2015 Annual Report - Seeds of Learning

2015 Annual Report
What We Do
Seeds of Learning is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting cross-cultural understanding
and improving educational opportunities in Latin America. We work together with communities and
volunteers in four primary areas:
Educational Infrastructure
We build and equip schools and other needed educational infrastructure
throughout Nicaragua. Past projects have included classrooms, libraries,
school kitchens, gardens, bathrooms, handwashing stations, and computer labs.
Learning Resource Centers
Our Learning Resource Centers (LRCs) provide educational resources to
underserved communities throughout Nicaragua. They house small libraries
with reference materials and children’s books, computers, games,
music and dance classes, trainings and workshops, and other special activities.
Scholarships
We offer comprehensive scholarships to economically impoverished students of all
ages who, without this program, would be unable to continue their studies.
Cross-Cultural Education
Through our work group program, we host teams of volunteers who travel to
Nicaragua to learn, share and serve in partnership with local communities, usually
through participation in a school construction project.
We pride ourselves on working in close partnership with communities in Central America, and
developing strong relationships with our local partners based on trust and respect. Since our
founding in 1991, we have continuously evolved our core programs to fit the needs of our partner communities.
Scholarships
87
“I really want to stay in school,
because I like learning how to read
and write. I get better at it every
day! This scholarship has helped
my family a lot. Please continue
to support kids like me because
it makes a difference in our lives.
God bless you all.”
Kristian Artola
85
2
Total scholarships awarded
to students in 2015
students in
Nicaragua
14 primary school students
55 high school students
students in
El Salvador
18 university students
54 girls
6
high school graduates
33 boys
1
university graduate
6
Learning Resource Centers and Libraries
Learning Resource Centers (LRCs) and libraries
in Nicaragua
Estimated LRC user visits in 2015 (including
students, teachers, and community members)
Resources Offered:
Libraries
with over
4,000 books
Computers
and digital
resources
Games and
puzzles for
all ages
Research
materials
Arts and
crafts
activities
LRC Programs:
104 local teachers
202 students enrolled in
270 dance and music
45 community members
trained in workshops
students (guitar and
recorder)
our Reading Campaign
participated in agricultural
trainings
48,020
Construction Projects
2015 Infrastructure Projects
Nicaragua
El Progreso
1 new preschool classroom
1 school kitchen
1 library
La Laguna
Finished learning resource
center, including solar panels
Matagalpa
“Enrollment in our school
Ciudad Dario
has increased from 360 to 520
Manuel Piquera
total students, thanks to the
1 new preschool
infrastructure built by SOL,
the work groups and the Villa
La Carreta #2
Managua
Japón community. Retention
1 new classroom
and attendance have also
1 remodeled classroom
Miraluz
improved, and we believe
this is a result of the improved 1 new classroom
El Triunfo
learning environment.”
1 new learning resource
Pedro Arauz
center kiosk
New fence and
Erick Martínez
Villa
Japón
water supply system
Villa Japón School Principal
3 new classrooms
Work Group Program
Groups from the US and Canada hosted by
20 Work
Seeds of Learning in Nicaragua
355 volunteers
22,720 total hours
worked by volunteers
22 travel scholarships granted to youth volunteers
Work Group Program Goals
Promote solidarity and cross-cultural understanding
between people of the global north and global south
Facilitate volunteer engagement in hands-on community
based projects
Help volunteers better understand and reduce poverty
and inequality in the world
“If there’s one thing I will always
remember about Nicaragua, it is the
generosity and open arms of the
people. One of the community leaders,
Eric, donated the land for the school
to be built on. When asked why, he
said ‘The children are the seeds of this
community and the future of it lies in
their hands. I want to give them all the
tools they need in order to succeed.’
He is a great example of selflessness.”
Alex Johnson, volunteer
Finances and Leadership
2015 Income
2015 Expenses
Other (3%)
Donations from
individuals and
organizations (28%)
Fee Income
(63%)
Fundraising (5.5%) Other (1%)
Administration (4.5%)
Programs (89%)
Events (6%)
Please contact us for our complete 2015 audited financial statement (audit in progress)
2015 Board of Directors
Mike Cosby
Laurie Dinwiddie
Mark Etherington
Jenny Fogarty
David Kyle
Mark Lancaster
Felix Miranda
Advisory Council
Leslie Blankenship
Harry Boon
Todd Evans
Ellee Koss
Wayne Schake
Rose Mary Schmidt
Our Generous Donors
Thank you to the many generous donors who supported our work in 2015.
