Special Projects & Charities

Each year, MPI Sacramento/Sierra Nevada seeks to reach out to the community and provide support to a qualified charity throughout the program year. This may include proceeds from raffles donations, and general philanthropic promotion of the organization.  MPI Sacramento/Sierra Nevada is seeking a charity for the 2022 - 2023 year. 

Click here for more information on submitting your proposal.  Read more about our charity selection process.

MPI Foundation

2021-2022 Charity of the Year

Whether you're an industry veteran or just getting started in your career, the MPI Foundation is committed to giving back to you and your industry, making you both stronger. A donation to the MPI Foundation helps secure the meeting and event profession for the future. When you help the people who bring people together, you help change the world.

MPISSN Returning the Favor Fund

2020-2021 Charity of the Year

The hospitality industry has taken some of the hardest hits in 2020.  So this year, the MPISSN Board is pleased to introduce the "MPISSN Returning the Favor Fund." This scholarship program pays for fellow MPISSN members to attend our chapter educational and social events. We feel that this fills a current need, and it fits the theme of the year “Together, we can do great things.”  Whether you’re a hotelier who is furloughed, a supplier who has seen income dry up and events cancel, or a planner whose training budget has been slashed, we invite you to not be shy in reaching out to request a scholarship.  

Assistance League of Sacramento

2019-2020 Charity of the Year

We are excited to share that the Assistance League of Sacramento has been selected as this upcoming year’s beneficiary for MPI Sacramento/Sierra Nevada. Assistance League of Sacramento is local volunteers transforming the lives of children and adults through community programs. Assistance League offers a wide range of support and services to those in need and those in transitional life situations.

In 2018-19, Assistance League provided 5,100 children in 40 local schools with clothing and books to enhance literacy. Over 3,200 victims of sex trafficking, sexual assault and homelessness received hygiene products, clothing and housing starter kits. The organization gave 90 foster youth transitioning from residential care to independent living the essentials for bed, bath and kitchen.

In addition, Assistance League provided cuddly teddy bears to calm and comfort 2,900 children in trauma situations and adults with memory impairment. Scholarships awarded to 24 community college students with difficult life circumstances will help them to complete their education.

Sacramento SPCA

2017-2019 Charity of the Year

The mission of Sacramento SPCA is to foster a loving and compassionate community for animals and people by providing assistance creating lifelong relationships, and saving lives. SPCA offers a multitude of services including; pet adoptions, behavior training, special programs for youth and seniors with their pets, vaccinations, licensing and end of life services for pets. In 2016, SPCA rescued 424 animals, 17,465 spay and neuter surgeries performed, 14,025 vaccinations and serviced 3,233 free behavioral helpline calls.

Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services

2016-2017 Charity of the Year

Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services (SFBFS) offers compassionate support and a compass for families navigating difficult times. With many diverse programs and services SFBFS guides families on their journey through support and education. The SFBFS’ mission is dedicated to assisting those in need by alleviating their immediate pain and problems and moving them toward self-sufficiency and financial independence. As of 2014, SFBFS is the main food bank of Sacramento County. 135,000 men, women and children receive support from SFBFS every month. All services are provided at no cost to families seeking to change their lives. SFBFS welcomes families regardless of zip code, income, language or education level. SFBFS offers 15 programs and services including Food Access, Clothing, Adult Education, Health & Nutrition and CalFresh. A description of each service is available online here. For information about the impact these services make in the Sacramento community, please check the SFBFS 2017-2018 Impact Report.

The Alzheimer's Association

2015-2016 Charity of the Year

The Northern California and Northern Nevada Chapter is one of over 70 Alzheimer's Association chapters serving communities across the United States.

The Alzheimer’s Association is the world’s leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer’s care, support and research. We work on a global, national and local level to enhance care and support for all those affected by Alzheimer’s and other dementias. As the largest non-profit funder of Alzheimer's research, the Association is committed to accelerating progress of new treatments, preventions and ultimately, a cure. Through our partnerships and funded projects, we have been part of every major research advancement over the past 30 years. The Association is also the leading voice for Alzheimer's disease advocacy, fighting for critical Alzheimer's research, prevention and care initiatives at the state and federal level. We diligently work to make Alzheimer’s a national priority. Read more about us here.

Since its founding in Menlo Park, Calif. in 1981 by a group of dedicated volunteers, the Alzheimer’s Association, Northern California and Northern Nevada Chapter has grown to include eleven offices across two states. We serve hundreds of families with our 24/7 helpline, offer one-on-one care consultations, maintain more than 150 support groups, mobilize 1,000 volunteers in the cause, raised more than $1.7 million for our national research program in fiscal year 13 and more. Our vision is a world without Alzheimer’s disease.

MPI Sacramento/Sierra Nevada participated in the Annual Walk in October 2015 raising more than $1000.  Throughout the 2015-2016 program year, the chapter raised more than $1,000 more at its education luncheons, raising awareness and funds to support the organization.

Give Hope Foundation

2014-2015 Charity of the Year

The mission of the Give Hope Foundation is to provide hope, relief and financial assistance to Northern Nevada families who have children battling a chronic illness. Give Hope is a funding platform to assist these families in sustaining their basic human needs during a traumatic life-changing period by providing funds for housing, uncovered medical expenses, utilities, food and other expenses necessary to maintain a stable home for the child. In addition, Give Hope also provides travel/housing reimbursements to/from specialized treatments out of state.

Since its inception in 2001, Give Hope has assisted over 325 families in Northern Nevada, focusing on the child, not the illness. Most local and national foundations assisting children with illnesses are limited to focus on a single illness. At the Give Hope Foundation, we are not limited in this area and we have the ability to help many families who might otherwise fall through the cracks. The child's and the family's ability to cope with the illness is our number one priority.

MPI Sacramento/Sierra Nevada was thrilled to pledge its support for this organization founded by MPI Sacramento/Sierra Nevada past president Amanda Flangas.  Further, the opportunity to extend our work to a Nevada organization was particularly special as so many of our colleagues in this chapter live and work in Nevada!  More than $2000 was donated to The Give Hope Foundation in June of 2015.

Make-A-Wish Foundation

2012-2014 Charity

Make-A-Wish works to grant the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy.

A key objective is to take children away from their medical struggles. It’s important to note, too, that the experience is not a “last wish.” In fact, many children go on to recover and live long, full lives. MPI Sacramento/Sierra Nevada’s meeting and event raffles are an important activity as 100 percent of these proceeds will be given to Make-A-Wish at the end of our fiscal year to help facilitate their good work and wish-granting process. Learn more about Make-A-Wish at www.makeawish-sacto.org.

Yolo Foster & Kinship Care Program

2011-2012 Charity of the Year

Throughout the 2011/2012 year, MPI Sacramento/Sierra Nevada held its monthly raffle in an effort to raise funds for this worthy cause. We are pleased to have raised and presented a check for $2,138.00 to the Yolo Foster & Kinship Care Program at Woodland Community College. 

Pictured - from left to right - Al Konuwa, Vice President of Academic & Student Services; Angela Fairshilds, President of Woodland Community College; Cherie Schroeder, Program Director; and Lisa Bispham, MPI Sacramento/Sierra Nevada President