Kelly Foundation Archives

September 7, 2022

Kelly Foundation awards $100,000 grant to Saint John’s Program for Real Change

Donation supports families seeking to end the cycle of poverty

SACRAMENTO, CA — The Kelly Foundation awarded $100,000 to Saint John’s Program for Real Change, an organization that operates the largest shelter for women and children experiencing homelessness in the Sacramento region. The donation will go towards building strong family support structures leading to generational independence and less homelessness.

“Saint John’s directly impacts the lives of women and children desperate for change, and we are excited to partner with an organization that helps the community thrive one life at a time,” said Shawn Kelly Devlin, Chairman of the Board of the Kelly Foundation and of River City Bank. “We’re confident this donation will support families in need to become self-sufficient after experiencing such challenging circumstances.”

Members from River City Bank and the Kelly Foundation present a check to the Saint John’s leadership team

After an expansion in 2017, Saint John’s added 11 modular homes in 2021, which house up to 55 individuals. Saint John’s now serves up to 320 women and children daily with an on-going waitlist. Members receive extensive education, counseling and training to help lead them to a future of success both personally and professionally. In addition, the finest chefs from the Sacramento area partner with Plates Café each month to provide a one-of-a-kind gourmet meal in support of the women and children served at Saint John’s Program for Real Change.

“The Kelly Foundation’s grant is an investment that will heal lives for generations,” said Julie Hirota, CEO of Saint John’s Program for Real Change. “We appreciate the Kelly Foundation and River City Bank for believing in women and children who work so hard and choose to permanently escape the cycle of poverty and dependence.”

The Kelly Foundation supports health and human services, education, culture, environment, and civic improvement through its funding. During the Foundation’s 2022 fiscal year, approximately $850,000 in grants were provided to organizations that support the Sacramento region. Since merging with the RCB Foundation in 2009, the Kelly Foundation, of which River City Bank remains a major contributor, focuses on giving back to the greater Sacramento region through charitable donations.

For more information about the Kelly Foundation, please visit KellyFoundationSacramento.org. For more information about Saint John’s Program for Real Change, visit SaintJohnsProgram.org.

About the Kelly Foundation

The Kelly Broadcasting Company’s KCRA-TV (Sacramento-Stockton-Modest, CA) went on the air on Sept. 5, 1955, and the owners of the Kelly Broadcasting Company established the Kelly Foundation in December 1988 as a formal vehicle for structuring charitable contributions. The Kelly family sold KCRA-TV in 1999 and have continued the Kelly Foundation ever since. In 2009, the River City Bank Foundation merged with the Kelly Foundation, and some executives of the Bank currently serve on the Foundation’s Board. Jon S. Kelly founded River City Bank in 1973 and his daughter, Shawn Kelly Devlin, currently serves as President and Chairman of the Board. The Kelly Foundation is an expression of the importance the Kelly family places on being a good neighbor and citizen in regions where they do business. For more information on the Kelly Foundation, please visit KellyFoundationSacramento.org or call (916) 978-4892.

About Saint John’s Program for Real Change

Since 1985 Saint John’s Program for Real Change has provided more than 30,000 homeless women and children with the essential tools to rise above their circumstances and make REAL, transformative change in their lives. Operating the largest shelter in the Sacramento Region, Saint John’s Program is the one focused exclusively on women and children–the most vulnerable and rapidly growing segment of the homeless population in our region and nationwide. Dedicated to the eradication of homelessness, this 18-month comprehensive program includes mental health therapy, alcohol and drug counseling, parenting education, high school diploma preparation and attainment, budgeting classes, healthy relationship training and a proprietary Employment Training Program. Accommodating over 700 clients and their children each year with three levels of increasingly independent housing, 96% of Saint John’s Employment Training Program graduates secure unsubsidized employment, a crucial step in their journeys to self-sustainability.

October 13, 2020

The Legacy of Jon Kelly

Born in 1936, Jon Kelly was without a doubt one of the top entrepreneurs and philanthropists in the history of Sacramento. Jon is probably best known, along with his brother Bob, for having owned and operated KCRA-TV in Sacramento for more than three decades. Jon was only 26 years old when the Kelly brothers took over the running of KCRA in 1963 upon the sudden passing of their father at an early age. The brothers also started, owned, and operated KCPQ-TV, the Fox affiliate in Seattle. Jon was a legendary figure in broadcasting as these stations were highly respected on a national level for their innovation, commitment to delivering high quality news, and ability to attract exceptional talent.

