in Aquatic Biology and becoming involved in marine research that I hope to manifest into a career of environmental conservation.” —Samantha Podoll, Greenstitch intern Home Grown Climate Stewards
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MORE THAN SUSTENANCE: HUMAN SERVICES $550,331 monetary value of food distributed through food bank. 650 people served weekly at drive through food bank and food pantry. 135 children received holiday gifts through our Valley Toys and Joys partnership with Dickson Ranch. KEY HIGHLIGHTS Our Human Service and Safety Net programs ensure that no one in our community is left behind. We provide vital resources that nourish, uplift, and bring dignity to individuals and families.
Meet Sarah “My family has had a very challenging year. I suffered from a pretty severe back injury in January, which put me on bedrest, using a walker and unable to drive for 4-5 months. The Community Center team really stepped up, made sure we had fresh and delicious food for my family along with an endless amount of love and support to help us get through this very difficult time. Our food bank is unrivaled as far as I have seen elsewhere - the consistency, quality and commitment on the part of the Center’s team, as well as the dedicated volunteers who give time to provide such an amazing resource, is impressive in every way. Every Thursday at the San Geronimo Commons, a fabulous group effort is made to ensure those community members in need are well provided for.”
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ENSURING HEALTHY COMMUNITIES: RECREATION & WELLNESS
The Community Gym is a hub for recreation and wellness across generations. From youth sports to adult open gyms, it builds connection through active, healthy living. Signature events like HoopFest and the Valley Games further strengthen community bonds and celebrate sports as a powerful force for belonging.
The Community Gym turned 15 this year and remains a vital community asset for fun and wellbeing!
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In rural communities like ours, disaster response, public health preparedness, food access, and community well-being depend on all of us working together.
By building strong strategic partnerships, the Community Center expands its impact throughout the Valley, Nicasio, and across Marin. As a key agency in West Marin, we are honored to work alongside outstanding organizations to strengthen emergency preparedness, prevent substance misuse, promote education and healthy lifestyles, and improve food access. Together we are amplifying a sense of belonging, celebrating an equity of perspectives, and championing cultural richness—as strong partners, we’re making a meaningful difference.
“The San Geronimo Valley Community Center’s leadership as co-lead of the West Marin Community Resiliency Team is essential to Marin County’s collective work in public health, emergency preparedness, and community connection. As a trusted and well-prepared partner serving rural West Marin, their collaboration enhances our ability to keep the entire county safer and more resilient. Their steadfast commitment to community resilience demonstrates how strong partnerships cultivate whole community preparedness.“ - Steven Torrence, Director of Emergency Management, County of Marin
RESILIENCE IS BEING PREPARED: EMERGENCY SERVICES
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Team member Poko Giacomini co- leads the West Marin Community Resiliency Team (CRT) alongside Stefhanie Gallegos of West Marin Community Services. In partnership with Marin County Public Health and other local organizations, they strengthen West Marin’s ability to prevent, prepare for, and respond to public health challenges. Current priorities include overdose prevention, emergency preparedness— particularly around climate change impacts—and expanding access to essential services. Through health fairs, community trainings, information sharing, and the distribution of Narcan and fentanyl test strips, the CRT is making a measurable difference.
Prepared, Responsive, and Resilient
This year, we dedicated time and resources to developing a comprehensive emergency and disaster plan for the Community Center. The plan outlines key roles, responsibilities, and procedures to ensure the continuation of critical operations during any type of disaster. All staff participated in a disaster preparedness training that included scenario planning and detailed operational exercises. The plan also defines our role as a designated county emergency shelter—ready to open at a moment’s notice to provide temporary or long-term support in response to local disasters. By planning comprehensively and training proactively, we are ensuring that the Community Center is prepared to respond swiftly and care for our community when it matters most.
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As a hub for creative expression, the San Geronimo Valley Community Center
showcases the visual and performing arts—from galleries featuring both emerging and world- renowned artists—to Kate’s Café open mic and book readings. Through these programs, we celebrate creativity, foster talent, and provide our community with meaningful opportunities to connect, grow, and be inspired.
