Indivisible Ferndale hosted a CR Foundation fundraising event on February 29 at the Ferndale Community Center. The event, attended by more than 100 people, raised $7,244 for the Redwoods Room and Board Scholarship Fund which will support at least three students for a year in the CR Foundation program. Marty Coelho, Executive Director of College Advancement & the CR Foundation, says, “The Redwoods Room & Board Scholarship Program is the first of its kind in the country, where a college utilizes its own facilities to house and feed students experiencing homelessness.”  

Recently CR was one of fourteen community colleges to be included in a state pilot program. The college will receive $500,000 annually over a three-year period to implement a sustainable program to support CR’s homeless and housing insecure students. Coelho says, “The funds we are now receiving from the state will do much to expand support for our housing and food insecure students. A recent survey of Northern California community colleges indicated 24% of community college students are homeless, 59% are food insecure, and 70% are housing insecure. So there is a great deal more we need to do to address this issue at CR and throughout Northern California.”

The renewable Redwoods Room and Board Scholarship, begun in January 2019, provides students with housing in CR’s residence halls and meals in the cafeteria. Seventeen scholarships were awarded last year. The CR Foundation has awarded seven so far this year. Coelho said, “In the program’s first year, the success rate has been incredible. Sixty-seven percent of the students receiving the scholarship either remained in college for the entire year or have graduated. Those who graduated have continued on to four-year universities. We believe we have shown that investing in this program benefits the students, the college and our communities.”

The festive evening event featured music by The Gatehouse Well, small bites and a silent auction. Special guests included Marty Coelho and his wife Kim; College of the Redwoods trustees, Bonnie Deister and Danny Kelley; and Dr. Kintay Johnson, who oversees the Redwoods Room & Board Program in student services, and his wife Nellie. Indivisible Ferndale thanks Lost Coast Brewery, and other generous people from Ferndale and surrounding communities who came to support CR students and have a good time.  

To contribute to the CR Foundation and student support programs, go to

 https://www.redwoods.edu/foundation/Giving.

For more information: Karen Burkhardt, Indivisible Ferndale,

karenmburhardt@gmail.com , 916-947-0563

Marty Coelho, Executive Director of College Advancement & the CR Foundation,

marty-coelho@redwoods.edu , 707-476-4325