Valley Women’s Independent Giving Society Conducts Annual Meeting

GROUP DONATES MORE THAN $30,000

The Santa Ynez Valley Women’s Independent Giving Society (WIGS) held its 6^th annual meeting at the Pepper Tree Ranch home of Sandra Simon on April 9^th. Thirty invited guests and members were treated to a delicious Thai-themed luncheon and presentation by staff from Santa Ynez Valley People Helping People.

The purpose of the annual WIGS meeting is to furnish members with progress reports on their previous year’s funded programs as well as updates on current program needs which includes client success stories. At the conclusion of the presentation and progress reports, members decide how they would like to invest their current year donations and cast their votes accordingly. Recipient programs are funded on a pro-rata basis based upon the members’ voted choices. Donations totaled $31,500 in 2015.

Inspired by similar organizations in Los Angeles and Santa Barbara, WIGS was founded in 2010 by Valley residents Nancy Englander, Mila Hart, Claire Hanssen, Annette Serrurier, Sandra Simon, Carolyn Balaban, Nancy Eklund Hunsicker, Sandra Focht, Barbara Crist and Phyllis Hennigan. They and other donors wanted to create a women’s giving circle, based in and focused on Santa Ynez and Los Alamos Valleys. They had a strong desire to invest their contributions for maximum impact on improving lives in the Santa Ynez Valley.

The Founders selected People Helping People as the umbrella organization for WIGS for two reasons: PHP manages four diverse program focus areas encompassing 18 separate social services, permitting the WIGS members choices for funding from a broad diversity of programs. Additionally, PHP administers WIGS operations without overhead, thus allowing 100% of WIGS member donations to directly fund services. Further, all food and beverages for the annual WIGS meeting are donated and prepared by the membership.

This year, WIGS members voted to fund the following: Homelessness Prevention, Los Alamos Youth Program, Santa Ynez High School Student Mentoring, and Services to Seniors. Over the past 6 years, WIGS has cumulatively donated more than $240,000 to a variety of PHP programs.

This year’s private luncheon for members was prepared by Mila Hart and Sandra Simon with assorted cookies baked by Gerry Shepherd. The menu included Thai Beef Salad, Ginger-Sesame Pork Lettuce Wraps, Curried Shrimp, and Vegetable Sausage Salad, with fine wines donated by local vintners. New members enjoying the presentations and luncheon for the first time this year included Ann Marie Powers, who commented that, “I was pleasantly surprised by the detail, depth and quality of the program presentations and I was touched by the personal stories shared by local residents who have been helped by PHP. In an area as affluent as Santa Ynez Valley, it’s important to be aware that there are many residents who are struggling, particularly seniors on restricted incomes.”

Other members enjoying lunch in the garden included Becky Barieau, Lindalee Baumgarten, Joan Bradshaw, Kristina Carroll, Priscilla Higgins, Bonnie Holdren, Melinda Johnston, Constance Lund with her daughter Cherise Lund-Osha, Sandra Mastromonaco, Alice Olla, Pat Roberts, Katie Russell, Monica Trouve-Sapp, Candace Waldron, and Karla Zuehkle.

To become a regular member of WIGS, a minimum contribution of $500 is required. This contribution may be split between two parties who will share a single vote. Sustaining members contribute $1,000, have one vote, and are invited to join the group’s annual steering committee.

For more information on how you can participate, please contact WIGS Chair, Nancy Hunsicker, at fairoakfarm@hughes.net or 688-2851.