CEOs of Silicon Valley Community Foundation & Los Altos Mountain View Community Foundation and Team PACF with Santa Clara County Supervisor Abe-Koga.
Bringing District 5 Changemakers Together
The recent District 5 Eat ‘N’ Greet was a powerful example of what community looks like in actionHosted by Santa Clara County Supervisor Margaret Abe-Koga and co-led by Silicon Valley Community Foundation (SVCF), Los Altos Mountain View Community Foundation (LAMVCF), and Palo Alto Community Fund (PACF), the gathering brought together nonprofit leaders, philanthropic partners, and County staff to connect, share ideas, and build relationships.
At its core, the evening reflected a shared belief that no single organization can meet the breadth of needs in our community alone. It takes partnership, coordination, and a willingness to come together across sectors. We are fortunate in District 5 to have community foundation partners who not only believe in collaboration, but embody it, working side by side with trust, shared purpose, and a deep commitment to strengthening our communities.
Supervisor Abe-Koga’s leadership continues to elevate the role of the social sector and foster meaningful engagement across stakeholders. Her commitment to issues such as housing stability, mental health, and equitable access to essential services underscores the importance of public sector partnership. We are grateful for her and her team’s support, and for creating space for organizations to come together in this way.
The Eat ‘N’ Greet was not about presentations, it was about people. After brief remarks from Supervisor Abe-Koga, Palo Alto Community Fund CEO Irene Wong, Los Altos Mountain View Community Foundation CEO Crysta Krames, and Silicon Valley Community Foundation CEO Nicole Taylor, the event quickly shifted into conversation, connection, and discovery. New relationships were formed, ideas were exchanged, and opportunities for collaboration began to take shape.
It was especially meaningful to see so many grantees, partners, board members, and community friends from across District 5 in attendance, including Canopy, Palo Alto Art Center, Society of Heart’s Delight, Avenidas, Environmental Volunteers, Children’s Health Council, Gamble Garden, Thrive, Palo Alto Community Child Care, and Stanford University’s Office of Government Affairs, among others.
This Eat ‘N’ Greet is just the beginning. At Palo Alto Community Fund, we believe in the power of bringing people together and are committed to continuing to convene our community in meaningful ways. By creating space for connection and collaboration, we can help strengthen partnerships and advance shared solutions across District 5.