No Boundaries
Gordon Russell retired from a successful career in the high profile world of venture capital. As a General Partner at Sequoia Capital, he helped to kick start some of the most successful business ventures of the 1980s and 90s.

In 2000 he switched his focus to venture philanthropy, researching and then putting together a diverse “portfolio” of nonprofits that he is committed to support. Instead of just writing a check, however, he takes an active role in the governance and activities of these organizations. He criss-crosses the country, attending a board meeting at Woods Hole Research Center which is focused on protecting the integrity of the global environment, and then shoots up to his alma mater Dartmouth, where he is involved in the Native American Program. Back on the west coast, he’s involved with Shelter Network’s Advisory Council and sits on the board of the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. Every summer he heads for Idaho to attend the annual Sun Valley Writer’s Conference, which he founded, and listens to this year’s batch of literary luminaries.

It’s fortunate that Gordon’s interests know no boundaries. It makes it easy to straddle very different worlds –take Sun Valley, Idaho and East Palo Alto, California.

Before he joined the Board of Ravenswood Family Health Center in May 2003, he already knew a lot about what was going on in East Palo Alto. As a Board member of the Peninsula Community Foundation for ten years, he was its chairman from 1998 to 2001, at a time PCF was instrumental in raising the capital to clean up the land and build a community resource center in East Palo Alto, working in tandem with the Packard Foundation which provided the capital for the clinic building. That wasn’t his only foundation connection. For 14 years he was a trustee of the Palo Alto Medical Foundation and Chairman of the Board from 1990 through 1995.

Gordon knows the business side of health care after years in senior management at biomedical and healthcare. He now serves as Treasurer of our Board and head of its Finance Committee. When it comes to Board business, he has a knack for keeping it simple. He doesn’t waste words, and he doesn’t waste time. He sorts the wheat from the chaff and is quick to see where the real value lies.

As CEO, Luisa Buada knows “You can depend on Gordon to ask the tough business and finance questions. We welcome his involvement because he really cares and is a partner when it comes to finding solutions that are a fit with our community.” Fellow board member, Manuel Arteaga, agrees, “He is part of a team. He listens and solicits the ideas of others who have lived in the community. As challenges arise, it is a great comfort to know Gordon is there.”

“Gordon is wonderful giving person,” added Luisa. “He gives of himself, his wisdom, his connections as well as securing significant financial support that is essential to our success.”

Melieni Talakai . Vice-Chair of the Board, remembers when he first joined the Board. She asked him what he expected to get from it and he answered simply, “To make a real difference.” “He’s done that.” she said. “He is so present in what he does. He never lets up. Quietly, behind the scenes, he monitors, he funds, he’s an advocate, and he is always concerned with the wellbeing of not just the clinic but of the community as a whole,” says Melieni.

“He says that he learns a lot from us too, and I think he finds a real joy in this calling. He is a true gift.”