1-1-1 and a tale of 3 bears
In the summer of 2023 I learned about Sonoma County Wildlife Rescue (SCWR) from my wife who read a news story about three black bear cubs who were relocated from Lake Tahoe, California. These were the kids of Hank the Tank who had been captured and relocated to Colorado after multiple home break-ins and extensive property damage. SCWR was to rehabilitate the cubs so they can discontinue the negative behaviors they learned from mom and be returned to the wild! This was how I first learned about SCWR and the amazing work they do for wildlife not just in Sonoma County, where I live, but for animals from all over California. That fall I signed up as a volunteer and have worked there for four hours a week ever since.
This also coincided with a major career change for me. After nearly a decade at Salesforce, where I learned all about Pledge 1% through the Salesforce 1-1-1 program, I decided I needed to do something different. In early 2024 I formed a start-up with a former Salesforce colleague to build a tool to help transform facilities operations and make it available on the Salesforce AppExchange. From day one we knew we would sign on to Pledge 1% and carry forward our community giving which was such a rewarding part of our Salesforce careers.
While we were still going through our final stages of product development and Salesforce AppExchange approval I started talking to the SCWR Executive Director, Doris Duncan, about how I thought sonpito could help the organization. Doris was incredibly supportive and enthusiastic about the idea and thought this would help propel the organization into the next phase of their incredible growth. SCWR had recently been gifted another huge property and were in the final stages of completing the build out of the largest Apex Predator Enclosure (APE) in California. If ever there was a time to modernize and utilize technology it was now!
We helped the team apply for Salesforce Non-Profit Cloud which we would install sonpito on as well as elevate their Fundraising, Program Management, Volunteer Management and Marketing & Engagement. In October 2025 sonpito was listed on the Salesforce AppExchange and our very first customer is Sonoma County Wildlife Rescue! We have begun setting up sonpito with the SCWR team and early impressions are very promising. The team is excited to be able to optimize their facilities operations with sonpito and are looking forward to the getting the full benefit of Salesforce Non-profit could early next year.
We are honored to partner with SCWR who play such an important role in the rescue, rehabilitation and release of sick, injured and orphaned wildlife; the promotion, understanding, appreciation, protection and conservation of wildlife through both their Educational Outreach Programs and advocacy efforts. It has been wonderful to get to know so many other volunteers from every walk of life who share my passion for wildlife.
While these past two years have been the most challenging of my professional career, it is also really important to me to keep giving back. Taking time away from launching a start up to work hard and laugh with other volunteers has been cathartic – I know that whatever is happening at work, on Wednesday mornings, I will be out in the open air, come rain or shine, feeding precious animals which brings joy to my heart. What can you do in your community to release some of the pent up stress? What is your pressure release valve? We all need time away from the grind and I encourage anyone reading this to find something you care about, where you can contribute and just maybe get some relief.
