Generosity Leads to Joy for NovatoSpirit's Children

Generosity leads to joy!

As you can see from our smiles, NovatoSpirit’s children can continue their sports for another year, due to the success of our February Fundraiser, which raised a total of $23,650.

Many offered heartfelt help, including our Board Member Alison Moore and the medical staff at Novato’s Marin Community Clinic (pictured center), who hosted a Valentine’s bake sale of goodies that generated $420. A gentleman from Napa gave $5,000. Patrick Farley, who helps instruct our karate kids, gave us $1,000, which was matched by the Bank of America Foundation. Jerry Ghirardo and Cindy Grove of Ghirardo CPA offered pro-bono preparation for our tax return. And an anonymous donor presented us a check for $15,000!

NovatoSpirit was also fortunate in February to be a grantee of Marin Charitable, which hosted an elegant event for us and 57 other Marin nonprofits. Amazingly, the members of Marin Charitable have extended their care to this county’s vulnerable children for more than half a century.

We also appreciate the dynamic KWMR Radio Host Susan Santiago, who launched NovatoSpirit onto the airwaves. You can listen to our show by going to this link on our secure website: https://www.novatospirit.org/news-awards/

In other exciting news, we have several new volunteers responding to our growing presence in the North Bay Area: Richard Moore, social media expert; Jade Paterson, computer repair; Margaret Gompertz, administrative assistant; Ronda Gotti and Jodi Weitz, community outreach; and Jose Olvera, Spanish interpretation and translation. And our Board Member Suzanne Daggert CPA continues to offer her skilled financial assistance.

We’ve embraced an increase in families we serve each year, and Maritza Luna Sanchez volunteers to help us welcome and retain them. Now a psychology major at SF State, Maritza was one of our outstanding students. She wishes to share the joy she received from NovatoSpirit with others.

“While growing up, I could see my mom struggle to put food on the table sometimes or even pay rent. Places like NovatoSpirit…got us through many difficult times. It is not something anyone just forgets. I like to think about it as a ripple effect: my family benefited from these services, and I want to give back to the community, because this place has seen me grow and provided me with so much.”

Back in 2007 as a new NovatoSpirit student, she quietly tiptoed into the dojo. “I was intimidated to see such cool teachers and students practice karate. The thought that I could do all those kicks, rolls and techniques was non-existent. Much less that I could use all those cool things for self-defense. As a kid who had been bullied for my weight, I didn’t know better. I really believed I wasn’t supposed to be treated any differently—I was just someone anyone could pick on.

“As time passed and I progressed in my practice, I grew out of that mindset. I became more confident in school, with my friends, with my family, and I even began liking myself. By the time I entered middle school I was an orange belt, and that felt great! Middle school was an awkward time, and everyone was so mean and judgmental, but I had karate. It was a healthy outlet.

“While many of my friends were out and making bad decisions, I was heading home to pack my chest gear and gloves for practice. After practice I was so drained, but filled with such sense of accomplishment that I couldn’t wait until the next practice to learn a new technique.

“This opportunity did not only teach me self-defense. I also learned discipline and commitment. Before every test, Mr. Ito had the students memorize and engage with some theories of practice. I don’t think I could ever forget them: ‘I can, do right, be patient, be respectful, self-defense only, practice to do, more practice to do, and practice to improve.’ Every time I reached that last push-up, ‘I can’ would be echoing in my head.

“Today, I look back and I can only be grateful for NovatoSpirit and the opportunity I was given. It was an opportunity to improve my health and self-esteem, and to begin my growth as a person. Although my college work and extracurricular activities take all of my time, I never forget to put into practice everything I learned at the dojo.”

Maritza joins the current NovatoSpirit students in thanking you for enabling them to embody and experience life in a new, more positive way.

Marin County has been good to us. We’re grateful to the people and institutions that give and continue to give, including Ginnie & Peter Haas Jr., Melanie & Peter Maier, the Jewish Community Federation & Endowment Fund, the Kenneth Berg Living Trust, Wells Fargo Foundation, Novato Senior Citizens Club, Unity in Marin, The Body Song, Drs. Perry & Tyler, and Soroptimist International of Novato, which has kindly featured us at their 45th Anniversary Celebration at HopMonk Tavern.

Philanthropist Claire Knoles of Kiosk Creative LLC has contributed in so many ways, and has teamed up with the City of Novato to put NovatoSpirit in the spotlight on the “Incredible People” and “Community Champions” sections of their Novato Proud webpage: http://novato.org/about-novato/novato-proud

Lastly, I’ve been lucky to receive a nomination for the World of Children’s “Humanitarian Award,” which recognizes “an individual who has made significant contributions to children in the areas of child safety, social services or humanitarian services.” If I win, NovatoSpirit will receive $50,000.

As you can see, the NovatoSpirit children and I have so much to be thankful for. We appreciate everyone’s generous care.