October 15, 2014 – Ramona, CA – The Ramona Community Foundation (RCF) awarded a total of $29,200 to nine deserving Ramona-based programs on October 2, 2014. This year’s focus was “Safe, Vibrant, and Healthy Communities,” and each grantee addresses a crucial health and human service need in Ramona.
The organizations funded include North Country Health Services ($1,500), Ramona West End Fire Safe Council ($1,500), Write Out Loud ($2,100), Ramona Chamber of Commerce ($2,500), Boys & Girls Club of Greater San Diego ($3,000), Fund for Animals Wildlife Center ($3,100), Ramona H.E.A.R.T. Mural Project ($4,000), Burn Institute ($4,500), and Disadvantaged Youth Alliance ($7,000). More than 60 members, friends and nonprofit representatives gathered at Schwaesdall Winery to celebrate and learn more about this year’s grantees.
“This special evening was a chance for our members to celebrate awarding close to $85,000 to our community in a mere three years, while also building an endowment that will support emerging Ramona needs in perpetuity,” RCF Chair Wes Brustad said. “It was also an opportunity for all those who love Ramona to learn more about the community foundation, the power of pooled philanthropy and what it means to collectively give back right here in our own community.”
To learn more about the Ramona Community Foundation, visit www.RamonaCommunityFoundation.org.
About the Grantees
North County Health Services – Ramona Community Health Fair
The $1,500 grant will help grow the Ramona Community Health Fair by increasing resources for promotion of the event, providing incentives to community members to attend, and garner additional community support.
Ramona West End Fire Safe Council – Fire Operations in the Wildland Urban Interface Training
The $1,500 grant will help fund an all-day training for community members to better prepare themselves, their homes and properties from damage if a wildland fire sweeps through the community.
Write Out Loud – Write Out Loud Ramona
The $2,100 grant will help launch a new community-based storytelling initiative for residents of all ages. The free program will combine the art of storytelling by a professional actor with post-performance discussion about the story, its themes, and how the reading relates to the lives of the participants and the community.
Ramona Chamber of Commerce – The Table: A Community Collaboration
The $2,500 grant will go towards a project in which the Ramona Chamber of Commerce takes the lead in setting “The Table” by organizing a roundtable for Ramona-based business and nonprofits with an agenda focused on economic and cultural revitalization.
Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater San Diego (BGCSD) – Carrying the Torch
With a grant of $3,000, this program will engage young members of the Torch Club of BGCGSD’s Ramona Branch in a partnership with senior residents of Ramona. The goal is to provide an opportunity for young people to learn about the rich history and life experiences of the older members of the community, and then share these stories with the community through personalized storybooks.
Fund for Animals Wildlife Center (FFAWC) – Outreach & Community Education Volunteer Program
The $3,100 grant will help cultivate broader public awareness of the FFAWC by developing a core of trained spokespeople for community outreach events and increasing the already vibrant volunteer base by 20%.
Ramona H.E.A.R.T. Mural Project – Ramona Tree Trust & San Dieguito River Valley
The $4,000 grant will be used for the community-organized production of a mural at 2405 Main Street depicting the historic Colonnade, grasslands, and the Coast to Crest Trail.
Burn Institute – Fire and Burn Prevention Education
With a grant of $4,500, The Burn Institute will assist the Ramona community with preparing for wildfires, providing education to children about fire safety and installing smoke alarms in the homes of seniors.
Disadvantaged Youth Alliance – Educational Empowerment Initiative
With the $7,000 grant, disadvantaged students identified by school counselors will receive professional guidance through the entire college application process including financial aid and scholarship assistance. Students will participate in extensive career assessments to help identify their strengths and major of study.
About The Ramona Community Foundation & the Regional Outreach Program
The Regional Outreach program, including the Ramona Community Foundation, was established by The San Diego Foundation to build and promote a regional network of community affiliate foundations by leveraging local leadership in building endowments, increasing responsible and effective philanthropy, and promoting local and regional civic engagement. Since 2006, The San Diego Foundation has established affiliates in Carlsbad, Chula Vista, Escondido, La Jolla, Oceanside, Ramona, Rancho Bernardo, San Ysidro, and 4S Ranch-Del Sur. The Regional Outreach program has exceeded 700 members, built endowments of more than $3.4 million overall, and granted more than $3.4 million in total to nonprofit organizations throughout the region. For additional information, please visit sdfoundation.org/CommunityFoundations.
About The San Diego Foundation
Founded in 1975, The San Diego Foundation’s purpose is to promote and increase effective and responsible charitable giving. The Foundation manages more than $675 million in assets, more than half of which reside in permanent endowment funds that extend the impact of today’s gifts to future generations. Since its inception, The Foundation has granted more than $891 million to the San Diego region’s nonprofit community. For additional information, please visit The San Diego Foundation at sdfoundation.org.
Contact
Theresa Nakata, theresan@sdfoundation.org, 619-814-2300
Nikki Kolupailo, nikki@sdfoundation.org, 619-814-1372
