News Releases

Fresno Regional Foundation Awards $190,000 In Youth Grants For the Central Valley

The Fresno Regional Foundation announced today the selection of nine organizations to receive a total of $190,000 in grants to improve the health and well being of youth in the Central Valley.

During the Foundation’s 2009 Youth Grant Cycle, Advisory Committees that reflect the rich diversity of our Valley closely examined a broad range of worthy applications. Committee members personally visited many of the nonprofit organizations that applied and made funding recommendations to the Fresno Regional Foundation’s Board of Directors.

Fresno Barrios Unidos received the largest grant: $100,000 ($50,000 per year for a two-year period) for its Youth in Mind program. This program aims to reduce teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases by providing youth with comprehensive reproductive health services in an accepting and supportive environment.

In addition to Fresno Barrios Unidos, eight other youth organizations will receive grants from the Fresno Regional Foundation. They include: Assistance League of Fresno ($8,400), Care Fresno ($9,500), Cutler-Orosi Joint Unified School District ($25,000), Fresno County Economic Opportunities Commission’s Sanctuary Youth Services ($8,600), Foundation for Central Schools ($2,500), Hispanic College Fund’s 2010 Central Valley Hispanic Youth Symposium and Institute ($1,000), Junior Achievement of Northern California ($10,000), and Parent Institute for Quality Education, Inc. ($25,000).

The Fresno County Economic Opportunities Commission’s Sanctuary Youth Shelter and Care Fresno’s Community Learning Center are two more examples of the exemplary youth programs receiving funding through the Fresno Regional Foundation.

The EOC’s Sanctuary Youth Services provide emergency shelter for homeless, runaway and other displaced youth ages 11-17. Many of these youth are suffering from personal crisis and at the Sanctuary Youth Shelter they receive counseling, shelter and crisis intervention. This is the only emergency shelter for youth ages 11-17 in the six-county San Joaquin Valley.

At its community learning centers, Care Fresno creates safe and healthy environments for youth in high-crime, at-risk apartment complexes in Fresno County. Care Fresno partners with law enforcement, faith-based organizations and community agencies to protect the health and well being of these youth.

In 2007, the Fresno Regional Foundation received a $1.4 million grant from The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation that is being used to tackle two pressing issues in the central San Joaquin Valley: teen pregnancy and air quality.

The Foundation’s next grant cycle will focus on Human Services. To be considered for grants, applicants must submit an organization profile by September 4 and an application by September 11. The Fresno Regional Foundation is encouraging organizations in Madera and Mariposa counties with programs that address teen pregnancy prevention to apply for grants. A Bidder’s meeting is scheduled for August 3 from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the Mariposa Library at 4978 10th St. in Mariposa.

The Fresno Regional Foundation’s competitive grant guidelines, application procedures and related information is available on the Foundation’s website at www.fresnoregfoundation.org

---