Projects
River Alive Club Plant Removal
The River Alive Club led by Clovis North junior Gohar Hakimipour applied for funds from the Beth E. Buchanan Memorial Fund to purchase tools needed to remove invasive plant species, such as the Blue Gum Eucalyptus, along the San Joaquin River in a treasured native garden. By removing these plant species, the River Alive Club was not only able to help the valued area surrounding the San Joaquin River to thrive, but were also able to make the area safer and more accessible to our community. On March 24, 2024, Julie and Tim Buchanan (Beth’s parents) were both able to attend and participate in the clean-up event. As Beth was a lifelong environmentalist and cared deeply about the Central Valley’s ecological well-being, we felt that this project beautifully reflected causes that Beth valued dearly. Read more about the River Alive Club’s projects and overall mission in this newsletter sent by the Central Valley Community Foundation.
Hope Pointe (Poverello House) Nutrition Class
On May 16, 2024, Fresno State student David Bautista Gonzalez conducted a nutrition class at Hope Pointe - a shelter associated with the Poverello House in Fresno. As part of Hope Pointe’s mission to provide tactile educational opportunities for individuals experiencing poverty in the Central Valley, David identified an increased need for nutritionally-focused cooking classes that promote healthy eating and sustainable, long-lasting life skills. With the funds David received from the Beth E. Buchanan Memorial Fund, he was able to purchase food, cooking supplies, and promotional materials necessary to recruit volunteers and participants. These cooking supplies will be used for future youth-led nutrition classes. This project directly connects to Beth’s personal commitment to providing fresh fruit, vegetables, and herbs to fellow Fresnans with the community garden she created as a high schooler. Like Beth, David cares deeply about eradicating hunger in the Fresno area by not only providing our neighbors with healthy food, but also with tangible skills that will last a lifetime.
Camp Kesem
Community Day
Many of you are likely familiar with Camp Kesem, a camp that aims to support kids through and beyond their parents’ cancer treatment through a free camp and other community resources. While Camp Kesem provides countless resources for these children in need, Kesem at Fresno State, led by student Gurmannat Chalotra, recognized a need to create a Community Day - an opportunity for kids who have attended a Camp Kesem program to reconnect and engage in fun, uplifting activities outside of the camp setting. In April of 2024, with the help of funds provided by the Beth E. Buchanan Memorial Fund, Kesem at Fresno State engaged with volunteers to provide former Kesem campers with crafts, games, and other activities to foster community and encourage lasting relationships. This seed money helps Camp Kesem demonstrate the value of this new program for future funding. This combination of continued programming, relationship-building, and community involvement aptly reflects Beth’s love for others and for serving her community, and we felt she would be excited by this unique and impactful project.
Camp El-O-Win Land Acknowledgements
Clovis West student and Girl Scout Zeena Bangar coordinated a Girl Scout Gold Award project to install plaques at Camp El-O-Win - a camp for girls and groups that strives to incorporate Native American representation in its programs. With a keen vision to promote cultural sensitivity and justice, Zeena worked closely with local Native American leaders and the board at Camp El-O-Win to fulfill this project’s mission. Zeena was inspired by Beth’s own Girl Scout Gold Award and was eager to apply the funds she received from the Beth E. Buchanan Memorial Fund to purchase the materials necessary to complete her project. In September of 2024, Zeena successfully installed two permanent plaques acknowledging the (Nyyhmy) Mono People in the Sequoia National Park Area, which seek to demonstrate a shared alignment in values to preserve, protect, and respect the land while uniting the Native American community with the Camp El-O-Win community. Zeena also held a workshop at Camp El-O-Win with about 25 girls and adults where she gave an informational, interactive presentation about what a Land Acknowledgement is, why it's important, and the camp’s connection to Native American traditions and culture. We are thrilled to support a project that speaks to Beth’s care for her local community and passion for social justice.
