IN THIS ISSUE:

• Letter from the CEO: What does it mean to be a global citizen?
• Attention Nonprofits! Be One of the First Profiles on GreatNonprofits.org
• Kickoff to Kindergarten Success Means More Children Are Ready for School
• Get to Know Mauricio Palma, director of Early Learning and Education Initiatives
• Read the New Issue of ONE: Innovation Through Philanthropy

UPCOMING EVENTS:

• Regional Meeting on Oct. 15: Save the Date

Silicon Valley Community Foundation begins a new tradition this fall with our first Regional Meeting. The meeting is free but registration is required and seats are limited. Click here to learn more and sign up now!

Letter from the CEO: What does it mean to be a global citizen?
For those of you who have watched primetime television over the past month, you may have seen the commercials for 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China. The narrator concludes the commercial saying, “For a few short weeks the world will come together and be one nation, one world.”

While this commercial is intended to encourage viewers to watch the Olympics, it is also intended to promote a sense of global citizenship. I had a similar aim when I spoke at the University of California, Santa Barbara commencement ceremonies. As I shared with the graduates, I believe that we are moving away from a narrow view of citizenship focused on one’s home nation to a view of global citizenship that recognizes that we share one world and have a common humanity. We are entering a new age in which we will increasingly see ourselves as global citizens who are concerned about and act in ways to make our world a better place.

Attention Nonprofits! Be One of the First Profiles on GreatNonprofits.org
GreatNonprofits is an innovative new website that encourages and allows nonprofits to solicit "reviews" from stakeholders, service providers and clients. Based on the online-review model found at popular websites such as Yelp and Citysearch, GreatNonprofits hopes it will enable nonprofits to raise their public visibility and attract new supporters. This fall, participating nonprofits will benefit from GreatNonprofits’ partnership with GuideStar, a database of nonprofit organizations, when reviews will be linked to existing GuideStar profiles.

Kickoff to Kindergarten Success Means More Children Are Ready for School
It is the first day of school in Melanie LaRoche’s kindergarten classroom at Belle Haven Community School in east Menlo Park. Some children are teary and pleading with their parents not to go; several parents are equally pained in saying goodbye to their little ones. However, a group of about 10 children and their parents are smiling and happy since the Kickoff to Kindergarten program has well prepared them for school routines and the momentous transition into school.

Get to Know Mauricio Palma, director of Early Learning and Education Initiatives
As the director of Early Learning and Education Initiatives for Silicon Valley Community Foundation, Mauricio Palma leads a number of initiatives designed to impact factors critical to a child’s education, including family engagement and leadership, early care and learning programs, the school system and the community at large.

Mauricio took some time out of his day to share some thoughts about his work, challenges and what motivates him to improve our region.

Read the New Issue of ONE: Innovation Through Philanthropy
We are excited to introduce the second issue of ONE: Innovation Through Philanthropy magazine. Read the online version now and look for ONE to arrive in your mailbox soon. Highlights of this issue include stories on creative approaches for helping immigrants in San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties turn their aspirations into reality, an interview with fund advisor and E*Trade co-founder Bernie Newcomb and thoughts from Frank Sharry, a national leader on immigration about his vision for our region.