Welcome to the
Pottruck Family Foundation Online

January 2009

We started the Pottruck Scott Family Foundation in 1995. We recognized and believed (as we still do) that we had been fortunate in our lives and wanted to use our financial success to help others less so. The mission of PSFF was to help disadvantaged children in the Bay Area. We especially were interested in those organizations that were heavily volunteer based with the premise being that those volunteer hours and our economic grants would generate more success.

We remember one of our very first grants which was under $1,000.00 to help an a cappella group buy sheet paper, pencils, and 2 microphones.

A few years ago, we shifted our focus to Foster Care, with a particular interest in emancipating and emancipated youth. We could not have made the transition without the help experienced individuals in this arena who took their time and efforts to educate us. As a result, our strategy was to support a constellation of organizations that served young people as they moved out into the world.

These organizations provide meaningful programs and services with vision and respect for the young people they serve. We have been honored to help them do the extraordinary work that they do – with passion, compassion, and tireless effort. To be able to partner with such incredible people and organizations has been beyond what we could have imagined. We are extremely proud of our grantee/partner organizations who do such important work, who make an enormous difference in the lives of young people, and who have made a difference in our lives as well.

The dramatic downturn in the financial markets, the uncertainty of the US economy and the global economy, and the fund scandals have taken a toll that we did not expect. The reality hit us hard and we have had to make decisions we truly did not want to have to make. Thus, with sadness, the Board met and came to the difficult decision that the Pottruck Family Foundation be dissolved. The official closing date is January 30, 2009.

There are so many people to thank and we will name just two. Nancy Wiltsek, our Executive Director, brought wisdom, perspective, knowledge, organization, and care to our foundation. Together, we grew, we learned, we partnered. We also wish to thank Heidi Emmel for her behind-the-scenes work that helped the foundation administrative processes flow so easily.

We wish you all well in your current and future endeavors.

With sadness, gratitude, and respect

Emily Scott Pottruck
David S. Pottruck
Terry Pearce
Karen Cashen
Henry Pilger