CELEBRATING CREATIVITY: ARTS & EVENTS
“The San Geronimo Valley Community Center is a vital cultural destination; it’s our go-to place for education and entertainment. Along with the Annual Spring Art Show, poetry readings, and Kate’s Cafe, it’s where we check in to VOTE and check up at the Annual Health and Wellness Fair. We are full of gratitude for the abundance of this valley — the beauty of the landscape and exuberance of the people who live here. The San Geronimo Valley has seen waves of creatives over the years—somehow this place is a pole-star for those of a free-er cast of mind. We've said it before, and we will say it again, as artists, one of the great rewards is to have a vision and then be able to realize it. We have been blessed with productive, creative careers. Throughout the years, the Community Center, as a place to show and share our work, has played an important role in our development.” —Judith and Richard Lang
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PERFORMING ARTS SPOTLIGHT: The McQuilkin Family Music Hour
Michael McQuilkin remembers when the heart of a household was the piano, not a screen. Growing up in a musical family, playing together was how his family connected and had fun. So in 2012, when he founded the McQuilkin Family Music Hour, his goal was to keep that spirit alive, celebrating the beauty of musical families and sharing it with the wider community. Because here in the Valley, we are family. Or as Michael likes to say: “everybody is somebody’s somebody— there is no wall between the performers and the audience.” One of the most special parts of the Family Music Hour is Michael’s son, Alexander. Alexander is a cornerstone of this community: he serves on the Community Center Board, keeps spirits high as Tail Twister for the Lions Club, is a fixture at Saturday Morning Basketball, and volunteers at Senior Lunch. At Family Music Hour, Alexander steps into the spotlight as a true front man. His song renditions bring the crowd to its feet every time. Alexander is just one of many performers, ranging from Grammy Award–winning artists to young up-and- comers, all of whom share one thing in common: they come from, and sometimes even perform alongside, their musical families. Family Music Hour is the embodiment of our motto, You Belong Here, and a joyful showcase of the creativity and community spirit that define our Valley.
Music Brings Families Together
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“The Community Center is a miracle—a place where everyone can come together and be supported.” - Berta Mendoza, volunteer and program participant
The 2024 Latinx Arts Festival was a beautiful celebration of Latinx culture in collaboration with the West Marin Promotores group and which featured local Latinx vendors sharing food from across Latin America, Aztec dancers, Mariachi singers, traditional dances, traditional Latinx crafts, as well as an incredible art show in our galleries from Ernesto Sanchez, a local West Marin artist. With generous support from beloved community members and cherished donors, the Community Center’s International Day of Peace Festival has celebrated peace and community connection for over 10 years. Through informational booths, interactive art-making experiences, exhibitions, live music, films, and workshops the peace festival has gone from a one-day music festival to a week-long interactive community extravaganza. Peace Fest engages the community in conversations, learning, and creative action all in the name of amplifying peace. This year we celebrated our 4th Annual Climate Fest, organized by our NextGen Greenstitch Climate Action teen interns. The event brought people together around the daunting issue of climate change in a positive, creative, and solution-focused way, featuring a powerful exhibition of portraits and stories from Latinx and Indigenous land stewards as models of sustainability. Climate Fest fostered joyful, cross-generational connections and collaborations that continue to ripple out, strengthening community bonds and inspiring ongoing climate action in West Marin.
NURTURING CONNECTION: CULTURE & COMMUNITY
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Community Center Strategy: PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE
In 2024, the San Geronimo Valley Community Center completed a strategic planning process that brought together community stakeholders, board members, and staff to guide the next three years of impact. Following a successful executive transition, this was a timely moment to step back, assess all that we do, and envision what comes next. What became clear is that the Center is strong, deeply valued by the community, and poised for intentional growth. To continue evolving, we must balance meeting day-to-day needs with thinking big—innovating and planning for a more systematic approach to community wellbeing. The plan charts a clear course for growth, adaptability, and resilience—ensuring we continue to meet the evolving needs of our community with purpose. Centered on four priorities—Programs and Services, Sustainable Funding, Operations and Staff Capacity, and Marketing and Outreach—it builds on our strong foundation and community focus. We also recognized the importance of aligning our mission and identity with our expanding reach. Through deep collaborations, the Center now serves West Marin far beyond our primary service area of the San Geronimo Valley and Nicasio, extending our impact across the region. Our plan and an updated mission statement now reflect this part of our work. Strategic plans are essential for community-based organizations like ours—they turn reflection into action, provide accountability, and keep us focused on long-term sustainability while responding to immediate needs. This plan is not a document on a shelf, but a living, breathing roadmap—one that will guide us as we meet the moment, adapt to change, and continue caring for our community with heart and purpose.
OUr updated mission statement To foster healthy communities through connection, support, and creativity in the San Geronimo Valley, Nicasio, and broader West Marin.
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ENDOWMENT: A FOUNDATION FOR OUR FUTURE
In 2019, our community came together to plant a seed for the future: a $2 million investment to launch the San Geronimo Valley Community Center’s first-ever endowment. It was more than just a financial gift—it was a statement of trust, vision, and belief in what we could accomplish together. Today, thanks to careful stewardship and continued generosity, that seed has grown to $3.2 million. Each year, we are able to take a 4% distribution from the endowment—providing consistent, dependable funding for programs that touch lives across our community. “When the pandemic hit, I knew the food pantry would still be there for me. The Center never wavered in supporting my family,” says a food bank participant. “That stability meant my family never had to choose between paying rent and putting food on the table.”
