A doge is an elected chief of state lordship, the ruler of the Republic in many of the Italian city states during the medieval and renaissance periods, in the Italian "crowned republics".
The word is from a Venetian word that descends from the Latin dux (as do the English duke and the standard Italian duce and duca), meaning "leader", especially in a military context. The wife of a doge is styled a dogaressa. [1]
As an investor who has profited from providing housing solutions in the East Bay for more than 20 years, finding meaningful ways to give back to our community has been a key priority – and an integral part of our success.
Though giving money to worthy causes is a straightforward, important way to help, I’ve found it even more relevant and rewarding to directly participate in charitable events whenever possible. In recent years, I’ve carved time out of my schedule to contribute to a number of nonprofits in various ways.
In 2018, my wife Alice and I rode our bikes across Zambia to help raise money for some fantastic charities, including Grassroot Soccer and World Bicycle Relief. This was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. Our cycling group raised approximately $600,000 to support organizations providing services that improve access to health information and enable transportation options for people in need.
In 2015, I traveled to Colombia for the first ever Rotary Club project fair in South America. I helped in raising funds for water projects in struggling villages and evaluating vendors seeking financial support for school and livestock projects from Oakland Rotary #3.
Most recently, I joined the board of KONO Koreatown Northgate, the business improvement district that’s helping our downtown Oakland community reduce crime and create valuable cultural events such as Oakland First Fridays / Oakland Art Murmur.
A critical member of our team, Alice has been cycling and raising money for Team In Training supporting cancer research and participating in a multitude of events. She’s been riding 100 miles each month, and with the help of her donors has raised nearly $250,000 for cancer research over the past three years.
Whenever the opportunity for a local clean up day arises, I try to participate. Whether it’s a beach clean up or a community day, I’m called to take action. On a recent day in 2023, my partner Scott Benson and I cleaned trash out from under an overpass in Oakland with a local non profit called the Urban Compassion Project. It was a wonderful experience and it really made a difference.
For years I’ve been striving to find ways to incorporate charitable work into my daily and weekly life, into my business, and my kid’s lives. Here are some organizations I’ve found that represent my main areas of effort: the environment, homelessness, and international work.
A distinctive Oakland neighborhood rich with cultural diversity, KONO is home to an eclectic mix of mom-and-pop shops, hip bars and restaurants, and a wide array of art galleries. The Koreatown/Northgate Community Districts supports multiple projects beneficial to the area, from mural arts to security camera installation and the ever-popular Oakland First Fridays street festival.
Team in Training raises funds to help find cures for leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma and ensure access to treatments for blood cancer patients. Participants train to complete endurance sports events such as marathons and distance cycling, fundraising to support the cause. Since its start in 1988, Team in Training has raised more than $1.5 billion.
An Oakland-based non-profit, Lincoln Families provides preventative, individualized, and comprehensive support services that disrupt cycles of poverty and trauma. It’s one of the oldest non-profits in the area, dating back to 1883 as the first interracial orphanage in Northern California. They do incredible work supporting learners and their families in Alameda and Contra Costa counties, using a culturally relevant, adaptive approach that meets the needs of children and families. Their multi-generational model sets a high standard of support that changes lives.
I’m proud to share that my wife, Alice Myerhoff, is on the board. Our support for this organization also extends to their annual fundraisers, which are a lot of fun. Join us for the next one!
Lincoln Families Board of Directors
Oakland Rotary #3I’m proud to be affiliated with Oakland Rotary #3, one of the oldest rotary clubs in the world. In early 2015 I was able to travel to Colombia with the international affairs committee and participate in the first annual South American project fair, taking the first steps in solidifying my contribution internationally in a meaningful and important way.
The Food Bank’s mission is to provide nutritious food to the low-income residents of the City of Alameda on a non-discriminating basis. The Alameda Food Bank is a private, non-affiliated, non-profit, tax-exempt agency. The Food Bank is overseen by a board of directors composed of community volunteers. Its day to day operation is run by two paid staff members and over 150 volunteers.
St. Mary’s Center, provides essential services to improve the quality of life for at-risk seniors and preschoolers in Oakland. Each year this nonprofit organization helps stabilize the lives of more than 1,350 homeless seniors and frail seniors living alone, assist neighborhood families who need supplementary groceries, and provide a preschool for 48 children living in poverty. Nearly 3,000 people are impacted each year by the work of St. Mary’s Center.
The world’s leading conservation organization, WWF works in 100 countries and is supported by 1.2 million members in the United States and close to 5 million globally. WWF’s unique way of working combines global reach with a foundation in science. This involves action at every level from local to global, and ensures the delivery of innovative solutions that meet the needs of both people and nature.
Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) helps people worldwide where the need is greatest, delivering emergency medical aid to people affected by conflict, epidemics, disasters, or exclusion from health care. In recognition of their pioneering humanitarian work across several continents, the group was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1999.
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