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SMMC Nonprofit Partner Spotlight: Marin Foster Care Association

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SMMC NONPROFIT PARTNER SPOTLIGHT: MARIN FOSTER CARE ASSOCIATION

By: Sarah Dobrovolny | April 18, 2024

I think we all have a general awareness of the foster care system, but relatively few (myself included) are intimately involved. Since joining SMMC’s Board as Director of Philanthropy in the summer of 2023, I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know Marin Foster Care Association. My observations so far? This organization dreams big and knows no limits! Under the leadership of Executive Director Ashley Hurd, MFCA is taking great strides to serve a very vulnerable population and the community members who give their homes and hearts to children and families in need. From a fully stocked (and beautifully organized!) Resource Center where foster children can “shop,” to acquiring and furnishing apartments for young adults transitioning out of the foster care system, to the incredible therapy program that you’ll hear more about below from SMMC’s very own Lina Fancy, MFCA is a pillar of hope for Marin’s foster care community.

Over the years, SMMC has maintained a relationship with MFCA, helping where we can with organizing donation drives and volunteering in the Resource Center. This past March, the Philanthropy team felt inspired to take it a step further and hold a silent and online auction specifically benefitting MFCA’s Fostering Interconnection Through Therapy program. Together we raised $9,856 which equates to nearly 100 therapy sessions, or 2 years of therapy for a foster family. That is truly incredible, and to all of our SMMC members, entrepreneurs, community partners, and advertisers who contributed to this effort: THANK YOU!

If you’re interested in learning more about the FITT program and where your auction dollars went, please read Lina’s piece HERE >>. And if you’d like to learn more about what MFCA is up to, you can follow them on Instagram (@marinfostercare) and Facebook. Finally, if you want to be a part of the SMMC Philanthropy team, selecting and organizing donation drives and volunteer opportunities, please email philanthropy@southernmarinmoms.com.

Sarah Dobrovolny lives in San Anselmo with her husband Spencer and their daughter Sadie (January 2022). Sarah is a Stay At Home Mom and serves on the SMMC Board as Director of Philanthropy. Sarah also volunteers as co-leader of the San Anselmo/Fairfax town group, on the 2023/24 Events team, and as a copy editor for The Crier