Together we were able to build better futures for students in Central America.
$5,000+
Allied Pacific Financial, Anonymous, The Estate of John Binns, James Cashel & Anne Ching, The Clements Family, John &
Sara Donnelly, Todd & Marge Evans, Robert & Gail Feenstra, Hughes Goodwin, Bruce Green & Elizabeth Blash-Green, Hawken
School, One Dollar For Life, William Place, Edward Jr. & Rose Mary Schmidt, Sonoma Valley Rotary Foundation, Valley
Community Presbyterian Church
$2,000 - $4,999
Jacque Alanis & Doug Mighell, Anonymous, Child Aid International, Andrea Davis, Rudy Doormann, Drop
in the Button Fund at the Humboldt Area Foundation, Patricia England, Sue Erdmann, Mark & Allyson
Etherington, Karen Keough & Charles Croy, Rick & Anahita La Torra, Sue Makovkin & John Cinnamon, Jeff Martinez, Mendocino
Presbyterian Church, Felix Miranda, Mike & Karen Moreland, The Oak Tree Philanthropic Foundation, Palo Alto University Rotary
Club, Leslie Petersen, Tom & Jean Roth, Susan Shinomoto & Chris Spaulding, Patricia Smith, Bob & Janet Smith, Rick Snow, Mike
& Chris Turgeon, Elliott Wong & Yvonne Otani, Roger & Holly Wright
Legacy Society
SOL wishes to thank the members of our Legacy Society. This is a group of supporters who have
committed a gift to SOL in their estate plans. Thank you for your generous support!
Please contact us if you are interested in joining or have already included SOL in your estate planning.
Our Generous Donors
$1,000 - $1,999
Kristi Amoroso & Robert Hewitt, Patrick Jr. & Tabitha Becker, John Belz & Linda Spence, Susan & Gary Campbell, Carl Carter,
JoAnn Consiglieri & Jim McFadden, Deer Valley Foundation, Matt Evans & Carson Christiano, Florence V. Burden Foundation,
Jean Rene Goslain, Pam & Tim Haworth, Robert Houser & Marianna Caponigro, Bill & Lori Hutchinson, Kiwanis Club of Sonoma
Plaza, Thomas & Lisa Kuk, David Kyle & Molly Spiller, Jim & Janet Leonard, Peter Marks & Shohreh Daemi, William & Mary
Paolino, Kurt & Marcia Schekel, Carrie Shaw & Marc Hoshovsky, Jane & Basil Shiber, Danny & Norma Siler, Beverly Singer, St.
John’s United Methodist Church, Jeffrey Walter & Valerie Pistole Walter, Ted & Deanie Wilmsen, Christopher & Sandra Yaryan
$500 - $999
Arlene Acers, Anthony Arjona, Irene & Tom Bachelder, Annie Bacon & Juan Gonzalez, Barker Pacific Group, Beth Beaullieu,
Harry & Karen Boon, Harold Brevig, Dora-Aldina Chavarria, Steve Cohen & Judy Frey-Cohen, Dennis Collins, Norman Cram,
Morgan & Vivian Daniel, Leland Doan, Far Fetched Imports, Inc., First Congregational Church of Sonoma, First Presbyterian
Church of San Rafael, First United Methodist Church of Redding, Fort Bragg Disposal Waste Management, Ronald Franklin
& Hilda Teran-Franklin, General Board of Global Ministries, Katherine Hanes, Robert & Julia Iantosca, James & Rosemary
Jepson, Richard Johnson, David & Nancy Levi, Paul Martin & Patricia Kozlovsky, Charles McKinley & Martha Schaffer, Rebecca
McMenomy & Richard II McMenomy, Dick & Nancy Noble, Mary Jo O’Drain, Palms For Life Fund, Jeffrey Roy & Elaine Talley,
Brooks Rumph & Reed Peters, Jeannie Runnion, Sonoma Chevrolet, Basil Stamos, Georgia Stephens, Tom Donnelly, Vincent &
Christine Ventimiglia, Joseph & Deborah Votek, Madeline Wilson
$200 - $499
