Since 1923...it's always been about Community.

Just like you, we want to contribute to our community. Giving to charity is a personal decision, but giving back to community is just good business. Chambers across America believe this and practice it daily by supporting local non-profits, little league teams, schools and other worthy causes. It's just another reason Chambers are the "go to" business organizations in your home town.

In our home town we are trying to start something. Something within every person who lives and works in our community. Giving to the Arts, Education, the Environment, and to Neighborhoods. Recognizing leadership in business and the community. Praising the human spirit and encouraging compassionate generosity. The Chamber stands behind doing good in your community, and that can be something wonderful!

The North Sacramento Chamber of Commerce and our members go beyond the bottom line to invest in our Community, its people, and our neighborhoods. We believe good things come in small neighborhoods, and that we must have healthy neighborhoods and schools to have a healthy business district and prosperous commerce. It takes a commitment to Give Back in time and dollars, it takes compassion, and it takes heart.

Scholarships
The Chamber recognizes that the talented youth of our community may be our future entrepreneurs or those that will give back and lead this community in the future. We make investments in this future leadership annually with Scholarships to Grant High School Graduates. We have made over $20,000 in scholarship donations since 2000, in partnership with the Educational Foundation for North Sacramento and Del Paso Heights Students. Our 2004 recipients were:

1. Maria Cuevas of North Sacramento attending UC Berkeley - Business Major
2. Kenisha Jones of Del Paso Heights attending CSU Sacramento - Child Psychology Major
3. Sheng Lee of Del Paso Heights (lives in Del Paso Neuvo!) attending UC Berkeley - undeclared Major
4. Antionette McField of Del Paso Heights attending CSU Sacramento - Biological Sciences Major
5. Zenneah Benson of Del Paso Heights attending Philander Smith College - Sociology Major
6. Tau Yang of North Sacramento attending CSU Sacramento - Dentistry Major.

Support and Recognition
Among us there are those who step up and step out by their actions, their generosity or their leadership. The Chamber values those people annually with our Business Leadership Awards. In addition to Business of the Year, we honor the Holloway-Chapman Business Person of the Year - in honor and memory of Joe Holloway (founder of Lil Joe's) and Virgil Chapman (perennial Honorary Mayor of North Sacramento). Both men greeted the day with a smile and were generous businessmen to this community over decades. We also honor the memory of Michael Himovitz, a founder of Second Saturday in Sacramento and the Uptown District's Artistic rebirth. The Michael Himovitz Artistic Award recognizes an artist, gallery or public work of art in Uptown.

The Chamber as appropriate also presents an Outstanding Achievement Award in June to a business or individual that has made a significant impact on our community or has a lifetime achieve in our community worthy or recognition. Past recognitions have gone to Bob Slobe, Joe Halloway, and Richard Taber.

Environment
The Chamber believes environmental responsibility is a wise investment for the future health of our community. We have participated financially and with volunteerism in the following activities: Creek Week, Great American River Clean-Up, American River Parkway Advocacy, Tree Planting and beautification projects along Del Paso Boulevard, Sacramento Northern Parkway establishment and maintenance, and are a supporting agency of the Sacramento Tree Foundation's Greenprint Project, and the EPA's Best Workplaces for Commuters - Sacramento Region Campaign.

Local Community Support
There are a number of community driven programs and efforts that the Chamber and our members financially and through volunteerism also support: The North Sacramento School District (elementary schools) annual BandFest Music Program, the Annual North Sacramento Community Camellia Festival, the Del Paso Heights Unity Festival, and the North Sacramento Little League are a few. These events touch the lives of thousands every year and are part of building a stronger community.

Partnerships
The Chamber values the assets of our community and forms partnership with other organizations that serve our community. Some of these are: Stanford Settlement, Roberts Family Development Center, Grant Renaissance Program, TLC Soup Kitchen, Robla Educational Foundation, Educational Foundation for North Sacramento and Del Paso Heights Students, Uptown Community Development Corporation, Dream Project, Greater Sacramento Urban League, and the Mutual Assistance Network.

Investing in our Backyard
Many things make a community livable, unique and a place to call "home." The Chamber has a proud history of always being there to make these efforts reality. Notable recent efforts include sizable donations to make the Dixieanne Tot Lot Park, the Police and Sheriff's Memorial Park, and Historic Highway 40 recognition on Del Paso Boulevard a reality. Past efforts included the Sacramento Northern Parkway and strong advocacy and lobbying for the Arden-Garden Connector, Exposition Extension, Swanston Station Intermodal Station, Del Paso Nuevo, and Enterprise Zone Designations in Del Paso Heights and North Sacramento.

Chamber Events that Serve Community
The Chamber produces several events annually to benefit our community. Phantom Galleries monthly in Uptown, Annual Holiday Tree Lighting with special appearance by Santa Claus for children, and our Annual Holiday Gala which hosts our Business Leadership Awards presentation and is distinguished as the community's largest holiday party. Special events like clean-up days are done in partnership with the City or other non-profits.

Our Membership includes residents at a modest cost (perhaps a first for any Chamber), and our luncheons, mixers and Leadership Series programs are all open to the community.