2008 was a year for us to demonstrate our pursuit of excellence in partnership with members of our not-for-profit community and our neighborhood residents. While it may seem that our work is a two pronged philanthropy, we know that this is not the case. Whether working with our regular grantees, with a group of nine non-profit agencies as a part of our ADVANS program or with our neighborhood partners in the community, we were reminded that excellence was a common denominator, not an elusive, unpredictable variable.  

For one full year, we watched as our Lifecycles trained consulting group worked with the agencies chosen for ADVANS.   By year’s end we knew each organization had reached into its core and found its own excellence. Work by senior staff and boards was difficult and complex, but every agency rose to the challenge. Had we built organizational capacity? Of course, but each agency also built individual capacity among its staff and board--and community capacity as they became stronger and more able to realize their mission--committed to excellence in every sense of the word.

We also stood with neighborhood residents as they attended meetings developed committees, and spoke of a vision for their neighborhoods.. Once again, the pursuit of excellence was much in evidence--be it through their individual growth and development or the community’s growth and development.

We live in a community filled with potential, and that is not unlike most communities.   We at the Gifford Foundation also believe that we live in a community filled with organizations and individuals united in their pursuit of excellence. This single-minded pursuit of the best that we can become gives us all a reason to be hopeful—and a reason why the work goes on.

Bea Gonzalez, Board President
Kathy Goldfarb-Findling, Executive Director