JEANNE CUFFEY TATUM
INITIATIVE OFFICER, COMMUNITY SCHOOLS

Jeanne Cuffey Tatum brings over 40 years of experience to her role as initiative officer for community schools at Silicon Valley Community Foundation. Through this initiative, Jeanne collaborates with city and county officials, school and district administrators, and public and private leaders, providing technical assistance and program support to schools that are implementing the community schools approach.

From 1995 to 2007, Jeanne managed fiscal and administrative operations as well as programmatic activities for several multi-million dollar programs for the Peninsula Partnership for Children, Youth and Families™, a division of Peninsula Community Foundation. During that time, she assisted with the incubation of various projects and initiatives, conducted communitywide training seminars and facilitated countywide events. She has also been very instrumental in fostering, nurturing and sustaining numerous long-lasting relationships that have heightened the visibility of the Partnership for Children, Youth and Families in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties.

Having worked with various nonprofits that serve children, youth and families, Jeanne understands the value of philanthropy as a tool for social transformation. She has spent many countless hours serving on boards and committees, and volunteering for local and countywide organizations. Her passion for community service is outweighed only by her fervor for travel, music and theatre. She has visited a number of countries throughout the world, collecting plates, masks and artwork, and has appeared on many stages, singing with Tower of Power, Della Reese and Joel Grey.

When not at a meeting or community event, Jeanne and her husband, Richard, can be found in the studio producing “3rd Eye,” a television talk show that highlights local issues, or in the backyard frying and smoking turkeys for friends and neighbors. They have lived in East Palo Alto, California, for over 35 years and are the proud parents of Michael and Rahsaan and grandparents of Stephon, Preston and Dominique.