‘Tireless’ education advocate Vera Blanquie wins Spirit of Sonoma award

For recent Spirit of Sonoma County honoree Vera Blanquie, it truly is all about the children. The current president of the Education Foundation of Cotati and Rohnert Park was just one of many Spirit honorees this year, but for the teachers and kids in her community, she is more than just one of many.

Born in Sydney, Australia, Blanquie was raised in San Francisco before eventually finding her way up 101 to Rohnert Park in 1980. The mother of two has always been passionate about school, starting with joining the PTA as her kids entered elementary school and later directing talent shows at Hahn and Goldridge elementary schools.

Working with the Lady Lions, she used community talent shows to raise money for eyeglasses for students who couldn’t afford them.

She also has helped raise funds for Creekside Middle School, RCHS Project Graduation and Cardinal Newman High School.

Along with being a founding member of the Rancho Cotati Rotary chapter, she is an active member of the Rohnert Park Chamber of Commerce.

Blanquie has been with the Education Foundation for the past 18 years, with this marking her fifth time as president. The nonprofit has raised over $1.5 million towards educational needs since its inception. Teachers write grants to the foundation for everything from iPads to playground equipment.

The foundation, which was established in 1983, has a goal of providing teachers and students what they need to be successful in lieu of the budget cuts schools regularly face.

“Some teachers are paying out of their own pocket for supplies and other things they need regularly, which is just wrong,” Blanquie said. “Teachers should have everything they need.”

Anthony Geraldi, representing the Rohnert Park Chamber of Commerce, nominated Blanquie for the award and had this to say in his nomination: “Vera is a tireless individual who always concerns herself with the needs of others first. It would be nearly impossible to calculate how many people she has positively influenced.”

As president of the foundation, Blanquie not only organizes fundraisers, emcees events and reviews grant applications, but she is also working hard to create awareness of the foundation within the local community.

“We really need to get more parents and the community involved,” she said, noting that while the board is only comprised of 13 members, they pack quite a wallop.

She knows that raising even a little money can make a big difference in giving kids what they need to be successful.

“It sounds clichéd, but children really are our future,” she said.

Even after all of these years giving her time and energy to the community, Blanquie still loves doing it.

“It’s fun. It’s a lot of work, but the greatest reward is giving day,” Blanquie said. “Giving Day” is the day each year when funds are given out to petitioners. “It’s our own version of Christmas!”

Of course that giving doesn’t occur without the support of the local community and businesses at events like Sharing of the Green, a black-tie fundraiser in March. This will be the 30th anniversary of their showcase event and promises to be a special evening at the Double Tree Hotel.

“My goal is to give money for every request,” she said, “even if we are unable to fund something 100 percent.”

Sometimes teachers respond with thank-you notes or pictures of what that money has provided the kids. In some cases, the board has been invited to come into the classroom and see the results of their fundraising.

“Then you see what your work did,” she said. “It’s really rewarding to see all of that.”

Blanquie’s oldest son, Joseph, is now 32, and he recently asked her why she still does it.

“My answer was simple,” she said, “For your kids and their kids.”