COVID-19 Community Response Fund Grants $11.4 Million to Support Local Families with Emergency Childcare, Other Needs

For Immediate Release

$10 Million from County, City provides emergency care for essential workers and at-risk children – 13^th round of grantmaking assists 25 local nonprofit organizations

July 8, 2020 – San Diego, CA – The San Diego Foundation today announced the San Diego COVID-19 Community Response Fund has granted an additional $11.4 million to 25 nonprofit organizations working on the frontline of the COVID-19 health and economic crisis.

The latest round of grantmaking includes $10 million, thanks to contributions of $5 million each from San Diego County and the City of San Diego, which will provide childcare for essential workers and other at-risk populations during the coronavirus pandemic response.

“This crisis has placed increased burdens on our healthcare professionals, first responders and other essential workers,” shared Mark Stuart, President & CEO of The San Diego Foundation. “With many schools, daycare facilities and camps closed, families are struggling to find and afford childcare. We can now provide hundreds of at-risk children with childcare and assist parents on the frontlines of the pandemic.”

The combined $10 million will support the Emergency Child Care Voucher program, which is administered by YMCA of San Diego County and Child Development Associates to provide essential workers and at-risk children with childcare during the public health crisis.

“As cases rise and the COVID-19 crisis persists, the needs of San Diegans across the region are growing exponentially,” continued Stuart. “The COVID-19 Community Response Fund continues to support relief efforts while also addressing the inequities that exist within our healthcare, education and economic systems.”

Total grantmaking from the fund has now surpassed $24.6 million to more than 150 nonprofit organizations. In addition to childcare support, the 13^th round of rapid response grants will provide critical resources to San Diegans impacted by the coronavirus pandemic, including technology for students at risk of falling behind in school, food and financial assistance for seniors living in remote areas of the region, and health services for underserved communities across San Diego County. Since March 16, the COVID-19 Community Response Fund has received more than $50 million in requests from hundreds of nonprofit organizations.

To date, the San Diego COVID-19 Community Response Fund has raised $27.2 million in donations through more than 3,200 individuals, businesses, foundations and donor-advised funds.

The latest round of rapid response grants includes:

Child Development Associates, Inc. – $5,000,000

To provide childcare vouchers and support for essential workers and low-income families

YMCA of San Diego County – $5,000,000

To provide childcare vouchers and support for essential workers and low-income families

San Diego Hunger Coalition – $225,000

To expand food distribution systems and increase the number of meals provided throughout the County

Jacobs Center for Neighborhood Innovation – $150,000

To provide financial assistance, resilience training and support for nonprofits in Southeast San Diego

San Diego Oasis – $120,000

To provide online connectivity and wellness activities to isolated seniors

Center on Policy Initiatives – $100,000

To provide critical support to San Diego seniors, indigenous, immunocompromised and other impacted communities in Southeast San Diego and South Bay

National City Chamber Foundation – $100,000

To support a job creation and training program, as well as promote employment opportunities for residents in South Bay

Partnership for the Advancement of New Americans – $100,000

To provide financial assistance and aid for local refugee families

Labor’s Training & Community Development Alliance (via Employee Rights Center) – $75,000

To provide basic needs and financial assistance for low-income families and immigrants

Kitchens for Good – $75,000

To increase meal production and distribution for families in need

Central San Diego Black Chamber of Commerce – $100,000

To provide financial assistance to black-owned small businesses and their employees

San Diego Fisherman’s Working Group – $55,000

To support a pilot program connecting healthy, fresh seafood sources to local nonprofits and food banks

Mental Health America of San Diego County – $50,000

To provide mental health services for ethnically-diverse, underserved communities

Rise Up Industries – $50,000

To provide career and reintegration support for formerly gang-involved and incarcerated adults seeking employment

ElderHelp of San Diego – $50,000

To provide essential resources for seniors, especially those who are isolated or home bound with limited access to food, medical services and family support

Groundwork San Diego – $40,000

To provide online STEM curriculum to overcome learning loss for students in Encanto

San Diego LGBT Community Center – $24,000

To provide virtual crisis counseling, support and other essential services such as food, housing and healthcare to the LGBTQ community

Wesley House Student Residence Inc. – $20,000

To assist vulnerable college students with technology access, housing security and other basic needs

Alliance for HOPE International – $17,000

To provide trauma-informed telehealth services for San Diego children

Borrego Springs Youth & Seniors Center – $14,000

To provide food security for seniors in remote areas of San Diego County

Girls Inc. of San Diego County – $10,000

To provide online access, STEM training and wellness programs for San Diego females

Boys to Men Mentoring Network, Inc. – $10,000

To provide virtual support and mentoring services to at-risk, fatherless and disconnected boys in San Diego

St. Paul’s PACE – $10,000

To provide food security and all-inclusive healthcare for low-income seniors

Vista Community Clinic – $10,000

To provide food security and healthcare resources for residents in Oceanside and Vista

Foundation for Senior Wellbeing – $8,000

To provide virtual counseling, wellness checks and resources for seniors

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 575 community foundations that have mobilized nearly $1 billion 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.

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