On May 31st, under the heat of a Sonoma County summer day, our incredible community of supporters gathered once again for one of Greenbelt Alliance’s most beloved annual traditions – our Sonoma Leadership Council Luncheon at the beautiful home of long-time supporter Linda Dodwell. Even with soaring temperatures, the spirit was high as friends reconnected, new connections were made, and everyone came together to celebrate a shared vision for a more resilient Sonoma County.
With glasses of local wine in hand and delicious, locally-sourced food, guests enjoyed a joyful and inspiring afternoon. This event has become a highlight of the year not just for the fun, but for the powerful reminder of what we can achieve together.
You can view more photos of the gathering on our Flickr album here. This year, we also captured a video of our event which you can watch here.
A Bold New Vision for Wildfire Resilience
During the program we shared exciting developments in our work in Sonoma County to protect communities in the wildland-urban interface (WUI) from the growing threat of wildfire. Greenbelt Alliance has identified a new strategy to reduce wildfire risk: the patchwork greenbelt buffer.
This approach weaves together existing lands that already act as buffers—such as irrigated farmland, vineyards—with privately owned grasslands and woodlands to complete a patchwork greenbelt that strategically protects communities from wildfires.
Together, these lands can form a strategic greenbelt buffer that could dramatically lower the risk of wildfire destruction—up to 75%, according to recent insurance-based models.
This approach is cutting-edge, timely, and applicable to other wildfire-prone communities in the Western US, but requires philanthropic investment to reach its full potential.
Why Now?
The urgency is clear. As wildfires grow more destructive and costly, people, communities, and insurers are recognizing that we must act proactively—across entire landscapes—to reduce risk. That’s why Greenbelt Alliance is stepping in—and why our community of supporters is more important than ever.
Together, We Beat the Goal
Thanks to the generosity and passion of our donors, we’re thrilled to share that we raised over $125,000, surpassing our $100,000 goal! This funding will directly support our efforts in Sonoma County to implement greenbelt buffers and advance wildfire resilience strategies that work.
We are deeply grateful to everyone who attended, donated, and helped make this event such a tremendous success.
Let’s Keep the Momentum Going
As we look ahead, we invite you to continue standing with us in this critical work. With your support, we can expand these solutions across the region—and safeguard the places we all love.
Here’s to a greener, safer, and more resilient future. Thank you for being part of it.