Always looking for the next opportunity in what he viewed as the business playground, Jon founded River City Bank in 1973, where he also filled the CEO and Chairman roles on several occasions. Jon’s vision, entrepreneurial spirit, and incredible drive to win led to the Bank being the largest based in Sacramento and allowed it to remain family owned over the past 47 years as the banking industry has gone through a period of tremendous consolidation.

Jon was a force of nature, a highly successful entrepreneur who loved to compete. Besides the TV and banking activities I mentioned above, he was a real estate developer and invested in radio stations, an advertising agency, and more. One of his signature real estate projects, in partnership with his son Greg, was the 12-story, LEED-certified Gateway Tower office building at 2020 W. El Camino Ave. Jon was also the key player in the formation years ago of the Sacramento Area Commerce and Trade Organization (SACTO), which was instrumental in attracting such industrial heavyweights as Intel, NEC and Hewlett-Packard to the region. SACTO later merged into the present day Greater Sacramento Economic Council.

Perhaps, though, the thing I will remember most about Jon was that he made everything seem important and he always made it fun for the rest of us. He loved to celebrate the successes of the Bank, particularly our growth over the past 10 years, but he also understood that things wouldn’t go our way all the time – that’s the nature of the banking business and of life he would say. He loved to “play the game of life”, including the human connections that he forged with all he came in contact with.

Jon was proud that his legacy in Sacramento would include River City Bank, as well as the Kelly Foundation, one of the largest charitable-giving foundations in the Sacramento region. His philanthropy included the donation of the land on which public television’s KVIE, Channel 6, now sits in South Natomas. Jon’s daughter, Shawn Kelly Devlin, has done a superb job with Jon’s mentorship as the board chair for both RCB and the Kelly Foundation for the past 12 years and intends on building upon his legacy.

One of my last recent interactions with Jon was one of the most memorable. Along with a couple of other long-time business associates, we met with Jon after he had been informed that his cancer was terminable and that he only had a few months to live. The first thing Jon said to us was that we shouldn’t have any sympathy for him as he had lived a great life, blessed with wonderful family, friends, and animals (he loved his dogs and thoroughbred race horses). He said that his life had far exceeded his expectations for “fun and action”. He had lived a full life, indeed.

Jon Kelly was an extraordinary person and he is already missed.

Steve Fleming
President & CEO | River City Bank

September 22, 2020

Kelly Foundation announces Habitat for Humanity of Greater Sacramento as 2021 Major Gift Award winner

$100,000 grant to support new Cornerstone community in South Sacramento

SACRAMENTO, CA – The Kelly Foundation has announced Habitat for Humanity of Greater Sacramento as the recipient of its 2021 Major Gift Award. The $100,000 grant will be used to support the first phase of construction for Cornerstone Development in South Sacramento. Cornerstone Development is a collaboration between Habitat and Mutual Housing California and will feature 18 single-family homes positioned as equity-building home ownership opportunities for low-income families, along with 108 affordable rental apartment units for low-income individuals, including some who were formerly unhoused.

“Habitat for Humanity of Greater Sacramento is respected throughout the community for providing families with home ownership opportunities that may be otherwise out of reach,” said Shawn Kelly Devlin, President of the Kelly Foundation and Chairman of the Board of River City Bank. “The Kelly Foundation is excited to partner on this ambitious project, which will benefit dozens of deserving people over the course of the next several years.”

“The Kelly Foundation Major Gift award represents a huge leap forward for the Cornerstone Development project,” said Laine Himmelmann, Chief Development Officer of Habitat for Humanity of Greater Sacramento. “Our team was excited to the point of tears when we learned that the Kelly Foundation had decided to contribute $100,000 to the project because most home sponsorships fall within the $5,000-$10,000 range.”

During the next three years, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Sacramento plans to engage more than six thousand volunteers in the multi-phase construction effort. The team is looking to raise at least $300,000 for the first phase of construction for Cornerstone Development, which includes three homes that are projected to be move-in ready by early 2023. The Kelly Foundation grant constitutes one-third of that amount.

The Kelly Foundation supports health and human services, education, culture, environment and civic improvement through its funding. For the fiscal year ending on September 30, 2022, the Foundation will provide approximately $1.5 million in grants to organizations that support the Sacramento and North Bay Area regions. Since merging with the RCB Foundation in 2009, the Kelly Foundation, of which River City Bank remains a major contributor, focuses on giving back to the greater Sacramento region through charitable donations.

