Over the years, the Foundation has held several events bringing together its grantees. In the spring of 2009 we decided to start a formal community engagement program because of this continued interest. The Foundation is encouraging better communication through meetings and web based facilities, and employs a “Collaboration Coordinator” whose purpose is to help agencies work together (at no cost to them) as well as develop public education and advocacy strategies for the girls support sector. This program is available to all agencies working in the girl’s support sector whether in social service or the arts, and is intended to assist them in networking, mentoring, collaboration, and advocacy efforts. In supporting girls, we have realized we must invest in the amazing staff that leads our girls’ programs. In some small way, we hope that we can assist our grantee organizations’ ability to increase girls’ access to services. Stay in touch as we develop this program over the coming year.

Program and Objectives

This program has five major goals:

1. Understand the existing needs, and document independent, government and quasi governmental programming directed to girls development in the SF Bay Area.
   1. Please visit our “Resources” page for general information. This page includes relevant research and information about related programs and services in the SF Bay Area.
   2. Please check the “News” page of this website for information affecting girls.
2. Enhance communication between agencies.
   1. To apply to join the Eva Foundation Community Listserv for social service and arts organizations serving teenage girls, please contact our Collaboration Coordinator, Laura Rosbrow.
   2. To get support and feedback with your ideas for collaboration and cooperation, please contact our Collaboration Coordinator Laura Rosbrow.
3. Sponsor meetings of agencies in order to foster cooperation, networking and staff development.
   1. To inquire about our 2010 networking luncheon, scheduled for October, 2010, please contact our Collaboration Coordinator, Laura Rosbrow.
   2. Read our report on our 2009 Networking Luncheon, focused on collaboration issues.
   3. Join our mailing list through the Sign-up form on the right and be informed about our upcoming series of brown bag staff development and peer counseling lunches.
4. Support collaborative efforts based on EGF grantees’ priorities.
   1. Programs are under development; check our News page or join the mailing list to be informed.
5. Engage in advocacy activities for girls and for EGF grantees.
   1. Click here to provide input for an advocacy agenda for girls programs.

Collaborative Principles

Eva foundation agencies believe in several key principles that are required to make collaboration work:

1. Networking, communication and collaboration are important.
2. Collaboration grows out of shared goals and a desire to improve services to beneficiaries.
3. Shared organizational values are as important as shared program priorities.
4. Complete support by collaborating agencies Board and staff is essential.
5. Programs must be adequately resourced and burdens equally shared.

Collaboration Priorities for Agencies

1. Sharing relevant research and statistics.
2. Coordinating information about related programs and services.
3. Publicity Efforts.

Click Here for a list of Eva Foundation grantee agencies

Photos from our Third Annual Networking Luncheon

Emily Klion, Program Director of Marsh Youth Theater, with Susan Andrews, Eva Gunther Board of Trustees Member.

{from left to right} Deborah Vaughn (Co-Founder and Artistic Director of Dimensions Dance Theater), Maria Schell Hassid (Program Director of Project AVARY), Unseen, Anne Krantz (President of the Eva Gunther Foundation), Emily Klion (Program Director of Marsh Youth Theater), Jane Segal (Director of Turning Heads Project), Marlene Sanchez (Executive Director of Center for Young Women’s Development), and Carol Nathan, Eva Gunther Board of Trustees Member.