The Foundation wrapped up its spring cycle on Friday, May 16, when we awarded 14 Kern County nonprofits focused on animal welfare a combined total of $211,325. [Click here to see the list of organizations and to learn about the programs that were funded.]
But the Foundation has been up to other things, as well. Below is a list of the local nonprofits we have awarded grants to in 2014. It has been a very busy year so far!
• $150,000 to the Kern County Museum for their new Orientation/Research Center.
• $50,000 to the Bakersfield Homeless Center, part of a matching grant.
• $36,000 to the Boys & Girls Club for a van to help transport students to their after-school programs.
• $15,000 to Lightwave Education for their summer enrichment program.
• $15,000 to Ready to Start for their summer preschool program.
• $15,000 to Keep Bakersfield Beautiful for supplies and improvements at two Bakersfield community gardens, one on 405 Eye Street, the other on 5224 Jonah Street.
• $5,000 to Healing Horses & Armed Forces for their yoga/art therapy room.
• $5,000 for Kern Valley Tutoring’s summer tutoring sessions.
• $5,000 to the California State Old-Time Fiddlers Association, District 3, to help sponsor their 38th annual “Fiddlin’ Down the Tracks” Fiddle Contest.
• $4,000 for Kern Agricultural Foundation scholarships.
• $4,000 to First Book Bakersfield to purchase new books for underprivileged school children.
• $3,500 to the Bakersfield College Foundation to help sponsor the recent Jane Goodall presentation
• $3,200 for scholarships to the College Dream Fund.
• $2,710 to the Ridge Route Communities Museum & Historical Society for preservative to seal outdoor wood surfaces, as well as materials to resurface a handicap parking space, and a computer program to record the museum’s collection.
• $2,476.97 to the South High Athletic Booster Club for improvements to their wrestling training room.
One more thing: The Foundation plans to hold another $100,000 grant cycle this Fall. We will announce the particulars sometime in August.
Bakersfield Californian Foundation 
Lots of good stuff happening through the Bakersfield Californian (family) Foundation. Working to improve Kern County one grant at a time!