For more information about the Kelly Foundation, please visit KellyFoundationSacramento.org.

Cornerstone Development Details

Cornerstone Development, was just named “2021 Affordable Housing Development of the Year” by the Sacramento Housing Alliance. It is also the largest single development in 36 years for Habitat for Humanity of Greater Sacramento. Groundbreaking is scheduled for February 2022, with the first phase of construction set to begin in June 2022. The seven-acre project site is located near the intersection of 46^th Street and Lang Avenue and is planned to house approximately 400 people once construction is completed. The development will be fully electric, and each of the 18 single-family Habitat homes will include solar panels on the roof and be EV-ready for charging electric vehicles.

To learn more about Habitat for Humanity of Greater Sacramento, including opportunities for volunteer participation, visit HabitatGreaterSac.org.

Click image to view a 2:51 video rendering of Cornerstone Development:

About the Kelly Foundation

The Kelly Broadcasting Company’s KCRA-TV (Sacramento-Stockton-Modest, CA) went on the air on Sept. 5, 1955, and the owners of the Kelly Broadcasting Company established the Kelly Foundation in December 1988 as a formal vehicle for structuring charitable contributions. The Kelly family sold KCRA-TV in 1999 and have continued the Kelly Foundation ever since. In 2009, the River City Bank Foundation merged with the Kelly Foundation, and some executives of the Bank currently serve on the Foundation’s Board. Jon S. Kelly founded River City Bank and continues to support the Bank. His daughter, Shawn Kelly Devlin, currently serves as President and Chairman of the Board. The Kelly Foundation is an expression of the importance the Kelly family places on being a good neighbor and citizen in regions where they do business. For more information on the Kelly Foundation, please visit KellyFoundationSacramento.org or call (916) 978-4892.

August 25, 2020

In Memoriam – Jon Kelly

Sacramento business icon Jon Kelly, the former owner of KCRA 3 and founder of Sacramento-based River City Bank, died July 25th, 2020. Jon, a longtime Sacramento resident before relocating to Southern California, was 84 years old.

Jon started at Channel 3, joining his older brother, Robert, in 1958. Two years later, Ewing “Gene” Kelly, their father, died of a heart attack and Jon Kelly, at the age of 24, became station manager. The brothers founded the Kelly Broadcasting Co. with their mother, Nina, a short time later.

After buying the stations outright from their partners — the Hansen family, who owned Crystal Cream and Butter Co. — the Kellys owned and operated the NBC-affiliated station for more than three decades, setting a bar higher than any of their competitors by producing public-affairs programming, daytime and evening news and lifestyle magazines years before others followed suit.

Channel 3’s longtime slogan — “Where the News Comes First” — was backed up by huge investments in its news operation. It fielded (and still does) more reporters and photographers, broadcast more hours of news and employed more news gathering equipment than any other station in the market.

The Kellys kept Channel 3 on the cutting edge, becoming the first in the market to use color film and Doppler radar; creating the first hour-long newscast and locally-produced morning show; creating “De Colores,” a public-affairs program focused on the Latino community; and sending LiveCopter 3 up into the skies above the capital beginning in 1987.

By the 1990s, before the station’s sale to Hearst in 1998, Channel 3 was leading competitors, and KCRA made national news several times, such as when President Bill Clinton decided to hold a statewide town hall meeting and chose to do it at KCRA.

Channel 3 has been a training ground for generations of TV reporters and anchors who went on to distinguished careers beyond Sacramento. Joan Lunden, the former veteran anchor of ABC’s “Good Morning America,” hosted Channel 3’s noon news in the 1970s. Miguel Almaguer and Kathy Park, now with NBC, are also a KCRA alumni, as is Gary Gerould, the voice of the Kings. The list goes on and on.

Kelly Broadcasting also operated KQCA-TV, owned AM and FM radio stations in Sacramento and owned and operated KCPQ-TV, the Fox affiliate in Seattle.

Other Business Ventures

Jon Kelly was the key player in the formation years ago of the Sacramento Area Trade and Commerce Organization, which was instrumental in attracting such industrial heavyweights as Intel, NEC and Hewlett-Packard to the region.

He also donated the land on which public television’s KVIE, Channel 6, now sits in South Natomas, and also found success as a real estate developer. One of his signature projects was the 12-story, LEED-certified Gateway Tower building at 2020 W. El Camino Ave.

