Fresno Regional Foundation Makes Grants With Hewlett Foundation Support
MENLO PARK, Calif.-Teenagers in the Central Valley of California will have new prospects for a better life thanks to more than $350,000 in grants that the Fresno Regional Foundation has made with the support of The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation.
In 2007, the Hewlett Foundation made a $1.4 million grant to the Fresno Regional Foundation to tackle two of the most pressing issues in the central San Joaquin Valley: teen pregnancy and air quality. Over the next three years, the Fresno Regional Foundation will disburse the bulk of this $1.4 million to local nonprofit organizations throughout the region.
“We’re pleased to support the Fresno Regional Foundation in addressing the pivotal social problems of teen pregnancy and poor air quality,” said Hewlett Foundation President Paul Brest. “The Hewlett Foundation shares its commitment to serving disadvantaged communities and improving the environment, and we’re confident that these efforts will receive broad community support.”
In its first round of grants with this money, the Fresno Regional Foundation gave more than $200,000 of the youth grants to organizations that work to prevent teen pregnancy. Fresno Barrios Unidos and the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Sequoias each received a $100,000 grant. The California Health Collaborative was awarded a $3,000 grant.
Fresno Barrios Unidos’ Healthy Decisions program works to reduce teen pregnancy by providing medically accurate, comprehensive sex education to low-income young people of color. The program is designed to build self esteem and develop communication skills, as well as offer a network of resources.
The Raising Expectations program of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Sequoias is a partnership of four providers of youth services that work to reduce teen pregnancy in Tulare County “hot spots” by increasing access to the services of pregnancy prevention clinics. These services include classroom teaching, peer education, parenting workshops, and community activism for Latino youths and parents.
Among the thirteen organizations that received general youth grants totaling $150,036 were the Yosemite Institute’s innovative WildLink program, which provides scholarships to underserved youths who participate in wilderness and community-based programs, and the Lowell Neighborhood Resource Center, whose grassroots Heroes Program introduces students in grades three through six to community-service projects and rewards improvements in behavior at home and school.
The other organizations receiving general Youth Grants are: the Assistance League of Fresno, $7,000; Boys & Girls Clubs of Fresno County, $7,500; Center for Independent Living, $6,499; Comprehensive Youth Services, $20,000; Edison High School, $13,937; EOC Sanctuary Youth Services, $11,800; Focus Forward, $11,800; Fresno Philharmonic, $5,000; Gay-Straight Alliance Network, $5,000; Fresno County Superior Court, $17,000; and Westside Youth, Inc., $10,000.
During the past two years, the Fresno Regional Foundation has experienced substantial growth in its assets, a tremendous elevation in the number and size of grants made, and the establishment of solid relationships with other prominent philanthropic organizations, such as The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation.
Fresno Assembly member Juan Arambula (D-Fresno) said he hopes growing community support will help the Regional Foundation do even more.
“With the support of Hewlett, the Fresno Regional Foundation is making smart decisions about grants that will improve the quality of life for everyone here in the Central Valley,” Arambula said. “I hope community leaders here in Fresno and the surrounding communities will join with the Regional Foundation and its grantees in support of this important work.”
Recent grants made by Fresno Regional Foundation have supported local nonprofits working on a range of Central Valley priority issues, including human services, youth development, literacy, culture, and the arts. For more information about the Fresno Regional Foundation and its competitive grant guidelines, application procedures, and related information visit http://www.fresnoregfoundation.org.
About the Fresno Regional Foundation
Established in 1966, the Fresno Regional Foundation is a nonprofit community foundation whose purpose is to improve the quality of life in the Central Valley through philanthropy. It is the channel through which individuals, families, businesses, private foundations, and nonprofit organizations give in order to benefit the Central San Joaquin Valley community. Collectively, the Foundation enriches the artistic, cultural and natural beauty of the region, addresses social issues and helps improve conditions through the continued support of local nonprofits and community-focused organizations. The Fresno Regional Foundation is an affiliate of the National Council on Foundations and a member of the League of California Community Foundations.
About The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation
The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation has been making grants since 1967 to help solve social and environmental problems at home and around the world. The Foundation concentrates its resources on activities in education, the environment, global development, performing arts, philanthropy, and population, and makes grants to support disadvantaged communities in the San Francisco Bay Area. A full list of all the Hewlett Foundation’s grants can be found at www.hewlett.org/grants.