"We really want people to know that the foundation is not a part of the governments of Saratoga and Monte Sereno—we are our own entity," Fox says. She says because there are a few different types of community foundations out there, some people may be confused as to exactly how her foundation plans to operate.

According to the organization's literature, "[The foundation] is a tax-exempt, nonprofit umbrella organization created to improve the quality of life in the Saratoga­Monte Sereno area. The communities are working together to strengthen our local facilities, services and events, including school services, library services, parks, public space and senior services."

However, Fox explained, the foundation is unique in a very specific way—people who want to improve something in the communities of Saratoga or Monte Sereno and donate money to the foundation can earmark their donation to go to the specific cause they want to support.

"We want people to have a say in their community—what do they want to see, what do they want done?" Fox says. She explained that one goal of the foundation is to make it easier for the improvements residents really want to see to actually happen. "There can be so much red tape in the city government; maybe we can help things get accomplished."

Lori Fox has been a local resident since 1968. Growing up, she attended

Saratoga schools, such as Foothill Elementary, Redwood Middle School and Saratoga High School.

Fox says she has always tried to be actively involved in the community. She was on the board of the Silicon Valley Charity Ball for 14 years and served as its president for four of those years. In each year that she was president, Fox says the organization raised more than $1 million for its causes. She also previously chaired the Sacred Heart School auction in Saratoga for three years. Now, in addition to heading the new foundation, Fox serves on the board of Healthy Kids, which raises funds to provide health insurance to children. She also serves on the board of the Triton Museum of Art in Santa Clara and runs her own catering business in Willow Glen, called Chez Vous Catering. Fox's husband, Michael Fox Jr., works as the president of M.E. Fox and Company Inc., a beverage distributor.

Fox's husband served on various boards with Saratoga resident Phil Boyce and Kathleen King, a Saratoga city councilwoman. Fox says they recognized a need for such a foundation, but the cities' money was too tight, and there was not enough room in the budgets. Therefore, they decided that the communities could start their own private foundation, and they suggested that Fox could chair it.

Fox emphasized what a help Phil Boyce was with the whole process.

"If it wasn't for Phil, I don't know if this would have gotten off the ground," she said. "He was very instrumental in helping us." Phil's wife, Sue Boyce, will serve on the foundation's board.

Fox says while the foundation is still getting set up, it is operating under the umbrella of Community Foundation Silicon Valley. Fox expects that the Saratoga­Monte Sereno foundation will be up and running on its own sometime in the fall and says that, in the meantime, anyone who wants to donate can do so through Silicon Valley.

"Right now, we are doing all the work; we haven't hired anybody," Fox said, adding that all money being donated goes straight to the community causes and that they are spending as little money on getting established as possible. "The Community Foundation Silicon Valley is providing a lot of expertise. They've been very generous in helping us—we don't need to reinvent the wheel when it's already out there."

The Saratoga­Monte Sereno Community Foundation offers anyone—even if they don't live locally, but want to help out the Saratoga and Monte Sereno communities—the chance to be founding members of the new foundation. For a donation of $1,000, individuals, or a couple for the same price, can become founding members. Founding members can attend regular foundation meetings and give ideas on projects. The foundation plans to have its next board meeting in October and regularly about four times a year after that. If someone wants to be a nonfounding member and merely receive periodic information about the foundation and its projects, Fox says the cost to join is $100. Fox says the foundation has at the moment 50 founding-member couples.

One project that the foundation is considering is the Saratoga Senior Center, located on Fruitvale Avenue. Fox says the city recently purchased a church with a few acres that the senior center could possibly move to, but it needs improvements first.

The board is also considering ideas for teacher housing.

"Keeping teachers here is difficult," Fox says, pointing out teachers' salaries and the high cost of living locally. "Maybe if there was a condo complex, or something like that, it wouldn't be [difficult]—if there were loans or discounts they could get. We will be talking about that."

Addressing concerns that some Monte Sereno residents have voiced about being joined into a foundation with Saratoga—and being the smaller city that could perhaps go unnoticed while the majority of money benefits Saratoga—Fox said she does not believe that will be the case.

"Anyone who is concerned should join, so they can tell us what they want to see. We feel that Monte Sereno is being fairly represented," she says, adding that many of the founding members are from Monte Sereno, as are three of the board members. "We need to look at this as a team. I really think everyone is going to benefit from this. After all, everyone in Monte Sereno and Saratoga uses the same facilities, the same roads, the same downtown." She added that she feels that the reason a lot of money often goes to Saratoga is that the facilities that Monte Sereno residents use, such as schools and the library, are located in Saratoga, so improving them benefits residents from both communities.

Fox says she feels it all boils down to this: "So many people do so many beneficial things outside of Saratoga and Monte Sereno. I think we really need to get back to our roots and start doing some of these community projects and services in our own hometowns. Plus, events like this really bring people together and get them to meet each other."

For more information on the Saratoga­Monte Sereno Community Foundation and how to join, visit www.smscf.org or call Lori Fox at Chez Vous Catering at 408.277.0661.