Jon founded River City Bank to serve the capital region, growing the business-focused institution to 10 area branches and a presence in the Bay Area and Southern California before retiring from the chairman’s post in 2009. The Kellys still own a majority interest in the bank, which began in 1973 with about $2 million in capital. Today, the bank has assets of nearly $3.2 billion, making it the largest locally-owned bank in the capital region.

Jon was also an active producer in the television syndication business, remained in broadcasting through his investment in the SummitMedia group, owning 50 radio stations throughout the country, according to his family.

Jon Kelly was born July 23, 1936, in Berkeley, before the family moved to Sacramento where Gene Kelly became an ad salesman for The Bee before starting his own advertising agency in 1938. In 1945, they started their radio station. Jon Kelly attended the Lawrenceville School in New Jersey and the University of California, Berkeley.

After the sale of KCRA, Jon and his wife, Sarah, moved to their farm in Rancho Santa Fe in San Diego County. There, they continued their interest in thoroughbred horse racing and breeding, which led them to field horses in the Kentucky Derby and other prestigious races.

In addition to wife Sarah, Jon Kelly is survived by his sister, Suzanne, along with his children Gregory, Shawn, Marilyn, Mary Margaret and Melanie; and 13 grandchildren.

April 16, 2020

Kelly Foundation assists local food banks with $220,000 in total grant awards

Individual grant awards presented to five food banks including Sacramento Food Bank and Meals on Wheels of Alameda County

SACRAMENTO, CA – In response to the global coronavirus crisis, the Kelly Foundation awarded a total of five individual grants to Northern California food banks in Sacramento, Yolo, Alameda and Sonoma counties. The grant monies, representing $220,000 in total donations, will be used to secure and refrigerate food supplies, support community deliveries, and pay workers. Recipient organizations include Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services, Yolo Food Bank, Redwood Empire Food Bank, Alameda County Community Food Bank and Meals on Wheels of Alameda County, the latter of which serves food primarily to housebound elders who are among those at greatest risk from COVID-19.

“Access to food is a fundamental right, and the Kelly Foundation is pleased to support families throughout Northern California by awarding grants to five regional food banks serving some of the most at-risk populations,” said Shawn Kelly Devlin, President of the Kelly Foundation and Chairman of the Board of River City Bank. “As demand for these essential services continues to surge, it is imperative that we equip our food banks to meet needs and help our communities rise to the multitude of challenges presented by COVID-19 without sacrificing health and wellness.”

“COVID-19 has stressed our organization like never before, and we are sincerely grateful for this important funding from the Kelly Foundation,” said Melanie Flood, Director of Development and Communications for Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services. “Demand has skyrocketed, and we are seeing people in need who have never asked for assistance from a food program before. This funding will help us continue to purchase food, invest in supplies and equipment to keep pace with demand, and provide vital services while also planning for the next 60 to 90 days.”

“The Redwood Empire Food Bank normally serves 82,000 people per year, and we are projected to serve twice that number because of the COVID-19 crisis,” said David Goodman, CEO of Redwood Empire Food Bank. “This contribution will help us purchase and refrigerate food, pay our dedicated staff and fuel our trucks to make deliveries across Sonoma County. Ultimately, it will keep food on the table for thousands of people who need it.”

“Human lives literally will be saved because we received critical funding to ensure food access to vulnerable people,” said Joy Cohan, Director of Philanthropic Engagement at Yolo Food Bank. “The Kelly Foundation’s generosity will provide more than 10 days of nourishment for the more than 35,000 people experiencing hunger in Yolo County.”

In evaluating the needs of communities throughout its organizational and geographic footprint, the Kelly Foundation prioritized providers and allocated funds according to the total number of people and families served, as well as the urgency of the need. Sacramento Food Bank and Yolo Food Bank each received a grant in the amount of $75,000; Redwood Empire Food Bank received a $25,000 grant, Alameda Food Bank received $12,500 and Meals on Wheels of Alameda County was awarded a grant of $32,500.

The Kelly Foundation supports health and human services, education, culture, environment and civic improvement through its funding. Each year, the Foundation provides approximately $500,000 in grants to organizations that support the Sacramento and North Bay Area regions. Since merging with the RCB Foundation in 2009, the Kelly Foundation, of which River City Bank remains a major contributor, focuses on giving back to the greater Sacramento region through charitable donations.

For more information about the Kelly Foundation, please visit KellyFoundationSacramento.org.