Luna Armstrong, Margaret Aumann, Kenneth & Judith Barnes, Suzanne Boddy, Graciela & Rudy Bonilla, Adrienne Bonserio,
Tammy Bushman, Maddie Cashel, Ty Cashman, Charette Chiropractic Offices, Steven Chong, John & Janae Delgado, William
Donnelly, Kathy Eastman, Robert English & Anna Maria Zara, Whitney & Jeanette Evans, Joshua Fenton & Lisa Baumeister, Jenny
Fogarty, Joni Foster, Anne & Harrison Frahn, Brita & Gary Gill-Austern, Bob & Millie Gilson, Linda Hale, Larry Christiano &
Martha Hellander, Cheryl Hergert, Robert Hucek & Suzanne Maggio-Hucek, Harry Humes, Andrea Huston, Fred & Dian Jorgensen,
Ian Lawlor & Mary Keating, Thelma & Jim Kleebauer, Ellee Koss & Oscar Gonzalez, Jean Lafond & Mychelle Mowry, Hal Lee,
Our Generous Donors
Keith & Gail Lester, Jane Lipscomb, Lorin Loughlin & Rand Yazzolino, Maine Coast Sea Vegetables, Hailey Marent, Nancy &
Michael McLaughlin, Keith Bongiovanni & Patricia Moore, Barbara & Jim Nelson, North Bay Insurance, Madalene Paschal,
Gregory Reiff & Louise Trudeau, Susan Amorosi & Bill Roberds, Rolling Hills Methodist Church, Thomas Sartor, Wayne & Cecelia
Schake, Dick & Phyllis Schlobohm, Warren Schneider, Soroptimist International Santa Rosa, Ileana & Joseph Standridge, Langdon
Stevenson & Mary Farr, Christina Stimmann, Anthony Valentine, Willem & Kathleen Van Rijn, David Wade & Jacqueline Hayes,
Alex & Lucia Wahl, Marcia Walker, Jim & Bertie Weddell, Tony Weinress & Christine Kelly, Alexandra West, Aspen Whitmer,
Marion Williams, Hugh & Anne Wire, Richard & Mabelle Wolf, Denise Woods & Dave Arthur, Lorna Wuertz, Karen MitchellYakymi
$100 - $199
Hilary Adgate, Nanette Albano-Lane & Bruce Lane, Mary & David Allegoren, Wesley Allred, Kathryn Anderson, Susanne
Arrhenius, Maria Barrachina & Jose Carlos Martinez Sabater, James Bogue, Amy Bon, Elizabeth Bradford, Edward Brennan, David
Campbell & Mary Lynn Tobin, Guyla Cashel, Renee Chaffin, Clark Construction Group, LLC, Community Church of Sebastopol,
Mike Cosby, Joyce & William Cox, Donald Cruser & Petra Schulte, Andrew & Robin Davis, Jim & Nancy Dempsey, Nancy Denkin,
Seth Derish, Angelo Dipietrantonio, Alan Durfee & Janice Mattison, Dale Dutton, Shalyn Brand Eason, Enologix, Inc., Kenneth &
Rose Fortner, Michael Hedley & Nancy Blankinship, Eric & Elaine Hillesland, Diana Hindley, Virginia Hood-Peters, Jim & Cathe
Hughes, Alan & Susan Kelchner, Jean Lee, Sidney & Patricia Long, Julie Mae Lopez, Jennifer Louie, Kathleen Lukefahr-Jewell,
Jean Marks, Janice Mattison, Leanne McCall Tigert Dmin, Eugene & Rosemary McCreary, Sheila McGrath, Colleen Medeiros,
Joyce & John Moldovan, A Molgaard, Alex Moss & Margaret Graham, Mountain View High Student Body Fund, Martha Mullen,
Rachel & Alexander Mullen, David Oakes, M.D. & Sheila Botein, Anne O’Brien, Millicent & Cordell Olive, Mary O’Riordan,
Urvi Parekh, Robert & Lisa Paschal, Sophie Perisic, Richard Peters, Paul Peyrat, Gayle Pickrell & John Davenport, Jon Pittman &
Vicky Jones-Pittman, Ted & Nancy Prescott, Eric Raffini & Steve Aronowitz, Alicia Robb, Helen Roland & James Cramer, Rick
& Sandy Schaefer, Carol & Kirk Schmidt, Leslie III & Jennifer Seely, Harry Singer, Jan & Dave Slorpe, Stephen Smith, Steve &
Cathy Sowa, Bill & Ann Starkey, Judith Stavely, Tamara Unger & Adrian Hyman, Paul, Katie, Gillian & Connor Vickers, James &
