Carol Beattie, the board chair of Healdsburg Forever, works in CraftWork Healdsburg, a co-working space on Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2021. The community foundation funds the needs of nonprofits serving Healdsburg and Geyserville to nurture and sustain a diverse, thriving and more equitable community. (John Burgess/The Press Democrat)
In a small town, the best way to pave the way for sustained happiness is to bolster the organizations that make local culture what it is.
This is what makes Healdsburg Forever so special.
The organization doles out hundreds of thousands of dollars to Healdsburg and Geyserville nonprofits every year, but their reach goes farther than that. They also serve Alexander Valley, Dry Creek Valley and parts of the Russian River Valley. And during the COVID-19 pandemic the group pivoted and set up an emergency fund to help those serving the area’s most vulnerable populations.
At the end of the day, the nonprofit’s mission is simple: To make sure that what makes Healdsburg great, survives for as long as possible.
“We’re here for the long haul and exist to make things easier for others,” Healdsburg Forever Board Chair Carol Beattie said. “It’s our only mission as an organization, and it’s a mission we take incredibly seriously, no matter what else might be happening in our community overall.”