About the Kelly Foundation

The Kelly Broadcasting Company’s KCRA-TV (Sacramento-Stockton-Modest, CA) went on the air on Sept. 5, 1955, and the owners of the Kelly Broadcasting Company established the Kelly Foundation in December 1988 as a formal vehicle for structuring charitable contributions. The Kelly family sold KCRA-TV in 1999 and have continued the Kelly Foundation ever since. In 2009, the River City Bank Foundation merged with the Kelly Foundation, and some executives of the Bank currently serve on the Foundation’s Board. Jon S. Kelly founded River City Bank and continues to support the Bank. His daughter, Shawn Kelly Devlin, currently serves as President and Chairman of the Board. The Kelly Foundation is an expression of the importance the Kelly family places on being a good neighbor and citizen in regions where they do business. For more information on the Kelly Foundation, please visit KellyFoundationSacramento.org or call (916) 978-4892.

October 23, 2019

River City Bank Fêtes Clients and Supports Local Charity

River City Bank’s biennial client appreciation event took place in the lush green space located right behind their corporate offices. The event celebrates bank clients and recognizes a selected non-profit organization. Steve Fleming, RCB President & CEO, kicked off the evening by thanking all in attendance and recognizing this year’s charity of choice, the Sacramento Tree Foundation, by presenting them a check for $11,894.

During the summer months, RCB employees raised funds by initiating a series of fundraising activities. Events included a bake sale, farmer’s market, and an event deemed the “Great Banker Bake-Off,” as well as internal competitions between teams in the bank’s various offices and branch locations. River City Bank took the amount raised and matched it.

The donation will be used to bolster the expansion of the foundation’s NeighborWoods Program, which seeks to plant approximately one million trees in under-resourced and under-canopied neighborhoods throughout the six-county Sacramento region. Funds may also be directed toward the organization’s innovative certification program, which aims to ensure that tree canopy considerations be incorporated into all new building developments.

RCB clients and employees enjoyed a delicious dinner provided by the Fat Family Restaurant Group, including their famous banana cream pie, and pear cider by The Elliot Family’s Delta Island Cider Company. Relles Florist provided beautiful floral arrangements to set the tone of the event. Attendees ended the evening with parting gifts from Elevation Ten Winery and Ginger Elizabeth Chocolates.

Kelly Siefkin of CSU Sacramento with River City Bank’s Tracy Mullen, and Lindsay Bowman of CMY Fiduciary Services

Max Kelly of Avison Young with River City Bank’s Riley Gardner, and Stacy Paragary of Paragary’s Restaurant Group

Flowers by Relles Florists and client gifts from Ginger Elizabeth and Elevation Ten

Jennifer and Wayne Dawson of Triangle Well Drilling with Donna Sutherland of River City Bank, and Kenn Altine of the SPCA

River City Bank presents check to the Sacramento Tree Foundation’s Dr. Janine Bera and Ray Trethaway

Christine and Matt Michael of Michael & Sons Real Estate, Inc.

Matt Bachman and Loni Gray of MBK Engineers

Reeve-Knight Construction’s Kerry Bal and Todd Swanson, and Heather Swanson of Ameriprise Financial, enjoy the feast prepared by Fat Family Restaurants

Yolo County Supervisor Don Saylor with GSAC’s Brittany Jones and Leidhra Guild

Gordon Spector of Schetter Electric with Charice Huntley of River City Bank

Dr. Ken Fat with Dr. Janine Bera

River City Bank President & CEO Steve Fleming and wife Patti

October 15, 2018

Helping to Break the Cycle: The Kelly Foundation’s Commitment to the Community

Steve Fleming presenting Kelly Foundation donation to Saint Johns in front of graduating students

On a warm summer evening, members of the community took part in an extraordinary event that was a culmination of an 18-month comprehensive program. With the help of Saint John’s Program for Real Change, eleven graduates, who made an empowered decision to rise up and become a productive community member, took their rightful place on stage to celebrate a monumental achievement in their lives and that of their children.

Since 1985, Saint John’s Program for Real Change has provided more than 30,000 homeless women and children with the essential tools to rise above their circumstances and make REAL, transformative change in their lives. Operating the largest shelter in the Sacramento Region, Saint John’s Program is the one focused exclusively on women and children–the most vulnerable and rapidly growing segment of the homeless population in our region and nationwide. Dedicated to the eradication of homelessness, Saint John’s program includes mental health therapy, alcohol and drug counseling, parenting education, high school diploma preparation and attainment, budgeting classes, healthy relationship training, and a proprietary Employment Training Program. Accommodating over 700 clients and their children each year with three levels of increasingly independent housing, 96% of Saint John’s Employment Training Program graduates have secured unsubsidized employment, a crucial step in their journeys to self-sustainability.

