2025 Fall ViewPoints
2025 Fall ViewPoints
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
As we wrap up 2025, we want to share our heartfelt thanks for all your support. Because of you, WCF was able to provide resources to community projects that really make a difference — preserving local character, improving shared spaces, and supporting programs that enrich us all. Your trust in our mission means a great deal, and as we look ahead to 2026, we’re excited about the new opportunities to continue making a positive difference together.
Best Wishes for the Holiday Season,
The Woodside Community Foundation
Viewpoints Fall 2025
Good Neighbor Fund Outreach
This year has been particularly challenging for many in our neighboring communities, many critically needed programs are under threat and underfunded. To address these needs, the WCF is providing a $10,000 matching grant to be split between St. Francis Center in Redwood City and Vista Verde Nature Education Program in San Gregorio. St. Francis Center directly addresses food insecurity for our closest neighbors and Vista Verde provides outdoor education to under-served children in these and other Bay Area communities. We believe this is a good balance of both addressing immediate needs while ensuring children in these communities get the outdoor enrichment they deserve.
All GNF donations up to $10,000 will be matched.
St. Francis Center, Redwood City
The St. Francis Center in Redwood City offers critical support to low-income families and individuals in the North Fair Oaks neighborhood. Last year they provided 31,479 bags of food to 4,707 members in 1,685 households; a 54% increase over the previous year. The first six months of 2025 saw a 15-20% surge in food demand while their allocation of pantry basics was cut by 50%. Your donation can make a real difference to our neighbors in need!
Vista Verde Outdoor Nature Education Program
Vista Verde’s core mission is to advance educational equity by offering FREE, overnight environmental learning experiences to students from low-income schools. Since 2001, the organization has introduced thousands of youth from marginalized communities to the wonders of the outdoors through a three-day, two-night camping program at its 23-acre site in San Gregorio, as well as nearby San Mateo County parks and beaches.
For most participants, these are true “first-time” experiences that foster confidence, curiosity, and a lifelong connection to nature.
Launched in 2023, the WCF Good Neighbor Fund establishes a reliable source of funding, allowing the WCF to quickly respond to all types of needs and emergencies impacting our neighboring communities. Your support has helped the La Honda Fire Protection District add an ERV (Emergency Response Vehicle) to their firefighting and emergency rescue fleet (2023 matching grant of $5000 and total gift of $9500), and supported Puente de la Costa Sur in providing affordable farmworker housing in Pescadero (2024 matching grant of $3000 and total gift of $13,000).
Woodside Community Foundation 2025 Updates
WCF Trail Fund $10,000 in Grants Help Keep Bridge and Trails in Repair
Your support for the Trail Fund allowed the WCF to provide $5,000 toward the $60,000 required to replace the failing Kings Mountain Trail bridge at the end of Greer Road leading into Huddart Park. The work was completed and the new bridge opened July 11.
Additional work in July was done on the eroded multi-use Crystal Springs Trail that intersects Raymundo Drive as well as the trail from Raymundo up to the Fire Road. The WCF Trail Fund provided an additional $5,000 for the pipe and anchoring system while the County provided the rock.
Woodside Landscape Committee Improves Woodside Community Museum Landscaping
WLC’s latest community improvement project has involved cleanup and landscaping at the Woodside Community Museum. Work has included removing unwanted, overgrown, and invasive plants to open up areas for existing plants to thrive and provide spaces for new, attractive and water-wise plantings. Knowledgeable WLC members are evaluating a variety of plant options that will complement the Museum building and provide year-round interest. The new landscaping will greet visitors to the Museum when its new exhibit opens in 2026.
Woodside Village Band
Enjoy a full band concert by some of the best amateur musicians on the Peninsula on December 20 at 3pm. Admission and parking are free at Woodside High School Performing Arts Center, 199 Churchill Avenue, Woodside.
The Woodside Village Band is adding musicians to their group in all sections. Auditions are not required, just a love of making music. If you are interested in joining, please contact Conductor, Yessica Gallagher, at [email protected]
‘Shred It’ Again!
For the fifth year, WCF hosted a free ‘Shred It’ Day on Saturday, April 26, giving Woodsiders a safe and convenient way to dispose of post–tax season documents and other accumulated paperwork. WCF Board members and volunteers welcomed residents at Town Hall, where a mobile shredding truck from Shred It! in Oakland was on site to securely handle materials. Next Spring we are looking into providing electronics recycling as well as paper shredding.
The WCF General Fund
In addition to supporting our funds, a gift to the WCF General Fund helps ensure that the Foundation stays ready to meet the ever-changing needs of our community.
General Funds are often used to establish matching grants to partner with our loyal donors to support charitable projects. A small portion of General Funds are also used to “keep the lights on,” to cover administrative costs for things such as bookkeeping accounts, and communications.
Thank you for caring about your community and for your generosity. Your support truly makes a difference.
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