TLC’S SCCV Legacy Fund

In 2003, Bob Kolodge, a former foster child himself, gifted the property for the Sonoma County Children’s Village. Progress then moved quickly. The story touched the hearts of Jennifer and Joe Montana in 2004, giving a needed boost and heightened visibility to its mission. Other celebrities also began rallying around Rowley, bringing awareness, commitment and funding to help make the Sonoma County Children’s Village a reality. Jerry Garcia donated proceeds from his art show and Tom Waits wrote a song for the catalyst child, Georgia Lee.

Countless other volunteers gave their time, money and commitments to the project. And in 2006, the Sonoma County Children’s Village opened its doors and began changing the lives of dozens of foster children. As had been Lia’s vision, they – together with their siblings – found a nurturing home on the village campus, with caring and supportive staff, on-site volunteer grandparents, and many dedicated volunteers from the community who enriched the children’s lives through gardening, arts, trips to Disneyland and much more.

However, in 2015, California bill AB403 was passed, which dealt a blow to the group home concept. The Sonoma County Children’s Village could no longer function as a home for foster children. Sadly, it closed and the property was sold.

Refusing to give up on the Sonoma County Children’s Village and its mission to serve foster youth, a group of dedicated volunteers researched the needs and available services in the community and found other innovative ways to support foster children, true to its updated vision and mission.

• Vision: a world where all children feel safe, have a sense of belonging and have equal opportunities to become happy, healthy and productive adults.
• Mission: to improve the lives of foster youth through the power of community.

In the fall of 2016, SCCV launched new programs that funded urgent needs and services that directly benefited individual foster youths and are not covered by other funding sources, such as orthodontics, tutoring and specialized therapy, but also enrichments like gymnastics as well as professional driver’s training. SCCV supported summer camps that help to normalize foster children’s experiences and reconnect siblings that have been separated in foster care. And a substantial contribution to CSN’s supportive housing will help house homeless young adults who are former foster youth for years to come.

With growing programs run entirely by its volunteer board, SCCV found itself at a final crossroads. Rather than hiring staff and competing for resources with approximately 3,000 other nonprofits in Sonoma County, the board decided to dissolve and gift its remaining funds to a nonprofit that is aligned with their mission and values and also has the leadership, vision, organization, and track record to make the most of the funds. After extensive vetting and consideration, they found the perfect match in TLC Child and Family Services. Sonoma County Children’s Village transfers a legacy gift of $2.5 million to TLC in early 2020.

The restricted gift requires that TLC’s new SCCV Legacy Fund fund orthodontic and dental services for current and former Sonoma County foster youth up to age 24 that are not met through other funding sources, for as long as such needs exist. Any remaining funds can be used for new models of service and support to the foster community, serving foster youth with an open case, or a future definition thereof, in Sonoma County. All programs funded through the SCCV Legacy Fund will be open not just to TLC clients but to all Sonoma County foster youth.

Along with the funds, Sonoma County Children’s Village passed on the Georgia Moses memorial rock to TLC. It has been given a special place on the beautiful TLC campus near Sebastopol.