RCB and the Kelly Foundation donated $83,000 to Saint John’s Program for Real Change to help improve the lives of women and children experiencing homelessness. The money will go towards the Bridge the Gap campaign which was developed to keep the red doors of Saint John’s open after the County of Sacramento decided not to renew its 15-year contract. Serving up to 270 women and children, Saint John’s will continue to provide a vehicle to help them permanently escape the cycle of poverty and dependence.

Crowd photo of people enjoying lunch at Saint Johns event

The event took place at Plates Cafe and Catering

Kelly Broadcasting Company, established in 1955, founded the Kelly Foundation in December 1988 as a formal vehicle for structuring charitable contributions. The Kelly family sold KCRA-TV in 1999 and have continued the Kelly Foundation ever since. In 2009, the River City Bank Foundation merged with the Kelly Foundation, and some executives of the Bank currently serve on the Foundation’s Board. Jon S. Kelly founded River City Bank and continues to support the Bank. His daughter, Shawn Kelly Devlin, currently serves as President and Chairman of the Board. The Kelly Foundation is an expression of the importance the Kelly family places on being a good neighbor and citizen in regions where they do business.

September 13, 2018

Kelly Foundation awards $83,000 grant to Saint John’s Program for Real Change

Donation supports families seeking to end the cycle of poverty

SACRAMENTO, CA — The Kelly Foundation awarded $83,000 to Saint John’s Program for Real Change, an organization that operates the largest shelter for women and children experiencing homelessness in the Sacramento region. The donation will go towards the Bridge the Gap campaign which was developed to keep the red doors of Saint John’s open after the County of Sacramento decided not to renew its 15-year contract. The Kelly Foundation’s contribution will provide 638 nights of comprehensive services for families at Saint John’s including housing, drug and alcohol counseling, parenting education, healthy relationship training and childcare. The funds will also help women who are enrolled in the program develop habits and professional skills that can equip them to seek employment and become more self-reliant.

“We are proud to support the women and children of the Saint John’s Program for Real Change and respect their ambition to better their lives after undergoing detrimental situations,” said Steve Fleming, President and CEO of River City Bank. “Following a significant change in the program’s funding stream, we understand the urgent need to step in and bridge the gap. We’re excited to see the continued success of the program and the effect it has on bettering individuals in our community.”

After a recent expansion in 2017, Saint John’s now serves up to 270 women and children daily with a waitlist of more than 500. Members receive extensive education, counseling and training to help lead them to a future of success both personally and professionally. In addition, the finest chefs from the Sacramento area partner with Plates Café each month to provide a one-of-a-kind gourmet meal in support of the women and children served at Saint John’s Program for Real Change. In early September, the Guest Chef’s Dinner event celebrated the graduation of 12 women who completed the Employment Training Program and are now fully employed.

“Saint John’s Program for Real Change is deeply grateful to the Kelly Foundation team. Not only have they supported our women and children consistently over the past six years, but their added support this year has ensured that our red doors remain open to women and children who want to change their lives,” said Michelle Steeb, CEO of Saint John’s Program for Real Change. “We appreciate the Kelly Foundation and River City Bank for believing and investing in women and children who choose to permanently escape the cycle of poverty and dependence.”

The Kelly Foundation supports health and human services, education, culture, environment and civic improvement through its funding. Each year, the Foundation provides approximately $400,000 in grants to organizations that support the Sacramento region. Since merging with the RCB Foundation in 2009, the Kelly Foundation, of which River City Bank remains a major contributor, focuses on giving back to the greater Sacramento region through charitable donations.

About the Kelly Foundation

The Kelly Broadcasting Company’s KCRA-TV (Sacramento-Stockton-Modest, CA) went on the air on Sept. 5, 1955, and the owners of the Kelly Broadcasting Company established the Kelly Foundation in December 1988 as a formal vehicle for structuring charitable contributions. The Kelly family sold KCRA-TV in 1999 and have continued the Kelly Foundation ever since. In 2009, the River City Bank Foundation merged with the Kelly Foundation, and some executives of the Bank currently serve on the Foundation’s Board. Jon S. Kelly founded River City Bank and continues to support the Bank. His daughter, Shawn Kelly Devlin, currently serves as President and Chairman of the Board. The Kelly Foundation is an expression of the importance the Kelly family places on being a good neighbor and citizen in regions where they do business. For more information on the Kelly Foundation, please visit KellyFoundationSacramento.org or call (916) 978-4892.

