The Joan Barsotti Memorial Fund
We truly appreciate your interest in The Joan Barsotti Memorial Fund!
In the 34 years Joan spent weaving herself into the fabric of this county, she dedicated herself heart and soul to her family, friends, and community. There are few among us that weren’t touched by Joan … especially our children. Indeed, kids were her passion. Many of us adults can instantly recall the time Joan came and read her books to our grade school class. When she passed suddenly in 2010, the hole she left in the community was painful and tangible. This Fund is our way of filling that void while keeping Joan’s life, memory, and work alive for the generations to come.
Through generous donations like yours, the Fund’s mandate is to engage our children while empowering them with a better sense of self, community, and purpose. Managed by the El Dorado Community Foundation, the Fund’s distribution has thus far been provided to:
CASA Children … Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) make requests on behalf of the children for very specific things that will help keep the kids engaged in the community and/or school. This includes everything from school clothes to computers.
El Dorado READS … This program encourages reading among 4th grade students in El Dorado County’s 30 elementary schools. As a collaborative county-wide effort, kids participate in a book club including guide and questions. Grants will pay for books and field trips to the Gold Hill Wakamatsu site for a hands-on living history experience.
El Dorado High School Scholarships … We are offering two $1500 scholarships this year, including a general one and another for students actively involved in the AVID program. Winners can use them towards the college of their choice.
Please consider joining us for the next Annual Joan Barsotti Fund Benefit BBQ. The event is hosted each year by Kids Inc. at 3205 North Canyon Road in Camino.
Please let us know if we can help answer any questions that you might have. And, thank you so much for considering a donation. We know Joan would be smiling ear to ear!
Donations can be made any day of the year by clicking on the El Dorado Community Foundation logo.
For more information on Joan's Philanthropy, click HERE.
Sincerely,
Cathy Barsotti
The Joan Barsotti Fund Organizational Committee
About The Author & Illustrators
Joan Barsotti (October 1939-August 2010) lived in an orchard, in a log cabin, next to a forest. She wrote and published children’s picture books and was a popular visiting author at elementary schools throughout Northern California. [more]