BCF In Action

Citizen of the Year Adam Gavzer wrote, directed, and co-produced (with Kevin Burke) the multimedia extravaganza Love Letters To Belvedere: A Community Talent Showcase, which was performed in Belvedere Park on the evening of September 3, 2022.  Based on Belvedere history, the show was 100% historically accurate, except for the parts that were completely made up.  Noemi Marquie was the Master of Ceremonies, Page Peterson was the Historian, and Adam was Old Man Belvedere.  Our talented community, including Belvedere police chief Jason Wu, danced, sang, played, and clowned during 90 minutes of hilarity, both on stage and in videos projected onto a huge inflatable movie screen.  The evening began with haikus written by the audience.  At the end of the evening there was consensus – we all love Belvedere!

The Belvedere Community Foundation board met this week and approved ten grants totaling just under $30,000.  Approved grants included funds for:

Mulch and new plants for Harvey’s Garden at Blackie’s Pasture

GreenTeam supplies for projects at Blackie’s Pasture, Trestle Trail, and Butterfly Garden

A Belvedere talent show proposed by Adam Gavzer, to be presented over the Labor Day Weekend

Concerts-In-The-Park

A matching grant for Belvedere Nursery School’s recovery from flooding

A new bench for Reed School

Redwood High School’s Safe and Sober Grad Night

Continuing support of Richardson Bay Audubon Center’s native plant demonstration garden

Tiburon Peninsula Little League’s opening day celebration on Main Street

A donation to MarinHealth’s mental health program, in honor of the Raccoon Volunteer Branch’s fundraising efforts in Belvedere

Does your organization have a project in mind that would contribute to the quality of life in Belvedere?  Grant proposals for our Fall grant cycle are due on September 1.  You can submit your grant application online: https://belvederecommunityfoundation.com/grant-information/

Summer fun awaits, and BCF is here to help support it

The current beautiful weather reminds us that spring is just around the corner.  Do you have a project in mind that will contribute to Belvedere’s beauty or way of life?  You can fill out a grant application on-line at this website and receive an answer by late March.  The deadline to apply is Tuesday, March 1.  We look forward to reviewing your project proposal.

A relaxed afternoon at Concerts-In-The-Park, funded in part by a grant from BCF

BCF is providing funds for fencing and shade sails at the Belvedere Park.

Thanks to everyone who made the Belvedere Community Foundation’s annual meeting a great success.  As promised, you can view the wonderful videos  from the meeting below.  Click on the play button in the center of the image and enjoy!

We’re very excited that this year’s Annual Meeting will be in person in the City Hall Council Chambers!  We hope you will join us.

Thursday, November 18, 2021, 7 pm
Belvedere City Hall
Business Meeting, Photo Contest, and Refreshments

Attendance will be limited.  RSVP using the link below.

Attendees must be fully vaccinated.
BCF will comply with masking requirements and other COVID-related restrictions in accordance with Marin Public Health guidelines in place on November 18.

The photo contest is still open for submissions, but not for much longer!  Deadline is midnight of November 3.

Look for our annual newsletter in your mailbox beginning Wednesday, Oct. 27.

2018 Photo Contest winners pose at that year’s Annual Meeting

2020 winner, Wildlife Category: Pelicans and Cormorant on Election Day by Joan Moir

The Belvedere Park gazebo became a wine bar and food trucks serving delicious dinners took over the basketball court as Belvedere celebrated 125 years of civic life on September 4.  Children chased bubbles on the lawn, while kids of all ages enjoyed popcorn.  Hadley Construction provided their tricked-out truck as a stage for live music.  Mayor James Campbell addressed the revelers, recounting stories from Belvedere’s early years, while party organizers Adam Gavzer and Sandy Donnell reminded everyone of why we love Belvedere.  Thanks to everyone who donated wine and to Anne Feinberg, whose decorations transformed the gazebo into a giant birthday cake.  An open-air screening of “The Princess Bride” capped off the evening.  Supporting and celebrating our special community is what BCF is all about, and we were thrilled to be the lead sponsor of this wonderful event.  Photos by Jeffery Stein.

Golden Gate Lane offers sweeping views of the Golden Gate Bridge as it drops 180 steps from the 300 block of Golden Gate Avenue to Belvedere Avenue below. The lane was unimproved and was in danger of disappearing altogether until the Parks and Open Space Committee identified it as the first lane to be restored as part of the Belvedere Public Lanes Initiative. Work on the lane was completed in 2020 and landscaping is planned for completion in spring of 2021, after the unsightly power poles are removed.

BCF Board President Sue Hoeschler presented a check to the City on Valentine’s Day for $194,500, the total of a $50,000 grant from BCF and funds raised through BCF from private donors. Play the video above to view our thank you to the 18 civic-minded donors who contributed to this beautiful addition to our community.

BCF Board President Sue Hoeschler and Mayor James Campbell celebrate our community’s contribution to the restoration of Golden Gate Lane

Do you have a local project that needs funding? The deadline for spring grant applications is Monday, March 1, 2021. Use the forms provided on this website to submit your grant proposal electronically. Click on the “Apply for a Grant” box below to get started. We look forward to reviewing your proposal!

Volunteers ready the ground during 2017 Clean and Green Day

A relaxed afternoon at 2018 Concerts-In-The-Park

Belvedere lost an indefatigable contributor to our civic life when Janet Irene “Jan” Andersen passed away on March 18, 2020.  The Andersens moved to Belvedere in 1997 and immediately fell in love with Belvedere’s beautiful views and winding lanes and stairways.  A passionate gardener who knew the name of every tree, shrub, and flower on her hillside sanctuary, Jan was a member of the Belvedere Parks and Open Space Committee for sixteen years.  She subsequently served on the Planning Commission, giving back to her community with energy and good humor.  A supportive Advisory Trustee of BCF until her death, Jan also served as a BCF Trustee, including as Chair of BCF’s core committee, Grants.  The City Council honored her with the Belvedere Community Spotlight Award for excellence in community service in 2017.

In Jan’s memory, her beloved husband Peter has pledged to make an annual gift to the Belvedere Community Foundation.  We are honored with Peter’s trust, and we pledge to continue Jan’s legacy of love and commitment to Belvedere.

Due to pandemic restrictions, the 2020 Belvedere Community Foundation Annual Meeting was held virtually via Zoom on November 19. We all missed the social hour and refreshments following the meeting but enjoyed hearing about BCF’s accomplishments for the year.

A highlight of the meeting was a short video in which the 2020 grantees explained their projects and thanked BCF for its support. Here is the link to that video.  Click the triangle in the center of the link to begin.

We also watched a video featuring the 2020 Photo Contest; click below on the Vimeo link for that video.  When you reach the video screen, click the triangle in the lower left corner to begin.

https://vimeo.com/480060284

You can also view the complete collection of 2020 submissions and take a look at earlier contests on this website. Congratulations to everyone who entered!

What A Hoot by Matthew James Gormley

Guard Cat by Linda Bine