Editorial: Sterling Speirn made a big difference Editorial: Sterling Speirn made a big difference (December 28, 2005)

When Sterling Speirn became president of the Peninsula Community Foundation in 1992, it had assets of $60 million. As he leaves as president this week, assets have multiplied 10-fold to $611 million.

And over 15 years of Mr. Speirn's tenure, the foundation has distributed more than half-a-billion dollars in grants to worthy causes in Silicon Valley and beyond.

Next week, Mr. Speirn will go home to Battle Creek, Michigan, where he will take over as president and CEO of the much bigger W.K. Kellogg Foundation. This is one of the country's largest foundations with assets of close to $7 billion.

This seems a fitting opportunity to count the blessings that Mr. Speirn and the foundation have brought to the Peninsula, and to wish him equal success in promoting community philanthropy from Battle Creek.

Just last week, the foundation announced $604,245 in year-end grants to local nonprofits, bringing the total to more than $6 million for 2005. The latest grants include four new initiatives: arts education programs; coaching for new teachers; a supplemental meals on wheels program; and support for the Sheriff Office's program to combat gang and neighborhood violence.

In addition, the foundation has raised $1.2 million for hurricane victims through its donor network.

The Almanac and several other newspapers are grateful to the foundation for sponsoring their annual Holiday Funds, which raise end-of-the-year money for local charities. The foundation does the accounting and helps recruit donors to match the funds given by individuals. Last year, then Almanac's Holiday Fund raised $165,000 for 10 agencies that help the needy and desperate in our communities.

Mr. Speirn recently spoke about his philosophy at a festive farewell at the Little Fox Theater in Redwood City. "Don't talk about problems; talk about what you want to see happen," he said. "We know the problems; the question is what do we want to do."

The answer to that question appears in community initiatives the foundation has launched over the last 15 years. It also appears in collaborations and partnerships that allow government agencies, schools, nonprofit organizations and individuals to work together. Here are just a few examples:

** The foundation has put the concept of venture philanthropy on the map. Its Center for Venture Philanthropy has three venture funds, promoting family assets, childhood literacy, and the environment.

** The Peninsula Partnership for Children, Youth and Families was Mr. Speirn's brainchild, said Supervisor Rich Gordon. It works with at-risk children, families and schools for the critical years from birth to 8.

** Raising a Reader, a take-home book bag program for young children started in 2000, has now spread to 27 states. In December it received a "Social Capitalist" Award from Fast Company Magazine.

** The Ravenswood Clinic and Community Resource Center provides a center for medical and community agencies in East Palo Alto to serve troubled neighborhoods east of Bayshore.

Mr. Speirn deserves credit for building a staff and organization that manage these and many more programs helping people in need in San Mateo County. The foundation has been recognized as one of the largest and best-run community foundations in the country.

As Susan Ford Dorsey of Atherton said at the party, Mr. Speirn combines entrepreneurship and compassion. He's innovative, and responsive. "He treats grantees with respect."

So thanks, Sterling. And to paraphrase Edward R. Murrow, from the marquee at the Guild Theatre in Menlo Park, "Goodbye and Good Luck."

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