VNA hires Development Fund Manager to Fundraise and develop New Strategic Vision

  Olivia Colombo spent the last five years supporting a local treasure — the Carmel Bach Festival. 

Monterey, CA, November 06, 2021 - Olivia Colombo spent the last five years supporting a local treasure — the Carmel Bach Festival. As Development Manager she had record-breaking fundraising years during her tenure. She specialized in cultivating donor and community relations to support presenting artistically innovative programming that added joy to the Monterey Peninsula.  

Now she hopes to add “joy” to another beloved community non-profit. VNA has hired Colombo as the new Development Fund Manager, reporting directly to Chief Executive Officer, Jane Russo. 

Colombo is responsible for directing all functions of the Development Department including strategic planning, donor and community relationships, communications (internal and external), and overall support to VNA’s fundraising goals and commitments. 

Colombo replaces Tina Del Piero, who served 16 years in the position. Del Piero says, “She is a dynamic, enthusiastic and professional fundraiser that will do great things with the VNA & Hospice.” Colombo brings a drive for fundraising and a passion for health services from her background as a Kinesiology major at Sonoma State University. “VNA is a great organization and very respected in the community,” she said. “Yet we also need to grow and evolve to ensure we continue to provide the best services to the community.” 

Colombo said she will begin connecting with the community to build support and awareness for  VNA. “Everyone should know who we are, the services we offer, and why VNA deserves your support,” she said. “I want to share the more personal side of VNA, to help tell the stories about our amazing staff, volunteers, and patients we serve.” 

Colombo gravitated toward the VNA position because of its dedicated approach to health care and community relationships. “VNA has been around a long time, yet we need to stay modern, fresh, and relevant. It’s always a challenge, but very exciting, and amazing things are to come at VNA.” 

For more information on VNA, visit www.ccvna.com. 

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
The Buzz PR LLC
Salinas, CA
831-747-7455
marci@thebuzzpr.net
https://www.ccvna.com

Carmel Artist Donating Nearly 100 Dog Paintings to Fundraise for Animal Welfare Nonprofit Max’s Helping Paws Foundation

After seven years and more than 100 dog paintings, Folster is happily accepting the moniker “Carmel dog artist,” even though her walks on the beach have been reduced because of arthritis and a knee replacement.

Carmel, CA, July 27, 2020 — Carmel artist Bonnie Folster never considered herself a “dog artist” per se, but seven years ago she started painting images of the dogs she met on her daily walks on Carmel Beach with her beloved Scottish deer hound Buck.

So she was, in fact becoming one.

After seven years and more than 100 dog paintings, Folster is happily accepting the moniker “Carmel dog artist,” even though her walks on the beach have been reduced because of arthritis and a knee replacement. And, she not only has a new Scottish deer hound, Jack (sadly, Buck passed away two years ago), but she’s moved out of the area. This has prompted her to put nearly all works into the public eye, hopefully to be "claimed by" and given to as many of the families of the dogs she painted as possible.

“I’m very happy they’re finally getting out to people,” says Folster. “It’s very gratifying to have the paintings find a home with the people who love their dogs. And I had fun doing them.”

Max’s has an online gallery page (https://www.maxshelpingpaws.org/carmel-dogs) with images of nearly 100 paintings/drawings (some are acrylic on canvas, others are colored pencil on archival paper). Several of the pieces are on display for a limited time at The Barnyard upstairs in the windows of Building G near the Fire Pit. Similar commissioned paintings by Folster, of varying sizes would normally “fetch” between $100 for the small paintings and pencil sketches, and more than $350 for the larger 8x12 paintings. Recipients can both claim and donate through the webpage. (www.maxshelpingpaws.org/carmel-dogs)

No payment is being requested, however Folster asks that recipients of her artwork consider making a donation in whatever amount they feel is appropriate to Max’s Helping Paws Foundation.

“I didn’t do it to sell, I did it for fun,” she says. “And it just kind of kept going. No one asked me to paint their dog, but lots of people might be surprised and, I hope, pleased, that I did. I hope they will make a generous donation to Max’s for all they are doing in this community.”

About Max's Helping Paws Foundation
Max's Helping Paws Foundation (MHPF) was co-founded in 2016 by Dyana Klein and her husband and veterinary internist, Dr. Jonathan Fradkin, in memory of their pet, Maximillian.

The foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that supports all Monterey County veterinary practices to provide financial assistance to clients with pets in need of both critical short-term or longer-term care for chronic illness. Since it first started providing financial assistance in mid-2017, MHPF has approved $250,000 in financial assistance, and has helped hundreds of pet families give their pets a second chance. MHFP is based in Monterey County and serves only Monterey County.

Max’s Helping Paws Foundation
(831) 704-6473
info@maxshelpingpaws.org
26388 Carmel Rancho Lane, Suite D
Carmel CA 93923

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
http://www.maxshelpingpaws.org