About Saint John’s Program for Real Change

March 13, 2018

Kelly Foundation awards $100,000 grant to Sacramento Cottage Housing, Inc.

2017 Major Gift already aiding nonprofit agency’s evolution to become self-sustainable

SACRAMENTO, CA —March 13, 2016 —The Kelly Foundation awarded its 2017 Major Gift of $100,000 to Sacramento Cottage Housing, Inc., a not-for-profit agency that provides long-term housing and a supportive living environment for formerly homeless individuals and families. The award constituted the Kelly Foundation’s largest single donation of the year and has been used to reinstitute the popular Skylab program that provides children at the agency’s Serna Village community with homework assistance, mentorship and special activities. The community recently launched Girl Scout Troop #5836 with an inaugural group of 26 girls, three adults and one staff member. The remainder of the funds will be used to empower Sacramento Cottage Housing to become more independent and self-sustaining with regard to establishing inroads for point-of-sale fundraising opportunities.

“Sacramento Cottage Housing has a strong track record of transforming lives through its innovative practices, and we are excited to partner with the agency as it reinforces and strengthens its operational capacity for the future,” said Shawn Kelly Devlin, President of the Kelly Foundation and Chairman of the Board of River City Bank. “We are confident that this donation will position Sacramento Cottage Housing to enhance its efforts to help at-risk families and individuals in the Sacramento region get back on their feet.”

Sacramento Cottage Housing currently operates two businesses as an extension of its services. One is a brick-and-mortar and e-commerce thrift store called Abundance, Books and More; the other is a mobile car detailing service named Finishing Touch. The entities equip residents with crucial life skills and employment experience as a portion of the agency’s “resiliency method” approach to mitigating the causal factors of homelessness. This method requires participants to create and pursue their own goals as they move from a state of dysfunction to self-sustainability and healthy engagement within the community.

“The Kelly Foundation has presented us with a truly unique and remarkable opportunity that no other organization has ever provided,” said Kristen Martin, Executive Director of Sacramento Cottage Housing. “This grant gives us the means to evolve our business practices through deep research and the implementation of new programs that will ensure our agency’s self-sustainability for years to come. It’s an absolutely forward-thinking gift that we intend to leverage to the furthest possible extent.”

Sacramento Cottage Housing manages two communities for those who are working to overcome the effects of homelessness, substance abuse, incarceration and other challenges. The agency’s family-focused community, Serna Village, has achieved a great deal of success in its 15-year existence, with 75 percent of its residents (6,600 individuals) having completed its program and secured permanent housing with finances, families and sobriety intact. In the same period, more than 40 participants have purchased their own homes.

The Kelly Foundation supports health and human services, education, culture, environment and civic improvement through its funding. Each year, the Foundation provides approximately $400,000 in grants to organizations that support the Sacramento region. Since merging with the RCB Foundation in 2009, the Kelly Foundation, of which River City Bank remains a major contributor, focuses on giving back to the greater Sacramento region through charitable donations.

About the Kelly Foundation

The Kelly Broadcasting Company’s KCRA-TV (Sacramento-Stockton-Modest, CA) went on the air on Sept. 5, 1955, and the owners of the Kelly Broadcasting Company established the Kelly Foundation in December 1988 as a formal vehicle for structuring charitable contributions. The Kelly family sold KCRA-TV in 1999 and have continued the Kelly Foundation ever since. In 2009, the River City Bank Foundation merged with the Kelly Foundation, and some executives of the Bank currently serve on the Foundation’s Board. Jon S. Kelly founded River City Bank and continues to support the Bank. His daughter, Shawn Kelly Devlin, currently serves as President and Chairman of the Board. The Kelly Foundation is an expression of the importance the Kelly family places on being a good neighbor and citizen in regions where they do business. For more information on the Kelly Foundation, please visit KellyFoundationSacramento.org or call (916) 978-4892.

About Sacramento Cottage Housing, Inc.

