Martha Lindt’s Sonoma County Spirit

Students throughout Sebastopol have a friend in Martha Lindt, one of 19 residents chosen for Spirit of Sonoma County Awards this month by the county’s Economic Development Board. They were honored at a Dec. 5 event.

Since purchasing the Baskin-Robbins ice cream franchise in the Redwood Marketplace in 2010, Lindt has been helping local school groups raise money by donating 20 percent of sales on select days each month.

It’s one of several ways Lindt, 66, gives back to her community. She also serves on the Sebastopol Chamber of Commerce board of directors and volunteers with the Sebastopol Sunrise Rotary Club.

“She’s a really wonderful person and has a huge heart,” said Teresa Ramondo, the chamber’s executive director. “She’s always looking for opportunities to help.”

The community voted the Sebastopol Baskin-Robbins as the chamber’s business of the year for 2014, an honor acknowledging Lindt’s efforts to assist local schools. She purchased the business during the economic downturn “as I was watching the stock market chew up my money,” she said, but the timing was right for her personally.

She previously owned Wild Women Adventures, a tour company that brought women out of their day-to-day routines to experience culture and adventure in destinations like Egypt, Thailand and Europe.

The grandmother of seven knows firsthand the efforts that go into school fundraising. When her own children, now 42 and 44, were in school, she was among the parents seeking donations and helping out with fundraising campaigns.

She reached out to Sebastopol schools shortly after purchasing the ice cream franchise, offering her Dine and Donate program as a way to help schools burdened with budget cuts.

“It’s not a lot, but it’s consistent,” Lindt said.

Teachers and administrators sometimes help out as celebrity scoopers, adding fun for students from Twin Hills, Apple Blossom, Brook Haven, Park Side, Oak Grove and Analy High School.

While many businesses have cut back with donations during the tough economy, Lindt has continued to support area schools.

“I’m retired. It’s not about making my fortune. It’s about giving back,” she said.

Store employees kept the program going while she recently took a month off for a personal adventure. This fall she and a fellow Rotarian, Gabrielle Disario, completed a 33-day journey from France to Spain along the Camino de Santiago.

The pilgrimage to the shrine of the apostle St. James the Great was more spiritual than religious for Lindt, an experience she considers life-changing.

“I learned to slow down and focus and appreciate the single purpose,” she said of the 500-mile walk. Her Fitbit activity tracker calculated the journey at 1 million, 51,000 steps. The women averaged 12 to 15 miles per day.

Lindt credits her husband Dave with supporting her many adventures and activities.

She’s now counting down to Christmas Day for the community dinner in Sebastopol that draws about 600 people, at which she helps coordinate the volunteers through her Rotary work. The experience has given her much in return, she said.

“It has completely changed my ideas about Christmas. The caroling, the great food and the people and just sharing the holiday.”

Other Spirit of Sonoma County honorees are:

Al Delsid, Cloverdale

Karen Waelde, North County Properties, Geyserville

Carla Howell, Healdsburg Chamber of Commerce

Eddie Sandoval, State Farm Insurance

Shawna DeGrange, Cloverleaf Ranch

Karl Bundesen, Century 21

Malia Anderson, Style by Malia

Dick Ghilotti, Ghilotti Construction Company

Warren Brown, One Sun, Inc.

Rob & Martha Domont, Petaluma Valley Athletic Club

James Timothy Henley, DDS

Jodi Shubin, Pisenti & Brinker

Curt Nichols, Carlile Macy

Tito Sasaki, Sasaki Vineyards

Ramon Meraz, Francis Ford Coppola Winery

Mark Houser, Hoot Owl Creek Vineyard-Alexander Valley Vineyards

Matt Martin, Social Advocates for Youth

Tom Lawrence, Wine Country Group Realtors, Windsor

Contact Cloverdale Towns Correspondent Mary Jo Winter at Cloverdale.Towns@gmail.com.