Here are the groups we’ll be sponsoring as part of our Give Back Tuesday program in November.  Come on out and support your favorite nonprofit – 10% of the sales that night will be donated to them!  To nominate a group, or for more information, please email anne@ironspringspub.com.

November 1 – San Geronimo Valley Community Center

The San Geronimo Valley Community Center mission is “To foster a healthy San Geronimo Valley by providing a dynamic center for locally-based human services, arts and culture, education, health and wellness, and community building.”  Their Food Pantry is a non-judgmental user friendly place which serves over 300 families a month.  Check them out at www.sgvcc.org.

November 8 – For Words

Established in 2007, ForWords is a literacy and publication project for students in the San Rafael, California “Canal” area. Their students have been historically under-served, are generally from immigrant families, and are often learning English as a second language.  ForWords provides a variety of resources to help these students develop the ability to write effectively, and have their work published, whether poetry, fiction, music, drama, essays, or non-fiction.  ForWords has provided training and mentoring for local teachers, has purchased computers, software, cameras, and other material, developed and implemented 21st century curricula, hired the world-renown University of California Bay Area Writing Project to work directly with our students and local teachers, and hired a talented digital-arts teacher. Since ForWords began in 2007, our students have graduated from high school and gone to 2 or 4 year colleges. Find out more at www.forwords.org.

November 15 – Whistlestop

Whistlestop ends loneliness and social isolation by getting people out of their homes, taking them where they want to go, and offering a full range of fun programs at the Whistlestop Active Aging Center.  Their services are not age or income dependent, everyone is welcome.  If they succeed in our mission, ultimately the result is a thriving and happy community.  They need your help today to keep rolling tomorrow, please support them at www.whistlestop.org.

November 22 – Drake HS Mtn Bike Team

The Drake HS Mountain Bike Team are the 2009, 2010 and 2011 California State Champions, and 2004 & 2006 NorCal High School Mountain Bike Racing League Champions.  They are very excited to have just completed their 9th year of competition in the NorCal League, and their third year of competing in the state finals with the new SoCal League.  Check them out at www.drakemtb.org.

November 29 – Parent Services Project

Parent Services Project is a non-profit based in the canal area of San Rafael founded in 1980 that offers case management and referrals to community resources at no cost to our clients. They also provide parent workshops at some of the local schools, a Dad’s group at San Pedro Elementary School, and a free drop-in playgroup for parents with children 0-5 years of age. They provide workshops for parents and teachers in other states as well. Find more information on their website at www.parentservices.org.

September 6th – Marin Search and Rescue

Marin Search and Rescue is a volunteer organization that searches for missing people in urban and wilderness areas all over California.  They assist the Marin Sheriff’s department in variety of work, and are there to help day and night.  For more information go to http://marinsar.org.

September 13th – Sleepy Hollow Nursery School

The Sleepy Hollow Nursery School is a parent cooperative school which has been operating since 1946. It is a child centered, developmental school with a play based curriculum. The program is state licensed for children beginning at 2 years 6 months up to Kindergarten entrance.  For more information go to http://www.shha.org/nurseryschool.html.

September 20th – Next Generation

Next Generation believes young people have the power to understand and change the world! We engage youth and adults through school-based activities, outdoor experiences, leadership development and community events. Our activities encompass our core values of sustainability, social justice, and peace while promoting inspiration, hope, community, youth leadership, local action, and practical solutions.  Next Generation believes that cultivating sustained partnerships with schools is critical to helping youth develop a life-long love and respect for nature and an understanding of how simple actions in their daily lives impact the environmental health of their communities and the planet.  We work with staff at our school sites to create a year-long program beginning with garden lessons and visits to local parks and open space, then progressing towards full-day field-trips to wilderness areas or farms. We provide mentorship to students by facilitating garden and eco-clubs and working with students to take on projects to green their schools. Our engagement with a school on this level raises the environmental awareness for an entire school community as well as the individual.  Last year we conducted 890 activities, engaging over 4550 students at 17 schools in Marin and are aiming to reach similar numbers this year.  Please visit http://gonextgeneration.org/ to find out more!

September 27th – Fairfax-San Anselmo Children’s Center

The mission of the Fairfax-San Anselmo Children’s Center is to support a population of families, build a sense of community and provide quality early care and education to children. Our goal is to enhance family well-being, foster parent leadership within our community, support and increase children’s school readiness skills while providing a safe and healthy learning environment.  Go to http://fsacc.org for more information.

Every Tuesday we give back 10% of our sales from the day to a local nonprofit which we feel is doing great things for our community.  Come on out, learn about a new organization, and show your support!  Here is the August line up:

August 2nd – Trips for Kids

For  23 years, Trips For Kids has been providing lessons in self-confidence, environmental awareness, and healthy habits to disadvantaged youth through the simple act of having fun on mountain bikes. Trips For Kids started in Marin and has grown into an international organization with 76 chapters operating in the United States, Canada, and Israel.  Trips For Kids Marin serves at-risk youth throughout the San Francisco Bay area, working with over 300 local organizations. The core offering of mountain bike rides is supplemented by the Earn-A-Bike programs and the Re-Cyclery bicycle thrift shop.  For information www.tripsforkids.org/marin or info@tripsforkids.org or 415-458-2986.

August 9th – Slide Ranch

Slide Ranch is a Marin-based, nonprofit environmental education center that offers a variety of programs for schools, community groups, and families on our coastal farm and wild lands.  Through hands-on activities—from gardening to goat-milking to exploring tide pools—visitors to Slide Ranch discover the connections between the plants, animals, elements and human efforts that sustain life and bring food to the table.  To learn more, please visit their website at www.slideranch.org.

August 16th – Ceres Community Project of Marin

The Ceres Community Project’s mission is to restore locally-grown, organic whole food to its place as the foundation of health for people, communities and the planet. They do this through an integrated model that provides those facing cancer and other life-threatening illnesses with nourishing meals, gives teens experiences of preparing healthy food, and educates the larger community about the connection between food, healing, and wellness.  The Ceres Community Project of Marin brings a diverse corps of local Marin youth into a professional kitchen in an after school program where they are taught to cook by a professional chef and mentored by adult volunteers.  They learn valuable cooking skills, gain an appreciation for whole, sustainable, local ingredients, learn the value of teamwork, and experience the simple satisfactions of giving back.  They prepare nourishing, health supportive free meals that are delivered by volunteers to members of our community struggling with cancer and other life-threatening illnesses. They acquire skills that not only enhance their personal and family lives through healthful connections, but have the potential to open doors to future job training in the culinary arts.  Go to www.marin.ceresproject.org for more information.

August 23rd – the Marin Literacy Program’s FLAGship Project

The Marin Literacy Program’s FLAGship project offers FREE preschool and health workshops to adults and their children aged 0-5 years old.  Storytimes, kids songs, games, puppets, crafts and other fun Kindergarten-readiness activities are presented daily to children and modeled for adults.  Referrals and brochures about family health and literacy services are always available.  Drop-ins are always welcome!  Call for our calendar at (415) 497-1666 or email the Coordinator, Ambre Dailey at adailey@marinliteracy.org.

August 30th – Point Reyes National Seashore Association

PRNSA is the primary nonprofit park partner of The National Park Service at Point Reyes. With community support they are helping to fund and implement resource preservation projects within the park, while also providing people a way to explore, discover and connect with the natural world through their environmental education programs.  Find out more at www.ptreyes.org.