Sacramento Cottage Housing, Inc. (CHI) is an innovative not-for-profit agency providing long-term housing and a supportive living environment for formerly homeless individuals and families struggling to overcome the effects of substance abuse, incarceration and other disabilities. CHI manages two communities: Quinn Cottages, primarily for single adults, and Serna Village which houses families. The program is solution-focused, participant driven and strength-based, enabling residents to create their own goals and successfully fulfill them as they travel the road from dysfunction to healthy self-sustainability while providing for their families and becoming individuals who are fully and healthily engaged in their communities. For more information on Sacramento Cottage Housing and its innovative programs, please visit CottageHousing.org or call (916) 648-8005.

About River City Bank

Recently named one of Sacramento Business Journal’s “50 Fastest Growing Companies,” River City Bank is the Sacramento region’s premier business bank with assets of $2.0 billion. River City Bank offers a comprehensive suite of banking services, including loans, deposits and cash management tools to the business, consumer and commercial real estate sectors. With tailored, executive-level service and a Five Star “Superior” financial rating from the nation’s leading independent bank-rating firm, Bauer Financial, River City Bank redefines the banking experience and every touch point that surrounds it. River City Bank is the largest, independent, locally-owned bank in the Sacramento region with an office in the San Francisco Bay Area and a presence in Southern California. For additional information, please visit www.rivercitybank.com or call (916) 567-2600. Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender.

December 5, 2017

Kelly Foundation awards $100,000 to American Red Cross for Wildfire Relief

Major Gift earmarked exclusively for communities devastated and recovering

SACRAMENTO, CA – December 5, 2017 – The Kelly Foundation, of which River City Bank is a major contributor, has awarded its 2018 Major Gift of $100,000 to the American Red Cross Gold Country Region. The money is to be used exclusively to help those devastated by the recent California wildfires which struck directly in the heart of the communities served by The Kelly Foundation and River City Bank. The funds will help the American Red Cross continue to respond and help victims recover from this unprecedented tragedy.

“The destruction from these fires was as heartbreaking as it was indiscriminate, affecting people of all ages and economic levels,” said Shawn Kelly Devlin, President of the Kelly Foundation and Chairman of the Board of River City Bank. “Yet an agency that was seemingly everywhere, helping, was the American Red Cross. Its ability to provide boots on the ground and make an immediate impact was admirable, and the urgency of the situation led us to award this donation swiftly in order to help our neighbors in need.”

Devlin was more than a donor; she and her husband, Dr. Patrick Devlin, lost their home and everything in it during the devastating Tubbs fire which caused over $1.2 billion in damage as it destroyed more than 5,000 structures and claimed dozens of lives. “We were our own first responders that night,” said Devlin. “But now we have the opportunity to help others, since it will take a long time for the community to recover.”

“The Kelly Foundation is a valued partner of the American Red Cross,” said Gary Strong, American Red Cross Gold Country Region CEO. “We appreciate the foundation’s generous support as we continue to provide services to those directly affected by the California wildfires.”

To put the size of the Kelly Foundation donation in perspective, this amount of funding allows the Red Cross to provide much-needed items like 500 days’ worth of food and shelter for a displaced family of three; or some 4,000 comfort kits (containing hygiene items such as deodorant, toothbrushes and toothpaste); or snacks and 8,000 hot meals; or 20,000 blankets.

The American Red Cross, working with community and government partners, has provided more than 27,900 overnight stays in emergency shelters and has served more than 196,300 meals in response to the California wildfires. It has distributed more than 145,700 emergency relief items such as masks, gloves, rakes, trash bags and comfort kits. It continues to provide casework in the form of counseling, housing support and aid with applying for assistance and insurance claims.

About the Kelly Foundation

The Kelly Broadcasting Company’s KCRA-TV (Sacramento-Stockton-Modest, CA) went on the air on Sept. 5, 1955, and the owners of the Kelly Broadcasting Company established the Kelly Foundation in December 1988 as a formal vehicle for structuring charitable contributions. The Kelly family sold KCRA-TV in 1999 and have continued the Kelly Foundation ever since. In 2009, the River City Bank Foundation merged with the Kelly Foundation, and some executives of the Bank currently serve on the Foundation’s Board. Jon S. Kelly founded River City Bank and continues to support the Bank. His daughter, Shawn Kelly Devlin, currently serves as President and Chairman of the Board. The Kelly Foundation is an expression of the importance the Kelly family places on being a good neighbor and citizen in regions where they do business. For more information on the Kelly Foundation, please visit KellyFoundationSacramento.org or call (916) 978-4892.

About American Red Cross

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit RedCross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.