Charity aids kids, women

Capitol Network, a 25-year-old, non-partisan group of communicators, managers and legislative professionals, is donating some $20,000 this year to four organizations serving women and children.

The group said the recipients of its 2008 grants were:

• Generation Fate, a leadership program serving more than 5,000 foster youth in Sacramento and Placer Counties.  Sponsored by Capitol Network member Melissa Cortez-Roth.

• Healthy Smiles, a program that provides oral health care to low-income children in Orange County through pediatric dental screenings, as well as education programs for kids in homeless shelters.  Sponsored by Assemblymember Jim Silva (AD 67).

• Advocates for Children, a program designated as the Court Appointed Special Advocates Support Program of San Mateo County.  It provides support, mentoring and representation in the court system for abused children up to the age of eighteen.  Sponsored by Sen. Joe Simitian, D-Palo Alto.

• My Sister’s House,  which provides culturally appropriate and responsive safe haven community services to Asian and Pacific Islander women in the Central Valley who are victims of domestic violence.  Sponsored by Senator Sheila Kuehl (SD 23) and Assemblymember Dave Jones (AD 9).

Since its founding, Capitol Network has raised and distributed more than $200,000.  In addition to the grants announced today, Capitol Network also contributes annually to Capitol Focus Women in Politics, the Foster Youth Education Fund and Gifts from the Heart, a toy drive for foster and probation children in Sacramento County.

Capitol Network also is gearing up for its 20th Annual Charitable Golf Tournament scheduled for Sept. 29 at the El Macero Country Club.  For sponsorship information on the tournament, please contact Julee Malinowski-Ball at 916-441-0702, or Pilar Onate Quintana, at 916-448-2162).  

Founded in 1983, Capitol Network is a non-partisan organization of public and governmental relations, administration and legislative professionals dedicated to supporting charitable causes and engaging in community service projects.