San Diego Foundation Rewards 30 Nonprofits with Health & Human Service Grants

Unlike most grant processes, in which nonprofits apply for grants, these awardees were nominated by leaders of The San Diego Foundation Regional Affiliate program in Carlsbad, Chula Vista, Escondido, La Jolla, Oceanside, Ramona, Rancho Bernardo, San Ysidro and 4S-Ranch-Del Sur. Leadership from these Foundation Affiliates identified nonprofits based on their knowledge of both local needs and organizations that are able to satisfy them.

The recipients were selected for their work in one of five areas of need across the San Diego region: abuse/crisis, hospice, homeless/mental health, developmentally disabled and senior healthcare and nutrition.

“The health and human services grants are important because these areas of focus are often woefully underfunded,” San Diego Foundation CEO Kathlyn Mead shared. “Our endowment fund donors understand this and trust us to ensure their funding is directed to organizations that provide services making significant impact on individuals and the community.”

One of the nonprofits rewarded is Hearts & Hands Working Together in San Ysidro. This all-volunteer group got its start in 1996 when local PTA members took notice that resources for food and clothing were very limited for families in their immediate school community. With just their “hearts and hands” they mobilized volunteers into action. Hearts & Hands now connects families in their community with the local resources available to help them, and volunteers distribute food, shoes and clothing through partnerships with the San Diego Food Bank and businesses such as the Nike Factory Outlet. The group also recently partnered with The Angel’s Depot in Vista to deliver monthly food boxes to seniors who qualify for assistance.

“The $16,000 from the San Diego Foundation will impact Hearts and Hands Working Together in a very positive manner with our monthly food and clothing distribution that takes place on the parking lot of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, where we serve 400 and more families each month,” Alicia Jimenez, president/director of the organization and one of its co-founders, said. “Due to the increase of the number of people we serve, we currently are giving a limited amount of food to each of our families. With more funds, we can increase the amount of food that we give to them.”

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