I can see the foundation becoming the leading philanthropic foundation in the area. Porter of the Porter Simon law firm is the foundation's organizing committee chairperson. I am confident it will become a magnet for contributors who care about our area's people, resources and quality of life. Porter said he has been meeting with the Hewlett family during the past few month discussing the foundation's potential and he said the family is just as enthusiastic about the foundation as members of the community are. It is also without restrictions, which means there are no parameters to dictate where funding will be given within the community.
Funding can go toward the arts, education, etc.
Porter said because of the lack of restrictions, the foundation is aiming to attract a wide spectrum of donors. Hewlett, who has been a longtime area preservationist, is best known for his land donations to the state of California. He and his family gave the land surrounding Meeks Bay to the state and his son Howard sold the land in Cold Stream Canyon to the state in an attempt to help preserve the value of the Emigrant Trail that winds its way through it. They have been here for many years and want to help preserve the area's beauty. Hewlett has been photographing wildflowers for many years, and Porter said it is one of his pleasures to photograph them in the Sierra.