By SDCN Editor

San Diego, CA–The Escondido Community Foundation, a regional affiliate of the San Diego Foundation, awarded $264,000 to 10 local nonprofits at its annual Grants Award celebration on September 28 at the California Center for the Arts in Escondido.

“This year’s grant recipients include arts programs for youth, affordable housing initiatives, and more,” said Jan Jones, board chair of the Escondido Community Foundation. “These grants will empower our community organizations to support our vulnerable youth and create change across Escondido.” 

Since 2007, ECF has granted more than $3,500,000 to more than 130 programs dedicated to creating a vibrant community in Escondido. It also donated the community arch, valued at $1 million, so that residents of the city are proud to call it home.

The grant recipients include: 

  • $20,000 to A Step Beyond for its creative youth development programs, which prepare young people for success through academics, arts, and more.
  • $20,000 to Art Hatch for its ArtHatch Teen Arts Program, which provides free support to youth, including art supplies, exhibition space, and working studio space.
  • $30,000 to Community HousingWorks for building stronger futures for youth through its Escondido Affordable Housing program.
  • $30,000 to Escondido Education Compact for its Project Hero Mentoring Program, which uses one-on-one mentoring and evidence-based strategies to help troubled youth thrive.
  • $30,000 to the National Conflict Resolution Center for the Restorative School Practices program that embeds restorative practices in school districts to build stronger relationships and create positive environments for students.
  • $20,000 to Outside the Lens for its after-school digital media arts and literacy program, Cameras in Communities, at San Pasqual Academy.
  • $30,000 to Peace Anger Love Inc. for creating opportunities for youth restorative justice through its Restorative Justice Diversion Program.
  • $35,000 to the Tariq Khamisa Foundation for fostering peace, safety, and cooperation on school campuses through its Peace Educator Mentoring program.
  • $25,000 to TrueCare for evidence-based strategies and behavioral health resources through its Puzzling Minds program.
  • $25,000 to Vista Hill Foundation for expanding opportunities for Escondido youth with mental or behavioral health concerns.

The Regional Affiliate program, including Escondido Community Foundation, was established by the San Diego Foundation to create a regional network of affiliate foundations by leveraging local leadership, building endowments, increasing impactful philanthropy, and promoting civic engagement. 

Affiliates reside in Carlsbad, Chula Vista, Escondido, Oceanside, Ramona, Rancho Bernardo, and 4S Ranch-Del Sur. The program has exceeded 1,000 members, established endowments of more than $5 million overall, and granted more than $6 million in total to nonprofit organizations throughout the region.