Founders' Club & Board History

SCF Board Service - Our Founders & Directors

Max Rossi became the first elected Chair of the SCF Board of Directors in February 1995. As one of the twelve founding members in 1994, Max was enthusiastic about strengthening his community and a key force in forming the Solano Community Foundation. In March of 1996, the Foundation received its 501(c)(3) I.R.S. determination letter and fundraising began in earnest.

According to his wife Nancy, “Max started the Foundation because he saw a real need for it in Solano County, he really stressed the importance of keeping the money local, and for the need to help each other." From a few funds totaling $20,000 in 1997, SCF now holds just under $13 million in fund assets (at 7/31/2024). More than eighty six percent (86%) of assets held by the Foundation are permanently endowed monies.

We extend our heartfelt appreciation and gratitude to the Founding members who were visionaries and community leaders, instrumental in establishing the Solano Community Foundation.

We thank our Founders, and all of men and women who served as a Board member and had a hand in governing SCF during the past 30 years.


Murray Bass Founder
Abe Bautista
Jon Blegen
Judi Booe
Jose Briseno
Brian Chikowski Founder
Mike Conner Founder
Don Erickson
Mark Fink
Teresa Fitzgerald
Rebecca Gardiner
Dave Gaw Founder
Brett Johnson
David Knitter
Tim Kubli
Patty LaPlant Founder
Steve Lessler Founder
Victoria Li
Matt Lucas
Leo Martinez
Tiffany Monroe
Luke Monroe
Deanna Myhre
James Nordin
Mel Orpilla
Gary Passama
Margaret Payne
Andrea Portillo-Knowles
Stephen Power Founder
Cathy Preovolos
John Rankine
S. Scott Reynolds
Max Rossi Founder
Don Rowe
Wayne Senalik
Mark Sievers Founder
Sandra Smith
Tom Snyder
Pelton Stewart
Curtis Stocking
Andy Suihkonen
Walt Sunderman Founder
Sherry Tennyson
Lena Williams Founder
Billy Yarbrough Founder

Founders' Club

The founding donors listed below represent a local base of supporters who were committed to establishing a community foundation in Solano County. The Founders' Club members are individuals or organizations who made a $15,000 investment in the Solano Community Foundation to benefit our communities. Their support combined with a generous matching grant from The David and Lucille Packard Foundation provided the start-up capital.

"The Foundation will forever be grateful to those individuals and businesses that have become and will remain a part of our history. The Founders' Club is a special group who care about making Solano County a better place to live." - Mike Conner, Member & previous Chair, SCF Board of Directors