Ventura County Neighbors Support Fund Matching Opportunity Announced
This article was originally published by Vida.
Second Round of Grants Recently Distributed to Eleven Community-Based Organizations
Momentum is building with the announcement of a new matching opportunity for the Ventura County Neighbors Support Fund, a community-wide effort to support local families and small businesses experiencing sudden hardship and disruption. Through the generosity of the Brokaw Family Fund, donations up to a total of $50,000 will be matched, doubling impact for this vital humanitarian effort that offers a coordinated and trusted way for residents to step up and support one another.
“The Brokaw Family Fund normally focuses on bettering the lives of farm workers but now all our immigrant neighbors are threatened,” said Ellen Brokaw. “Non-profits are overwhelmed with requests from families for life-sustaining help. We hope this challenge will inspire others to contribute whatever they can to help all our neighbors in need.”
The latest round of grants amount to $134,000, and recipients include Catholic Charities, Ventura County; Conejo Community Outreach; House Farm Workers!; Lucha, Inc.; Mixteco/Indígena Community Organizing Project (MICOP); Oxnard College Foundation; Safe Passage Youth Foundation; Samaritan Center – Simi Valley; Saticoy Food Hub; Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church and Spirit of Santa Paula. In total, over $454,000 has been donated or committed to the Ventura County Neighbors Support Fund to date.
Convened by the Ventura County Community Foundation, the Ventura County Neighbors Support Fund & Coalition is led by over 30 partners and counting. The broad coalition behind the Fund includes business, civic, nonprofit, education and faith-based leaders from across Ventura County. Multiple cities have come on board as partners of the vital humanitarian effort as well, such as Thousand Oaks, Port Hueneme, Fillmore, Ventura and Camarillo.
“I am so humbled by just how generous our community is, and so proud of what we have been able to accomplish together in the last few weeks,” said Ventura County Community Foundation Board Chair Leah Lacayo. “With this new matching opportunity for the Ventura County Neighbors Support Fund, we can double our impact to support our Ventura County community. We are grateful to the Brokaw Family Fund for their generous contribution and for taking action to support our neighbors in need.”
One hundred percent of every contribution to the Ventura County Neighbors Support Fund will directly support:
- Food, transportation and essential supplies for families in need
- Emergency shelter and rental assistance
- Critical services provided by schools, neighborhood centers, business and economic development centers and community-based organizations
- Additional essential needs as they emerge
“We care about our neighbors and their well-being,” said Lacayo. “An injury to one is an injury to all! We are all a part of the fabric of our Ventura County community. That is what makes Ventura County so great!”
To learn more or make a contribution, please visit vccf.org/neighbors.
About the Ventura County Neighbors Support Fund
The Ventura County Neighbors Support Fund is a united, community-wide effort to support local families and small businesses experiencing sudden hardship and disruption. It offers a coordinated and trusted way for residents to step up and support one another. Working with respected community-based organizations, the Fund delivers immediate and essential relief, including food, transportation, housing assistance and other urgent needs. The broad coalition behind the Fund includes business, civic, nonprofit, education and faith-based leaders from across Ventura County. Together, they aim to address both immediate needs and the broader ripple effects impacting families, students and local businesses. Learn more at vccf.org/neighbors