Rancho Bernardo Community Foundation awards $67,000 in grants to community organizations at 25th Annual Thanksgiving Luncheon

“The annual Thanksgiving Luncheon brings our community together to celebrate the excellent programs and services offered by our nonprofit partners, and through our grants process, it provides them with needed financial assistance,” RBCF Grants Committee Chair Kevin Martin explained.

The Rancho Bernardo Historical Society was recognized by RBCF with two grants that expand educational outreach and upgrade and preserve its collection of recorded history using digital technology. The grant to strengthen “Coyote Tales,” a free hands-on program for local elementary school children, brings what kids have learned in the classroom closer to home.

“We give students a unique perspective that this not only is the history of their community, but if they look around them, this happened right here where they live and play,” Rancho Bernardo Historical Society President Nancy Canfield shared. “It ties into our core mission to move history forward.”

At the event, RBCF invited community members to become RB Partners in Philanthropy by joining The Foundation with a minimum yearly contribution of $500. Among other benefits, Partners receive the ability to vote on annual grants, invitations to two yearly member-only events, participation on the Grants Committee, and preferred seating at signature RBCF events such as the Pathway of Pride, Hats Off to Volunteers, and the annual Thanksgiving Luncheon.

The late Matt McLaughlin, a Rancho Bernardo resident, left a generous legacy gift to The San Diego Foundation for use by affiliate foundations in North County. The funds created the Live Here, Give Here Program, which matches all RBCF grantmaking funds generated by membership contributions.

2014-2015 Rancho Bernardo Community Foundation Grantees

• $1,000 granted to ED Brown Senior Center at Rancho Bernardo for Weekly Art Class for Seniors
• $1,000 granted to Friends of the Rancho Bernardo Library for the Chamber Music Concerts
• $1,000 granted to RBCF Emergency Fund
• $1,000 granted to Rancho Bernardo High School Choral Music Program for Sheet Music
• $1,000 granted to Rancho Bernardo Neighborhood Watch for workshop materials and outreach
• $1,000 granted to RB United for Community Response Equipment
• $1,000 granted to Spirit of the Fourth, Inc. for a Patriotic Community Wide Concert
• $1,000 granted to Youth Philharmonic Orchestra for the Encore Concert Series
• $1,500 granted to Rancho Bernardo High School Friends of the Library for library media assistant coverage
• $1,500 granted to Rancho Bernardo High School Parent Teacher Student Association for Grad Nite
• $1,500 granted to Rancho Bernardo Historical Society for the RB History Museum School Education Program
• $2000 granted to Rancho Bernardo High School Parent Teacher Student Association for Grad Nite
• $1,500 granted to Rancho Bernardo Senior Services
• $1,500 granted to Rancho Bernardo Veterans Memorial Association for Memorial Maintenance
• $2,000 granted to Youth Philharmonic Orchestra for the YPO Community Outreach program
• $2,500 granted to Bernardo Heights Middle School Choir Boosters to purchase a Baby Grand Piano
• $4,000 granted to Elder Help of San Diego for The Concierge Club
• $4,500 granted to Write Out Loud for the Write Out Loud Rancho Bernardo program
• $7,000 granted to Disadvantaged Youth Alliance for the Educational Empowerment Initiative
• $7,000 granted to Turtleback Education Foundation for The Turtleback Community Friendship Garden
• $7,500 granted to Burn Institute for Fire and Burn Prevention Education
• $7,500 granted to ED Brown Senior Center at Rancho Bernardo for RB Institute for Community Leadership program
• $7,500 granted to Rancho Bernardo Historical Society for the RB Recorded History Collections Preservation project

About the Rancho Bernardo Community Foundation & the Regional Affiliate Program
The Regional Outreach program, including the Rancho Bernardo 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 $661 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 $894 million to the San Diego region’s nonprofit community. For additional information, please visit The San Diego Foundation at sdfoundation.org.

Contact
Vince Heald, Beck Ellman Heald, 858-453-9600, vheald@behmedia.com
Theresa Nakata, The San Diego Foundation, 619-890-1378, theresan@sdfoundation.org