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BenitoLink’s first fundraiser of 2024 has now concluded and all checks and donations have been received. In this campaign, we asked the community to support BenitoLink’s efforts to provide nonpartisan election information and encourage civic engagement for San Benito County. We are happy to say we met our match of $10,000, which enabled us to raise a total of $21,770. Unfortunately, we did not achieve our goal of $30,000.
We are thankful to three generous community members, Alan and Bonnie Clark and Sara Steiner, who put up the matching funds so local donors could see their donations doubled. These funds will help us give voters the election information needed: candidate profiles, Q&As for each race or measure and an election guide.
BenitoLink hosted its News Central Open House on June 21 as the fundraiser came to a close. The free event was attended by about 70 guests, who had a chance to tour our new downtown space at 615 San Benito Street, Suite 201, in Hollister.
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Gary Byrne and Leslie David after the presentation of the honorary press pass. Photo by Adam Bell. At News Central we also had the opportunity to honor our first member of the BenitoLink Champions of the 4th estate group: Gary Byrne, longtime CEO of the Community Foundation of San Benito County, who was integral to the creation of BenitoLink. BenitoLink Executive Director Leslie David recognized Byrne’s role in rebuilding local news in San Benito County by giving him his very own (and very oversized) press pass. An avid news reader, Byrne recently announced he will be stepping down as CEO for the Community Foundation after 22 years.
To all our donors who have helped us give the community the information it needs to prepare for the Nov. 5 election and helped residents engage with local news, we thank you.
We hope to see you all at our upcoming events and look forward to accomplishing much more with your continued support.
| Adeen McKuin | Linda Vaccarezza |
| Alacia Welch | Lisa Lentz |
| Alan Heminger | Liz Smith |
| Althea Dunning | Lois & Stelvio Locci |
| Amelia Ryan | Lynn Overtree |
| Anderson Family Foundation | Marianne Gennis |
| Barbara Rubio | Mark Bergman |
| Barbara Taddeo | Mark Levine |
| Bob Reid | Mary Kathryn Rubino |
| Bonnie Wilkinson | Mary Kay Filice |
| Brenda & Ken Weatherly | Mary Margaret & Kurt Lanning |
| Brian & Liz Smith | Maureen O’Hara |
| Cara Vonk | Mel Angel |
| Carol Scagliotti | Melinda Scherr |
| Catherine Booth | Michael & Ashleigh Anderson |
| Chang So | Michael Roller |
| Charles Walters | Michelle Noble McCain |
| Clark Stone | Mike Talley |
| Craig Leighty | Mitch Hammond |
| Cynthia Franks | Nick Bailey |
| Dan & Denise Cauthen-Wright | Pamela Little |
| Daniel Dungy | Parmeswar Kumar |
| Dave & Gerry Wright | Paul Scherer |
| David Kessler | Peter Breen |
| David Pollard | Phillip Esparza |
| Dawn Eason | Rebecca G Salinas |
| Deleta Jones | Rhonda Perrotti |
| Diane Ortiz | Richard Mazzarella |
| Dianne Carman | Robert Bernosky |
| Drew McAlister | Robert Connolly |
| Edward Huston | Robin Pollard |
| Ellen Hill | Rohit Sharma |
| Garry Rocchi & Geri Johnson | Sandra J Arevalo |
| Gary and Ria Byrne | Sandy Cabral |
| Gregory Swett | Sara Steiner |
| Heather & Ed Callens | Seth Capron |
| Jane Dabo Cruz | Sharlene Van Rooy |
| Janet Dunn | Sharma Ophthalmic Services |
| Janet Watson | Shawn Herrera |
| Jay Merz | Stacie McGrady |
| Jean Alkire | |
| Jean Lierly | Steve McDonald |
| Jeanette Neal | Steve Perricone |
| Jennifer Coile | Stirling Burnet |
| Jerry Magorian | Stuart Blakewood |
| Jill Evart | Susan Bukus |
| Joan Randolph | Tami Aviles |
| John David | Teresa Lavagnino |
| Jonathan Casey | Teresa West |
| Judy Arzie | Thomas Breen |
| Judy Gansen | Tina Baine |
| Karen Van Gerpen | Tom Walerius |
| Kate Modic | Trisha Brem |
| Kathryn Morris | Valerie Egland |
| Kris & Danny Waller | Warren Miller |
| Kristi Kern | William Baker |
| Laura Romero | Women’s Club of Hollister |
| Leslie & Jackson Schwabacher | Yuko Pierson |
We need your help. Support local, nonprofit news! BenitoLink is a nonprofit news website that reports on San Benito County. Our team is committed to this community and providing essential, accurate information to our fellow residents. It is expensive to produce local news and community support is what keeps the news flowing. Please consider supporting BenitoLink, San Benito County’s public service, nonprofit news.
