As the first part of the Foundation’s Fall grant cycle has kicked off, I thought it might be a good idea to review last year’s “winners.” In Fall, 2014, we held a competitive two-part grant cycle, awarding two grant awards — one $100,000 and one $50,000. (This year, in addition to the $100,000 and $50,000 grant awards, we have added a $25,000 one.)
The $100,000 grant award went to the Alliance Against Family Violence and Sexual Assault, to fund their Shelter Rehabilitation project. Because of the number of engaging projects “competing” in the $50,000 category, the Foundation Board decided that one $50,000 award just wasn’t enough, so three local nonprofits were granted $50,000: Art, Science & Technology Educational Corporation of Tehachapi, for their Joint STEAM Center and 4-H Facility; Bakersfield ARC, for their Innovative Education Program for the Developmentally Disabled; and Mercy Foundation-Bakersfield dba Friends of Mercy Foundation, for their Community Wellness Center Kitchen Classroom.
But we didn’t stop there — the Board also offered matching grants to both the Bakersfield Memorial Hospital Foundation ($50,000), for help purchasing SimMan3, a robotic teaching tool, and to the Tejon Ranch Conservancy ($25,000), to go toward the purchase of an off-road vehicle. (The beautiful photo above is of the Ranch.) Both organizations raised their matching funds way before the six-month due date.
Bakersfield Californian Foundation 