The Taylor Family Foundation’s Mission is to preserve the wellness and enhance the quality of life for children in Northern California living with life-threatening and chronic illnesses, developmental differences and youth at-risk through unique therapeutic experiences and support.
Our Staff
Jeanette Somers
Chief Operating Officer
TTFF@ttff.org
Katie Taylor
Projects Manager
Projects@ttff.org
Kristi Wagner
Controller
Controller@ttff.org
Kayleigh Fenstermacher
Camp Intern
Intern@ttff.org
To contact the Board of Directors, send an email to board@ttff.org
Board of Directors
Elaine Taylor
President and Chairman
of the Board
Paul Miller
Treasurer
In Memoriam
Barry Taylor
1938 – 2013
Shelley Lazar
1950-2019
Board Members
Sandi Bonderson & Paul Bonderson, Jr.
Brocade Communication
Paul Miller
Paul Miller, CPA
Casey Taylor
WaterLogic USA
Chris Smith
Cresco Equipment Rentals
Vicki Gallegos
Kenny’s Kids
Scott McKibben
Team President for the Oakland Panthers of the Indoor Football League
Charter Board Members
Bill Burton
Jim Hulburd
Mark Karpenko
Steve Rivera
Learn More About Our Board Members
It is a true honor and pleasure being with the kids. These children and their families have taught me so much and truly enriched my life beyond measure”.
Elaine Taylor
Elaine Taylor
Elaine Taylor is the Co-Founder and President of The Taylor Family Foundation. A true philanthropist, she has been a Candy Striper, cared for children in the playroom at hospitals, helped fundraise, sat on boards, and served as a committee member for various charities. She has been a mentor to other non-profit groups, teaching them the skills to raise money efficiently, volunteer management and to be highly profitable with the least amount of overhead.
Elaine has been an advocate and educator for Pediatric AIDS to several community groups. Elaine Taylor has received numerous honors, including the Unsung Heroes of Compassion award in 2005, presented by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, an honor given only to 50 individuals. Other awards include the 2015 Steven J. Rivera Threads of Hope Visionary Award, the 2014 East Bay Leadership Council’s Lifetime Achievement Award, the Jefferson Award for Public Volunteerism in 2009, and the Gilda Radner Philanthropic Award in 2007. In 2011 she was named to the Alameda County Women’s Hall of Fame.
Barry Taylor
Born in 1938 and raised in Northern California, Barry Taylor lived the American dream. A self-made man, he got his provisional driver’s license at the age of 14 so he could get a job to help support his family. In 1972, he founded Taylor Made Copier Systems with $7,000 in borrowed capital and five employees, several of whom spent their entire careers with the then start-up company.
By 1980, Taylor Made was a multi-million dollar company with 2,500 employees providing copiers and service to corporations in four different counties. No stranger to philanthropy, Barry sat on the board of the March of Dimes in the 1980s and held fundraisers on their behalf at his home shared with wife Elaine in Lafayette.
In 1990, The Taylor Family Foundation (TTFF) was founded to raise money and provide support for the families of Bay Area children living with HIV/AIDS. Father of seven, Barry lived life by the simple, yet profound principles of good living: rise to the challenge, work hard, enjoy life and always take care of each other.
While deeply missed, Barry’s entrepreneurial spirit lives on with TTFF. He worked tirelessly to ensure TTFF could continue to provide services for Northern California children living with chronic and life-threatening illnesses, developmental differences and youth at-risk.
(Joaquin Murrieta # 13 E Clampus Vitus) for raising funds for us during a pandemic.
Thank you to all of our Grantors!
East Bay Regional Park District
In 1996, East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD) and The Taylor Family Foundation teamed up to create Camp Arroyo, a Summer Youth Camp and Environmental Education Center, on 138 acres of parkland in Livermore, California. Construction began in 1998, and by spring 2000, the dining hall, swim complex, six duplex cabins, and site infrastructure were completed.
For more information on EBRPD, click here.
Animal Rescue Foundation
ARF’s team of trained volunteers and expert staff provide therapy dogs for the comfort and engagement of our campers. The children love to relax and enjoy the company of the dogs.
Challenge Works, Inc.
Previous owner, Kennerly DeForest, was the mastermind behind the challenge in our ropes course. Kennerly saw camp as a blank canvas and constructed adventures that he knew would challenge campers while making it inclusive for all campers, regardless of special need, to enjoy. He was right. TTFF continues to partner with Challenge Works, Inc. and their talented Ropes Course Team. Kennerly left an amazing legacy for his team to carry on his work.
Cresco Equipment Rentals
Cresco has been with us since the beginning. Originally sought out for equipment for the construction of camp, Cresco is now our one of our biggest supporters and is always there behind the scenes when we’re in a pinch!
Ft. Miley Challenge Course
Fort Miley has been our #1 in all things outdoor adventures! They send out trained professionals through the Pacific Leadership Institute and help us facilitate our many rope course activities, such as our rock wall, zip line, “leap of faith,” and many more.
Flashes of Hope
Flashes of Hope is a non-profit organization dedicated to creating powerful, uplifting portraits of children fighting cancer and other life-threatening illnesses.
Moment by Moment Photography
Moment by Moment provides professional photographers in the San Francisco Bay Area who volunteer their time to capture children with life-threatening illnesses and their families in the hospital & outpatient settings.
The Pacific Resiliency Center
The Pacific Resiliency Center helps us bring Sophie’s Place, our mobile music therapy program in partnership with Wells Fargo and the Forever Young Foundation, to camp. In addition, they provide music therapy in local hospitals and hospice homes throughout Northern California.
Project Linus
We work with a great group of ladies at a local chapter of Project Linus. They were with us at the beginning when we worked solely with children with HIV/AIDS and followed us to camp when it opened. We cherish the lovely blankets made by them for our campers and children in the hospital.
Reins in Motion
Reins in Motion was founded by Peggy James, a great friend of TTFF. Now directed by Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship (PATH) Certified Instructor, Katy Kempton, Reins in Motion brings their Equestrian Therapy Program to camp, letting campers enjoy the relaxation of the horses!
SonRise Equestrian Foundation
Our relationship with SonRise Equestrian Therapy Foundation started through a friendship. The campers love the mini horses SonRise brings for us to enjoy throughout the year!
Alliance of Therapy Dogs
Alliance of Therapy Dogs (ATD) is an international registry of certified therapy dog teams. We provide testing, certification, registration, support, and insurance for members who volunteer with their dogs in animal assisted activities. Our objective is to form a network of caring individuals and their special dogs who share smiles and joy with people, young and old alike.
Valley Humane Society
United Camps, Conferences and Retreats
Creating partnerships to provide positive life-changing experiences. UCCR takes pride in being leaders in camp & retreat center management services. As Camp Arroyo’s other camp operator, they work directly with program staff while at camp, making sure your time at camp is the best experience possible!
Catch a glimpse into the world of some of our campers and supporters captured by ABC7 News below!
Take a look at their unique experiences with TTFF
Looking for our virtual camp videos? Click here
See the memories made, friendships formed, and fun times in our gallery.