Sharon Walker, James Werner, Mary Lou & John Wheat, John & Synda Whitmer, Catherine Wirth, Mike & Jane Witkowski, Blanca
& Nathan Woods, Liz & Chris Wright, Peter Young, Zellers Insurance & Financial Services
Our Generous Donors
$1 - $99
Dorothy Abbott, Georgia Anderson & Wes Caswell, Courtney & Jonathan Applequist, Alexis Arbeit, Joy Aspenall, Peter Bacon, John &
Lia Bacon, Thora Balk, Gail & Raymond Barrows, Jean Barstow, Laurie Batchelder, Helen & A.T. Beall, Michael & Daphne Beard, Alice
Beck, Joel Bennett, Chet Boddy, Melanie Bowden, Jerry Boyke, Edwin & Tessie Branscomb, Linda & Hayes Brennan, Karen Bridgett,
Steve & Robin Brown, Kimberly Buchanon, James Burchfield & Melissa MacKenzie, Janet Bush, Steve & Karin Cake, Justin & Cedora
Caletges, Penelope Caponigro, Catherine & Fred Carney, Heather Carson, Jeremy & Rossana Casas, Emily Chavez, Julie Clay, Allan &
Barbara Cobb, Paul Cogger, Barbara Collins, Kit & Vic Conforti, Mary Cort, Emily De Falla, Reed & Betsy Dewey, Arthur Douglas, Peter
& Theresa Duffy, Judith Earl & Maurice Jourdain Earl, Janice & Leah Edwards, Suzanne Ehlers, Howard Eisenstark, M.D., Evelyn Emory,
Janet Engelbrecht, Alyson Ensrud, Terry & Kymm Falls, Bradley Farnsworth & Elaine Wilson, Emilio Ferrer & Elizabeth Saft, Patricia &
Robert Fields, Janis Fromknecht, Geoffrey Ganem, Laura Garcia, Micki & Pieter Goedewaagen, Anne & Grant Gormley, Karen Gower,
James Gray, B. Tom & Tina Green, Margaret Green & Peter Gordon Green, David & Betty Gross, Andrea Gunderson, Anthony & Anne
Haas, Barbara Hall, Kelley Hansmeyer Isringhaus & Betty Livland, Cindy Harmon, William & Susan Harris, Alicia & Marty Herrick,
Ada Ho, Ricky Hon, Joan & Matthew Howarth, Cathe Hughes, James & Susan Hughes, Robyn Hughes, Anthony & Joanna Idczak, Mimi
Ikle-Khalsa & Sat Jiwan Ikle-Khalsa, William Imamoto & Molly Acton, Sharon Irvin, Kris & David Irvine, Karen Jones, Ted & Diana
Jorgensen, Simonil Kakalia, Michael & Ronita Kalyk, Daniel & Jeanne Kangley, Joan & Paul Katzeff, Susanna M. Kawolics, Joseph
& Terri Krabill, Devra Kudeviz, Nathan Kunz, Gayle Kyhos & Paul Delbene, Pembroke & Bill Kyle, Betsy Van Laan, Ellen LaBruce
& Thomas Huffman, Kathleen Lafferty, Mary Land, Jim Leddy, Martha Lehr, Gail Lester, Susan Levin, Jennifer Liu, Jeff Logan,
Ruthann Lovetang, Thomas & Carole Ann Lowinger, Chaya Mandelbaum, Nicole Markelz, Joe McFarlan, Carolyn McNulty, Joseph
Melanson, Bob & June Miller, John & Mirja Muncy, Barbara Nakata, Marion Nelson, Curt & Carol Nesbitt, Michelle O’Leary, Daniel &
Miriam Osborne, AIA, Partners for a Better World, Phyllida Paterson, Michele Permenter, David & Irene Phelan, Wayne Picard, Elizabeth
Pristavok, Teresa Quadres, Earl & Barbara Quist, Mary & Tom Redmond, Ken Roberts, Eric Roby, Betsy Romero, Bob & Helen
Rowntree, Paul Ruffino, Jenny Russell, Anjie Saunders & Warren Maierhofer, Robert Schlosser & Dawn Hofberg, Karl Schoen, Emmy
Schorr, Eric B. Schultz, Linda Scott, Andrew Smith, Slaed Spiller, Doreen Sterling, Erica Stewart, Susan Stiles, Kristina Stuart, Taqueria
La Hacienda, Fred Tate, Anne Teller, Joe & Judith Tembrock, Richard & M. A. Thompson, M.D., Renaud Travadon, Edward & Bonnie
Tucker, Wendy Tye & Scott Thomsen, Gerald & Kathryn Underdal, Jim & Gwen Upshaw, Marta Urquilla & Jomo Graham, William
