COVID-19 Community Response Fund Grants $1.4 Million to Support Distance Learning; Aid Refugees and Military Families

For Immediate Release

Grantmaking totals more than $13.7 million to over 140 local nonprofit organizations

June 18, 2020 – San Diego, CA – The San Diego Foundation today announced the San Diego COVID-19 Community Response Fund has granted an additional $1.4 million to 10 nonprofit organizations working on the frontline of the COVID-19 health and economic crisis.

The latest round of rapid response grants will provide critical resources to San Diego communities impacted by the coronavirus pandemic, including resources for schools to provide distance learning to San Diego students, individualized support for immigrants and refugees who have been unable to access emergency relief funding, as well as financial assistance for military and veteran families.

“As teachers prepare for summer and fall classes amid the ongoing pandemic, they face new challenges to provide the same, high-level education,” shared Mark Stuart, President & CEO of The San Diego Foundation. “These grants will help ensure that our students, particularly those at risk of falling behind, continue to have the tools they need.”

To date, the San Diego COVID-19 Community Response Fund has raised $16.8 million in donations through more than 3,200 individuals, businesses, foundations and donor-advised funds, including an additional $1.5 million from San Diego Gas & Electric.

The latest round of rapid response grants includes:

Classroom of the Future – $550,000

To provide the resources and support needed for high school distance learning in the south, north and eastern parts of San Diego County.

Partnership for Advancement of New Americans – $300,000

To provide critical resources for 10 nonprofits serving African refugee families in San Diego.

Rider Safety Visibility – $200,000

To provide training and increase employment opportunities for youth living in District 4.

Urban Corps – $150,000

To support high school students and youth with workforce development opportunities in fire prevention to protect low-income households. 

Jewish Family Services – $100,000

To provide critical support and basic needs to immigrants and refugees through the Rapid Response Network.

Labor’s Training & Community Development Alliance (via United Taxi Works of San Diego) – $25,000

To provide multi-lingual support to African immigrants so they can access emergency relief resources.

Zero8hundred- $50,000

To provide health, education and employment support and resources for veterans and active military members transitioning out of service during COVID-19.

Imperial Valley Wellness Foundation – $47,167

Made possible by the Robert Woods Johnson Foundation and the League of California Community Foundations, the grant will provide food security for farmworkers and community members in needed.

International Community Foundation – $25,000

To support bi-national, collaborative efforts that will address cross-border COVID-19 health treatment and risks.

Operation Homefront – $25,000

To provide flexible resources for veterans and military families facing financial hardship.

In addition to grantmaking from the COVID-19 Community Response Fund efforts, the San Diego County COVID-19 Small Business & Nonprofit Loan Program (SBNLP) continues to accept applications at SanDiegoSBNLP.org for low-to-no-interest loans to small businesses and nonprofit organizations and aid in the region’s economic recovery from the coronavirus.

Businesses, individuals and organizations can donate and find additional information about the San Diego COVID-19 Community Response Fund at SDFoundation.org/COVID19.

The San Diego Foundation is part of a national movement of more than 400 community foundations that have mobilized over $900 million to aid in the COVID-19 public health and economic crisis through response funds. Individual donations are bolstered by San Diego corporations and numerous donor-advised funds at The San Diego Foundation that have contributed more than $8.3 million to the San Diego COVID-19 Community Response Fund.

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About the San Diego COVID-19 Community Response Fund

The San Diego COVID-19 Community Response Fund at The San Diego Foundation was created in partnership with San Diego County Supervisor Nathan Fletcher, San Diego Gas & Electric, United Way of San Diego County, San Diego & Imperial Counties Labor Council, NEWS 8 and Alliance Healthcare Foundation to receive donations and make rolling rapid response grants to nonprofit organizations supporting impacted communities, particularly those that are disproportionately affected by the coronavirus pandemic and its economic consequences. Grants focus on food security; other essential living expenses; emergent needs such as closing the digital divide; and rent and utility payment support. Thousands of individuals, businesses and foundations have contributed to the Fund, and 100 percent of donations are provided to nonprofits. Learn more at SDFoundation.org/COVID19.

About The San Diego Foundation

The San Diego Foundation inspires enduring philanthropy and enables community solutions to improve quality of life in our region. For more than 45 years, The Foundation and our donors have granted more than $1.2 billion to support nonprofit organizations and strengthen our San Diego community. Learn more at SDFoundation.org and consider a donation to the San Diego COVID-19 Community Response Fund, helping nonprofits and San Diegans affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

Contact

Justin Nunez, The San Diego Foundation, 336-254-7056, justin@sdfoundation.org