Michelle Estabillo
From: Terry Nagel
Sent: Monday, September 22, 2025 2:44 PM
To: Michelle Estabillo
Cc: Sarah Hubbard; Jill Reed
Subject: Comment on Item 5, Nonprofit Grant Funding, for Sept. 24 City Council Meeting Mayor Gonzalez and Council Members,
I regret we are unable to address you in person as we are presenting a public webinar at the same time as your meeting.
Funding from the Town of Colma will directly support Sustainable San Mateo County's efforts to make San Mateo County cleaner and healthier by providing services to educate and engage residents that no other organization provides.
These include our Sustainability Dashboard showing the town's progress on more than 90 sustainability metrics, our Sustainability Ideas Bank sharing 92 proven solutions for accelerating progress, our annual Indicators Report offering in- depth analysis of one critical issue and our annual Awards Celebration honoring local sustainability champions.
Our Dashboard helps local cities decide where to deploy resources such as electric vehicle chargers, trees and affordable housing. We will soon add an "equity lens" that will map pollution exposure, heat vulnerability, food access and other critical factors. Our Ideas Bank offers tested policies and programs that leaders can quickly adopt. Most include contact information for officials who implemented these solutions.
We invite you to this year's Indicators Report Launch on October 1 to learn how food and food waste emissions remain an untapped area in local climate planning. You can register here for this free breakfast event. Recent Indicators Reports have resulted in improvements including a new county office on families and children and collaborative county groups focused on making it easier to install EV chargers in multifamily housing.
We also provide free newsletters to the public and one targeted at city leaders like yourselves. In addition, as well as many events and webinars aimed at raising public awareness and supporting local initiatives. Funding will ensure that Colma continues to benefit from high quality, regionally tailored tools and a trusted nonprofit partner.
Thank you for considering this request.
Terry Nagel
Chair, Sustainable San Mateo County
650-678-7082 I terrynagel(c�gmail.com
0 • Upcoming Events
e -news
• I Free Webinar - Sept 24, 5:30-6:30 p.m. (Zoom) - Register here Our Case for the Future: Meet the youth plaintiffs and lead attorney from Our Children's Trust, suing the federal government over failure to address climate change
as 2025 Indicators Report - Oct 1, 9-11 a.m. (Sobrato Center, Redwood Shores) - Register here Join the in -person launch event to learn about Local Food Actions for a Cooler Future 1 The SSMC Youth Advisory Council is accepting applications thru Sept 30! Youth get hands on experience working alongside sustainability professionals and helping to shape real projects with meaningful impact. Apply here.
2 Michelle Estabillo
From: Anne -Marie Hong
Sent: Wednesday, September 24, 2025 11:46 AM
To: Michelle Estabillo
Subject: Written Comment from AbilityPath for 9/24 City Council Meeting Dear Ms. Estabillo,
Please see below for AbilityPath's written comment for today's Town of Colma City Council meeting. Thank you!
AbilityPath Written Comment to Town of Colma
Submitted by Anne -Marie Hong, Grants Manager
To Mayor Gonzalez, Vice Mayor Slaughter, Members of the City Council, City Manager Barros, and Town of Colma Staff:
On behalf of AbilityPath, thank you for your steadfast partnership and for considering our FY26 grant proposal. We deeply value the Town of Colma's ongoing support of our mission to celebrate neurodiversity and empower individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Founded in 1920, AbilityPath has served as a trusted community resource for more than a century. Today we provide a lifespan of services to children, adults, and families with intellectual and developmental disabilities throughout San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties, continually adapting to meet evolving community needs.
Funding from the Town of Colma has directly supported our Adult Day Program, which serves adults with developmental disabilities. Through health and wellness education, nutrition and cooking classes, and daily exercise activities, participants build healthy habits, strengthen social connections, and develop pre -vocational skills. We are especially grateful to have access to the Community Center's commercial kitchen, where participants learn about nutrition, food preparation and safety, recipe planning, and teamwork— all while forming friendships that reduce isolation and enhance confidence.
Beyond our site -based instruction, our program helps participants engage with local businesses to shop, dine, and socialize, fostering both independence and inclusion. This hands-on community experience creates meaningful pathways to belonging for individuals who have historically faced barriers.
Our partnership with the Town of Colma has been vital to making these outcomes possible. Together, we are creating a community of acceptance, respect, and inclusion for adults with developmental disabilities. Thank you for your continued support and for considering our request to strengthen and expand this life -changing work.
With gratitude,
Anne -Marie Hong (she/her/hers)
Grants Manager
Cell: 650-250-7130
350 Twin Dolphin Drive, Suite 123, Redwood City, CA 94065 abilityoath.orc
1 , ► abilitypath
INSPIRING INCLUSION
Via Services is now affiliated with AbilityPath, thriving together to provide a lifetime of opportunities for individuals with developmental disabilities. Learn more at abilitypath.org/affiliationFAQ.