Pictured sitting left to right: Jennifer Strong, Clear Lake High School; Derek Butcher, Clear Lake High School; Tom DeLapp, California Consortium of Education Foundations; Pat Iaccino, Upper Lake High School; Margie Irwin, Kelseyville Education Foundation; Alisha Stottsberry, Kelseyville Education Foundation. Pictured standing left to right: Wilda Shock, Lake County Friends of Mendocino College; Katie Wojcieszak, Mendocino College Foundation; Wally Holbrook, Lake County Office of Education; Amy Wind, Lakeport Education Foundation; Jill Falconer, Lakeport Education Foundation; Dr. Bill Haddon, Friends of the Taylor Observatory; Cathy Wilder, Lower Lake High School Boosters. Courtesy photo.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – With education facing greater financial challenges, nonprofits and educators are working to find how they can best work together to ensure Lake County's students have the resources they need.

Representatives from many of the Lake County education foundations and nonprofits gathered at a recent meeting hosted by Lake County Superintendent of Schools Wally Holbrook and the Lake County Office of Education.

The purpose of the meeting was to foster a collaborative and cooperative approach among the groups with a common goal of improving education in Lake County, according to a report from Holbrook's office.

Also attending the meeting was Tom DeLapp, a California Consortium of Education Foundations board member. DeLapp provided information and suggestions on operating successful foundations, and developing strategic plans for the long-term health of foundations and nonprofits.

Each participant shared basic information about their organization along with past and future activities. The group has agreed to meet twice a year to continue to expand communication and further coordinate activities and events.

Meeting participants expressed appreciation at the opportunity to network with other educational foundations, and are optimistic that this group will prevent “donor burnout” and fundraising oversaturation in our communities.

Opportunities for partnership also are a potential outcome of this group.

“The positive response to this idea is a great example of how Lake County organizations are willing to explore ways to collaborate and better serve our students and communities,” said Holbrook.

If you would like more information on the foundation group and future meetings, please contact Wally Holbrook at 707-262-4101 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Follow Lake County News on Twitter at http://twitter.com/LakeCoNews, on Tumblr at www.lakeconews.tumblr.com, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-County-News/143156775604?ref=mf and on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/user/LakeCoNews .