& Nicole Weber, Beth, Charles & Elizabeth Whatford, Joanna Wigginton, Donald & Jody Williams, Colleen & Mark Wilson, Laura
Wolfram, Brad Yazzolino, Anna & Ernest Yombo, Andrew Yonelinas & Joanna Scheib, Sandra Young, Robert & Jennifer Zahradnik,
Sandra Zamaroni, Deena & Mark Zarlin, James & Susan Zotter
Our Generous Donors
In-Kind Donors
Angelique Boutique, Arroyo Veterinary Hospital, Artifax International Gallery, Lorraine Ashton, Baci Cafe & Wine Bar, Peggy
Bacon & Jack McCarthy, Balletto Vineyards, Mark Barber, Barking Dog Coffee Roasters, Kathy Bartow, Basque Boulangerie Cafe,
Joel Bennett, Laura & Jon Benward, Blue & Gold Fleet, Blush A Day Spa, Bravas Bar de Tapas, Broadway Market, Buena Vista
Winery, Cafe Citti, Cafe La Haye, California Wine Tours, Call of the Sea, Campo Fina, Linda Carroll, Chabot Space & Science
Center, Chalk Hill Estate Vineyards & Winery, Chloé’s French Café, B.R. Cohn Winery & Olive Oil Company, Constellation
Brands, Jose Coronado & Tekla Cartmell-Coronado, Costeaux French Bakery, Coturri & Sons Winery, Andrea Davis, Della
Santina’s, DiFactory, Laurie Dinwiddie, Don Sebastiani & Sons, Dutch Bros Coffee, East West Cafe, Kathy Eastman, Gary & Ruth
Edwards, En-er-gy Fitness Studio, Mark & Allyson Etherington, Todd & Marge Evans, Fastsigns, Flamingo Conference Resort &
Spa, Jenny Fogarty, Francis Ford Coppola Winery, Bob & Millie Gilson, Global Heart Fair Trade, Hughes Goodwin, Jean Rene
Goslain, Gott’s Roadside, Bruce Greenberg, Gundlach Bundschu, H2 Hotel, Hamel Family Wines, Hanzell Vineyards,
Harvest Moon Cafe, Pam & Tim Haworth, Himalayan Tandoori & Curry House, Homegrown Bagels, HopMonk Tavern, Robert
& Julia Iantosca, Paul Jensen, Fred & Dian Jorgensen, Doug Kemps, Kin Restaurant, Jim & Stacey Knego, Korbel Champagne
Cellars, Lagunitas Brewing Co., Landmark Vineyard, Larson Family Winery, Lasseter Family Winery, Marta Lindsey, Danielle
Lovejoy, Lucky’s Supermarkets, MacArthur Place Inn & Spa, MacCallum House, Mary’s Pizza Shack, Miss Anita Fishing Charters,
Mistral Barrels, Tony Moll, Murphy’s Irish Pub, Napa Valley Bistro, Napa Valley Wine Train, Nicholson Ranch, Kyle Nygren, Olea
Hotel, William & Mary Paolino, Papa Murphy’s Pizza, Parkpoint Health Clubs, Picazo Cafe, Pizzeria Capri, William Place, Joe
& Kathy Platnick, Ramekins, Alvaro Ramos, Reader’s Books, Wendell & Sammie Rickon, Ride The Ducks SF, Safeway, Bill &
Mabeth Sanderson, Savory Spice Shop, Jim Schieberl & Sarah Kellner, Edward Jr. & Rose Mary Schmidt, Schug Carneros Estate
Winery, Scott Lyall Clothes for Men Inc, Toni Sherburn, Simco Restaurants, Garland & Caroline Sloan, Bob & Janet Smith, Sonoma
Adventures, Sonoma Gourmet, Sonoma International Film Festival, Sonoma Raceway, Sonoma Silver Company, Starbucks,
Robert Stein & Mariah Dickson, Sunflower Caffe, Swiss Hotel, Target, Taste of the Himalayas, Thanksgiving Coffee Company, The
Crucible, The Lodge at Sonoma, The Olive Press, The Parish Cafe, Transcendence Theatre Company, Mike & Chris Turgeon,
Tamara Unger & Adrian Hyman, Vella Cheese, Shelly Vert, Wellington Vineyards, William Willers & Carol Marcus, Williamson
Wines, Ted & Deanie Wilmsen, Veronica Winters, Joe & Cindy Wire, Yeti Restaurant, Yoga Community