News Releases

Fresno Regional Foundation Offers Youth Grants in the Central Valley

Fresno, CA – The Fresno Regional Foundation is accepting applications for its 2009 Youth Grant Cycle. The Foundation will consider applications from existing organizations with new or ongoing youth programs in the Central San Joaquin Valley.

Of the $367,000 available during the Youth Grant Cycle, $277,000 has been specifically earmarked for programs that address teen pregnancy prevention. The Foundation will award two $100,000 grants ($50,000 per year for a two-year period) and one $50,000 one-year grant in Fresno, Tulare, Madera, and Mariposa Counties. In addition, the Fresno Regional Foundation will award approximately 5-10 mini grants, ranging from $1,000 to $5,000.

At present, some of the highest rates of teen pregnancy in California are in the Central San Joaquin Valley. Teenage pregnancy is closely linked to a host of other critical social issues, including poverty and income disparity, loss of tax revenue from parents, high government expenses for welfare and incarceration, to name a few.

Also during this year’s youth grant cycle, the Foundation will award $90,000 in general youth grants, ranging from $1,000 to $25,000. Grants will be awarded to programs that empower youth, promote youth civic engagement and service-learning, and address the social, education, economic and health challenges in the community.

The deadline to apply for all the youth grants is June 12, 2009 at 5:00 p.m. The Fresno Regional Foundation’s competitive grant guidelines, application procedures and related information is available online at www.fresnoregfoundation.org.

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 will disburse the bulk of this $1.4 million grant to local non-profit organizations.

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