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As we began this summer, news of California’s economic problems and the expected delay in approval of the budget filled all of us at FCA with a great deal of concern. We worried not only about the impact a delay would have on the many caregivers who use our services, but what the possible outcome of the budget battles might mean to the many excellent programs in the community. Board and staff met to create contingency plans in order to keep FCA’s doors open while we weathered the storm.
The Board and staff’s dedication, care and concern for the families we serve was clear in all the plans that were made. To our great relief, the Governor signed the budget on Saturday, August 2, and funding for FCA and the Caregiver Resource Center system was preserved. While we were able to continue to provide a certain level of services during the crisis, some programs were temporarily suspended or reduced and staff, many of whom took a pay cut until the budget was signed, are now working to get all services up and running as quickly as possible. I would like to extend our thanks, on behalf of FCA’s Board and staff, to those of you who responded so generously to our summer fundraising appeal. Your support during a very difficult time was of great help to FCA.
In early summer, FCA’s Board of Directors held its annual meeting and elected its slate of officers for the new fiscal year. William J. Lynch, Ph.D., former Program Chief of the Brain Injury Rehabilitation Unit at the VAMC in Palo Alto, currently a neuropsychologist in private practice in Redwood City, continues as President. Kathy Murphy, Director, Network Business Development and Integration at WPP Group USA, was elected Vice President. M. Kathryn Lee, an educational therapist/planning block teacher, San Mateo County Office of Education, Secondary Education Services for Special Needs Students, continues as Secretary, and Sue Wong, Director of Administration and Finance at On Lok Senior Health, continues as Treasurer.
Philip Alphonse, M.B.A., Jean E. Coleman, R.N., M.S., N.P., Claude Everhart, M.A., Kevin Koppes, and Margaret Wallhagen, Ph.D., R.N., C.S., G.N.P. also continue to serve as Directors on the Board. At the same meeting, we also thanked Molly Buckley for her three years of devoted and inspiring service as she retired from the Board.
In other news, we were recently notified that FCA and four other Bay Area nonprofits had been selected to receive contributions of $10,000 each from The Safeway Foundation through its "Summer of Giving, Special Needs." We are grateful for The Safeway Foundation’s support and recognition of the value of community programs.
We are pleased to say that FCA’s website has won a Best of the Web Award from Forbes.com. The award praised our site’s abundance of resources, articles and Fact Sheets, as well as our well documented information on current research and legislation.
And finally, but most importantly, November is designated National Caregivers Month. Be sure you squeeze enough time from your busy week to pat yourself on the back for taking on one of the most challenging—and rewarding—jobs in the world!
Kathleen A. Kelly
Executive Director
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