The Bettike Foundation - Youth Education and Development in California

History

Founded in March 2004, The Bettike Foundation was created in honor of Bettike (pronounced "Be-ti-ka") Barsotti, a dedicated wife, mother, sister, entrepreneur, community leader and education supporter. Bettike's zest for life and dedication to youth and education is embodied in her namesake foundation and its mission. Prior to her passing, Bettike and her husband Peter Barsotti handed out yearly scholarships to local high school students in Groveland, California. This tradition is being continued through The Bettike Foundation. In addition, we are providing other educational opportunities to children and youth to foster a rich and productive learning environment. Because Bettike and her family have a long history in the music industry, music education is very important to the Bettike Foundation. Music workshops and retreats are an essential part of the foundation and its educational endeavors.

Shortly after its formation The Bettike Foundation, along with the Sonora Area Foundation, managed to raise $85,000 in 6 months to upgrade and improve Mary Laveroni Park in Groveland, CA. After these upgrades were complete the foundation presented The Bettike Family Music Festival, where renowned musicians Taj Mahal, Elvin Bishop, David Lindley and others performed in this new outdoor concert venue. The Bettike Festival also featured an arts and crafts fair where artists and craftspeople sold their work. Many local residents had never seen an outdoor concert like this before. This event brought music, art and culture to a place that would otherwise never have been exposed to it. The Bettike Festival was a way to introduce the foundation to the community, bring music, art and culture to the area, and to raise money to fund the annual scholarship and other foundation programs.

Mission Statement

The Bettike Foundation is a 501(c) 3 nonprofit educational foundation. We strive to improve education and opportunity for at-risk children and youth in the State of California. By providing scholarships to individuals for attending college, organizing and conducting leadership and educational workshops, wilderness retreats, mentoring programs and musical education programs, The Bettike Foundation helps children and youth enrich their education and life experiences. For many kids the simple lack of these types of opportunities to learn and explore life is an obstruction to a fully rounded education. Join us and give our kids a chance!

Music In Schools Program

The Bettike Foundation has just begun raising money for its Music in Schools Program. Music is an important educational tool that is often overlooked by lawmakers and government in times of financial difficulty. Seen as an extracurricular activity that does little to enhance academic success, music programs are often the first to be cut when budget problems arise. This practice fails to grasp the importance of music as an integral part of the public education curriculum. Music education can help students in every area of study and this program is designed to provide much needed musical instruments and instruction to local public schools lacking funding for such resources.

Cultural Exchange Program

The Bettike Foundation also strives to bridge the gap between inner city and small town kids by organizing retreats and workshops that integrate these groups of students for idea and information exchange. We feel that bringing these groups together enhances tolerance, cultural understanding and the life-skills of the participants who will ultimately need to work in different cultural environments and work with a diversity of individuals to be successful in life.

Youth Retreats

The Bettike Foundation is now running what we call "Camp Bettike" at Spinning Wheel Ranch, a beautiful riverside retreat area west of Yosemite in the Sierra Nevada Foothills in California. At Camp Bettike kids can hike, swim, garden and learn about nature and themselves in a natural environment. Camp Bettike is the location of the Foundation's youth retreats. These retreats bring inner city kids as well as local youth to Camp Bettike for leadership workshops and activities, music education, cooking instruction, life-skills training, stress reduction, wilderness exposure, environmental interpretation and fun. The majority of the kids who will come to Camp Bettike have never experienced a wilderness environment. We believe that just the experience of being at Camp Bettike is greatly beneficial to all who participate. Staff and volunteers will serve as mentors as the youth engage in activities and trainings at Camp Bettike.

Join us and give our kids a chance!


	History Founded in March 2004, The Bettike Foundation was created in honor of Bettike (pronounced "Be-ti-ka") Barsotti, a dedicated wife, mother, sister, entrepreneur, community leader and education supporter. Bettike's zest for life and dedication to youth and education is embodied in her namesake foundation and its mission. Prior to her passing, Bettike and her husband Peter Barsotti handed out yearly scholarships to local high school students in Groveland, California. This tradition is being continued through The Bettike Foundation. In addition, we are providing other educational opportunities to children and youth to foster a rich and productive learning environment. Because Bettike and her family have a long history in the music industry, music education is very important to the Bettike Foundation. Music workshops and retreats are an essential part of the foundation and its educational endeavors. Shortly after its formation The Bettike Foundation, along with the Sonora Area Foundation, managed to raise $85,000 in 6 months to upgrade and improve Mary Laveroni Park in Groveland, CA. After these upgrades were complete the foundation presented The Bettike Family Music Festival, where renowned musicians Taj Mahal, Elvin Bishop, David Lindley and others performed in this new outdoor concert venue. The Bettike Festival also featured an arts and crafts fair where artists and craftspeople sold their work. Many local residents had never seen an outdoor concert like this before. This event brought music, art and culture to a place that would otherwise never have been exposed to it. The Bettike Festival was a way to introduce the foundation to the community, bring music, art and culture to the area, and to raise money to fund the annual scholarship and other foundation programs. Mission Statement The Bettike Foundation is a 501(c) 3 nonprofit educational foundation. We strive to improve education and opportunity for at-risk children and youth in the State of California. By providing scholarships to individuals for attending college, organizing and conducting leadership and educational workshops, wilderness retreats, mentoring programs and musical education programs, The Bettike Foundation helps children and youth enrich their education and life experiences. For many kids the simple lack of these types of opportunities to learn and explore life is an obstruction to a fully rounded education. Join us and give our kids a chance! Music In Schools Program The Bettike Foundation has just begun raising money for its Music in Schools Program. Music is an important educational tool that is often overlooked by lawmakers and government in times of financial difficulty. Seen as an extracurricular activity that does little to enhance academic success, music programs are often the first to be cut when budget problems arise. This practice fails to grasp the importance of music as an integral part of the public education curriculum. Music education can help students in every area of study and this program is designed to provide much needed musical instruments and instruction to local public schools lacking funding for such resources. Cultural Exchange Program The Bettike Foundation also strives to bridge the gap between inner city and small town kids by organizing retreats and workshops that integrate these groups of students for idea and information exchange. We feel that bringing these groups together enhances tolerance, cultural understanding and the life-skills of the participants who will ultimately need to work in different cultural environments and work with a diversity of individuals to be successful in life. Youth Retreats The Bettike Foundation is now running what we call "Camp Bettike" at Spinning Wheel Ranch, a beautiful riverside retreat area west of Yosemite in the Sierra Nevada Foothills in California. At Camp Bettike kids can hike, swim, garden and learn about nature and themselves in a natural environment. Camp Bettike is the location of the Foundation's youth retreats. These retreats bring inner city kids as well as local youth to Camp Bettike for leadership workshops and activities, music education, cooking instruction, life-skills training, stress reduction, wilderness exposure, environmental interpretation and fun. The majority of the kids who will come to Camp Bettike have never experienced a wilderness environment. We believe that just the experience of being at Camp Bettike is greatly beneficial to all who participate. Staff and volunteers will serve as mentors as the youth engage in activities and trainings at Camp Bettike. Join us and give our kids a chance!
	If you would like to make a donation to The Bettike Foundation please send check to: The Bettike Foundation 3900 Enos Ave Oakland, CA 94619 *THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT!* Site made possible by a generous donation by Mother Lode Internet www.mymotherlode.com