This is the power of funding stability provided by the endowment and it continues to grow through impactful lifetime gifts, legacy gifts, and thoughtful investments.
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“We wanted to help lay the foundation for the long-term sustainability of the Community Center. Becoming a founding member of the Deepening Roots Legacy Circle felt like planting a seed that will keep growing well beyond our lifetime. It’s meaningful to know that this legacy gift will strengthen the Center’s ability to adapt, thrive, and continue serving the Valley for years to come.” DEEPENING ROOTS LEGACY CIRCLE
—David & Julie Bernard
The Deepening Roots Legacy Circle offers community members the chance to create a lasting impact—ensuring the Community Center’s essential services and programs remain strong and vibrant for generations to come. Legacy giving offers both practical and deeply meaningful benefits. In addition to potential tax advantages and the peace of mind that comes from thoughtful planning, you can ensure your heirs are cared for while also supporting the causes you value most. We are proud to steward legacy gifts for our community members and deeply honored to be the recipient of such cherished commitments. Our founding Legacy Circle of 20 donors have taken the steps to include the Center in their estate plans. We warmly invite you to learn more by visiting sgvcc.org/ways-to-give/planned-legacy- giving
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STEWARDING RESOURCES: INVESTING IN COMMUNITY
Expenses Child & Teen Programs Human Services
Support & Revenue Contributions County Grants & Contracts Agency Grants Foundation Grants & Family Funds Earned Income Dividend and Interest Distributions from Investments
Arts Gym Community Building, PR, Outreach Administration & Management Fundraising
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Every fiscal year begins with optimism as we build a budget designed to meet our goals and deliver strong program outcomes. We know however that external forces—like unpredictable government funding or donor giving patterns tied to market shifts—can affect revenue at any time. Even amidst uncertainty however, we must remain nimble and adaptable, adjusting staff hours, shifting operations, and meeting emerging needs as they arise—whether that means extending after-care hours or opening as a charging and warming station during power outages. The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, was no exception. We faced uncertainty in the spring as funding was threatened and fundraising efforts lagged behind our projections, despite our diversified revenue mix of earned income, donations, county contracts, and foundation grants. Through a strong community effort and late-year momentum, we are proud to report that we ended the year with an operating surplus—a critical achievement that strengthens our financial stability. A surplus allows us to maintain reserves, respond to future funding shifts without cutting services, and handle facility repairs or equipment replacements without interruption to programs. As we reflect on over 50 years of service, our continued success is built on trust—with donors, funders, and partner organizations who believe in our mission. Acting as the lead agency for several collaborations, we manage grants that increase both revenue and partner organization subcontractor expenses, expanding our reach through Human Services, resiliency, and youth substance use prevention programs. Ultimately, our financial strength reflects our people—dedicated staff, collaborative partners, and community members whose passion, creativity, and expertise make our mission possible every day.
Statement of Income and Expenses July 1, 2024 - June 30, 2025
SUPPORT & REVENUE Contributions
$802,045
Government Grants
$425,544
Agency Grants
$135,297
Foundation Grants
$569,462
Earned Income
$257,143
Dividend and Interest
$20,644
Distributions from Investments
$110,230
Total Income:
$2,320,364
EXPENSES Salaries/Taxes/Employee Benefits
$1,481,325
Subcontractors
$274,844
Insurance/Workers Compensation
$43,378
Accounting Fees
$51,854
Buildings and Grounds/Utilities
$79,140
Printing/Stone Soup
$27,652
Supplies/Postage
$30,622
Program Expenses/Food
$176,284
Other Administrative
$85,421
Total Expenses:
$2,250,520
Excess revenue over expenses
$69,844
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Thank you from our incredible team and board members!
Team Members Alexa Davidson, Executive Director Alejandro Alvarado
Board of Directors David Lakes, President Carolina Balazs John Beckerley Buddy Faure Zachary Goodman Brandon Johnson Kelly Lawson Alexander McQuilkin Morgan Patton Heather Richardson Liora Soladay Amy Waterhouse Alan Weiler Gordon White
Zoila Berardi Buck Chavez Matt Cohen Dave Cort Albert DeSilver Joan Diamond Helen Ferlino Danielle Fogel Marta Galvez
Poko Giacomini Eric Humphrey Sarah Lewis Maile Marino Michele McCourtney
You Belong Here
Kerry Olivotti Lori Ramirez Nicole Ramirez Kelly Sylvester Cory VanGelder Julie Young Jasmin Vasquez
Founder Jean Berensmeier
Photography by Alex Ivey and Sasha Gulish
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