NEW DAWN HONORED

New Dawn Vallejo Corporation, a community development organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for low- to moderate-income families in Vallejo and Solano County, has been named Nonprofit of the Year by state Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa.

“We appreciate the recognition as we organize a systematic approach to changing our city and county, one youth at a time, one family at a time and one community for all,” said the Rev. Dr. Dante Quick, president of the New Dawn board and pastor of Friendship Missionary Baptist Church. “Whether it is youth internships, math programs, free summer camps, trauma-informed Pre-K programs, black infant health partnerships or late-night basketball, we are indebted to our partners who enable a holistic approach.”

New Dawn Vallejo, founded in 2013, provides a wide array of services to children and families as well as other organizations that serve them. Since its inception, the nonprofit has helped hundreds with youth mentoring, summer academic and lunch programs and seasonal food giveaways. It also offers financial literacy and debt-relief training. It has partnered with local law enforcement to improve community relations, launching a popular late-night basketball program.

New Dawn Vallejo continues to offer community support and referral services by phone and through online hosting sites during the coronavirus pandemic but is eager to return to regular programming, said Sundria Sam, New Dawn Vallejo executive director.

As always, the goal is to “preserve family institutions and help make individuals better community members.” It also strives to create a legacy of helping vulnerable communities in Vallejo and Solano County come into transition by positioning them for improvement, economic growth and sustainability.

“New Dawn Vallejo has stepped up in a community with great need, helping families receive critical services,” Sen. Dodd said. “They are a major asset to Vallejo and a model for other nonprofits to follow. I’m proud to give them this well-earned recognition.”