Local Foundation Helps Tuolumne County’s Yes Partnership

Sonora, Ca — The Sonora Area Foundation, with the help of its Lucile Arnold Fund, has played a major role in keeping Tuolumne County´s Yes Partnership operational.

“We found out that we lost our federal funding,” says Shana Monaco with the Yes Partnership. “Over the past five years, we have been receiving $100,000 a year from a Drug Free Communities grant. We were in a real emergency situation, and were looking at having zero dollars for the Yes Partnership this year.”

Monaco says that the organization was confident it would receive federal funding next year, but would need to maintain itself without the money for the time being. Monaco contacted the Sonora Area Foundation.

“They turned to the Foundation and asked if we could help with that gap, and provide them with bridge funding, in the amount of $85,000,” says Director of the Sonora Area Foundation Mick Grimes. “We were able to respond rather rapidly, because we think so much of the Yes Partnership.”

Grimes notes that $65,000 was from the Lucille Arnold Fund, a component fund of the foundation. The remaining amount will come directly from the Sonora Area Foundation.

Despite the fact that the Yes Partnership typically runs on a $100,000 budget, Monaco says $85,000 is enough to keep the organization running. The $15,000 will be cut from grants that the group offers to organizations in the community.

The Yes Partnership has been in Tuolumne County for 21 years. It puts on programs and raises awareness about issues such as drug abuse and suicide.

Written by BJ Hansen