RBCF Strengthens Community Engagement with $71,821 in Grants

More than 250 Rancho Bernardo Community Foundation (RBCF) members, community leaders and partners came together last month for the Annual Thanksgiving Luncheon to celebrate 29 years of giving in the community.

During the luncheon, $71,821 was awarded to 21 nonprofits to support a variety of social impact areas, including education, youth development, science and technology, the arts and more.

Creating a Stronger Community for Residents of All Ages

For the 2017-2018 grant cycle, RBCF members chose to help make Rancho Bernardo a great place to live, work and play by funding programs that demonstrate the power to build a more vibrant and civically-engaged Rancho Bernardo community.

Among the many organizations that received a grant was Seniors Helping Our Kids. The all-volunteer organization places seniors in local elementary schools to serve as reading tutors for children, primarily in first through third grade.

Seniors Helping Our Kids places seniors in local elementary schools to serve as reading tutors for children, primarily in first through third grade.

According to the U.S. Department of Education, childhood literacy is critical in the personal development of youth and their long-term success in the classroom. The Seniors Helping Our Kids program focuses on childhood literacy while also strengthening intergenerational connections in the community.

The program enriches the lives of both the volunteers and students, giving seniors meaningful social interaction and engagement, and helping local children not only improve their reading skills, but also boosting their confidence and motivation to read.

“We’re so grateful to the Rancho Bernardo Community Foundation for supporting our program,” said Executive Director Jane Radatz. “Our program brings together different generations to learn from each other and applies the talents and experiences of the seniors. It benefits the seniors as much as the children, and truly helps to make Rancho Bernardo a wonderful community.”

With their grant, Seniors Helping Our Kids will provide 200 children with weekly tutoring and give 150 local seniors the opportunity to make a significant contribution to their community throughout the 2017-2018 school year.

Get Involved

Since 1988, the members of RBCF have generated $2.1 million of impact in Rancho Bernardo, supporting over 300 nonprofit organizations and programs. The impact can be seen in the many successful programs that now support everyone from children to adults living in Rancho Bernardo.

All of this is made possible through the Regional Affiliate Program, which puts community first.

If you aren’t yet a member, the Regional Affiliate Program is the perfect way to become an active participant in your community’s growth, wherever you live.

Join Today and Support Your Community