Sonora, CA…Sonora Area Foundation announces that long time Sonora attorney Jim Gianelli and his wife Barb have opened a second fund at the Foundation to facilitate charitable giving for their business Gianelli & Polley, Inc. The couple has held a personal fund at the Foundation since 1999. Mr. Gianelli was a long time member and past president of the Foundation’s Board of Directors. According to Mr. Gianelli: “We have always made charitable donations directly at Gianelli & Polley and it’s worked well. However, partnering with Sonora Area Foundation has several benefits and Barb and I really like the work they’re doing in Tuolumne County and want to show our support.”

A Donor Advised Fund or DAF functions the same for a business as it does for an individual, group or club by providing a mechanism for charitable giving through Sonora Area Foundation, the Community Foundation for Tuolumne County. The fund representative suggests a grant and the administrative component – check generation, accompanying gift letter, mailing, etc. is handled by the Foundation along with all IRS reporting requirements and documentation.

The Sonora Area Foundation is a Community Foundation incorporated in 1989, commencing operations in 1990. Its mission is to strengthen our community by promoting philanthropy through assisting charitable donors, making grants to worthy projects and programs and providing leadership on local issues.

The Sonora Area Foundation, along with two supporting organizations, the Irving J. Symons Foundation for Tuolumne County and The Symons Family Fund, has assets of approximately $43 million. The Foundation holds and administers more than 170 charitable funds set up for a variety of charitable purposes and educational scholarships. The governing boards of the Foundation and supporting organizations regularly award grants that fulfill needs in Tuolumne County and exceed $23.5 million since inception.

The Sonora Area Foundation is a member of the Council on Foundations, a national membership organization for community foundations.

For information on grant applications, making a donation or establishment of a donor fund, contact the Foundation at 209-533-2596 or through its website www.sonora-area.org.