Media/News

Gold Coast Veterans Foundation and its partners have placed highest risk military veterans into virus-safe shelter as part of its ASAP program. About 75% of the $100,000 in 2020 emergency funding has been pledged by foundations, including Ventura County Community Foundation.

Vanessa Bechtel of Ventura County Community Foundation speaks with Sandra Siepak of Our Ventura TV.

May 5 was Giving Tuesday and many worthy charities in the Tri-Counties received funding. This year’s appeals took on additional urgency given the state of the economy, stock market volatility and what could be a decline in giving during the COVID-19 pandemic.

As COVID-19 continues to impact our community in ways we could never have imagined, we at Ventura County Community Foundation (VCCF) are pleased to announce local oil and gas producer Aera Energy, is stepping in with emergency funding and a challenge to the community to help us address some of the most pressing needs in our community.

The County of Ventura is encouraging the public, businesses and organizations to donate new, unused personal protective equipment to assist health care providers, health care facilities and first responders responding to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19)

For Immediate Release March 13, 2020                                              Vanessa Bechtel, Ventura County Community Foundation 805-330-6676 vbechtel@vccf.org Rapid Response Fund for Ventura County in Response to COVID-19 Camarillo, CA – The Ventura County Community Foundation, in coordination with the County of Ventura, Amgen Foundation, Southeast Ventura County YMCA, Give An Hour, and the Economic Development Collaborative, has launched a Rapid

Hosted by E!’s Hunter March, The Gala Will Honor Veteran Emmy-Winning Voiceover Artist Maurice LaMarche, Award-Winning Author Travis Flores And Ventura County Community Foundation on September 26, 2019   “In the immediate aftermath of the tragedy at Borderline, The Christina Grimmie Foundation was there as a partner. We, at the Ventura County Community Foundation, could

   

Every 10 years the U.S. Census Bureau rolls out a survey to collect general data about residents in the country. A local leader says that some people may not realize that if they don’t complete the survey it can mean a loss of federal funding to pay for medical, educational and housing programs, as well

(This story originally appeared in the Pacific Coast Business Times here.) The Tri-Counties face a massive loss of federal funding if there is an undercount of its hard-to-count populations during the 2020 census. In Ventura County alone, an undercount could mean a potential loss of $2 billion in federal funding over the next decade, said

This piece was originally published on the Camarillo Acorn, and can be found here. It’s been five years since the Camarillo Chamber of Commerce was faced with a lawsuit by one of its department heads and the abrupt resignation of its president. It was a low point for the organization, which has long served local

This piece was originally published in the Santa Barbara Independent, and can be found here.  Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties are the 58th and 59th counties most at risk of a census undercount in the nation, said president and CEO of Ventura County Community Foundation Vanessa Bechtel at a roundtable meeting with Attorney General Xavier

This piece was originally published in the Pacific Coast Business Times, and can be found here. In a roundtable discussion at the Santa Barbara Foundation, California Attorney General Xavier Becerra and community leaders from the Tri-Counties pondered the 2020 census and the impacts of an undercount. Becerra, famed for breaking the record of lawsuits filed

This piece was originally published on the Thousand Oaks Acorn, and can be found here.  Each year, members of the California Assembly are asked to name an outstanding nonprofit to recognize during a ceremony on the floor of the Assembly. This year, Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin selected Ventura County Community Foundation as her Nonprofit of the

In a May 17 letter, Chamber CEO Gary Cushing notified the city that the nonprofit business networking and marketing organization of some 600 members is “desiring to exercise our lease termination” for the building at 2400 E. Ventura Blvd. “Our last day to occupy the space is Dec. 31, 2019,” Cushing wrote. The Chamber has

This piece was originally published in the VC Star, and can be found here. Ventura’s policymakers will vote on a lease and operating agreement to get a permanent, year-round homeless shelter up and running in an industrial part of town. The city will, according to terms of the lease, pay $90,000 per year to occupy the

Ventura County Community Foundation has added five new members to the board of directors. The new board members are: Mike Powers, CEO for Ventura County; Sean Leonard, president and CEO of S.L. Leonard & Associates; Jim McGee, COO of Dyve Biosciences; Geoff Dean, retired sheriff of Ventura County, and Veronica Quintana, senior manager at CBIZ

Ventura County Community Foundation has added five new members to the board of directors. The new board members are: Mike Powers, CEO for Ventura County; Sean Leonard, president and CEO of S.L. Leonard & Associates; Jim McGee, COO of Dyve Biosciences; Geoff Dean, retired sheriff of Ventura County, and Veronica Quintana, senior manager at CBIZ

The Ventura County Board of Supervisors has pushed forward a proposal to spend $1.5 million to help a Thousand Oaks free clinic that includes medical career training for high school students expand to Oxnard. The long-running Westminster Free Clinic receives 8,000 visits a year from uninsured patients, most of them immigrants with low-paying jobs, in its

This story was originally published on the Pacific Coast Business Times, and can be found here. The Ventura County Community Foundation has announced an ambitious goal of tripling in size to around $500 million in assets by 2026. VCCF CEO Vanessa Bechtel told about 250 community leaders at a May 22 luncheon that the foundation

This piece was originally published by The Acorn and can be found here. Leaders of Ventura County Community Foundation and Harbor House were honored at the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church annual meeting May 5. Susan Seale, VCCF director of community relations, and Karen Guetschoff, Harbor House program manager of emergency services, accepted $10,000 contributions for

This podcast from NPR aired on March 28, 2019 and featured a discussion about the long-term support needed for survivors following mass shootings.

This feature was published in the LA Times on Wednesday, March 27, 2019. By Alejandra Reyes-Velarde. Charity distributes $3.6 million donated to aid families of Borderline bar attack. THE SCENE outside the Borderline Bar and Grill after the 2018 shooting. The Ventura County Community Foundation has distributed donations of $3.6 million to help 200 people

This post was originally featured on VC Reporter, and can be found here.  Jose works in the strawberry fields in Ventura County. He is worried about filling out the upcoming census questionnaire. Although he is living in this country legally, he has friends and family that are not. He has heard stories of what might

This story was originally published on VCStar, and can be found here.  About $3.6 million in contributions has been sent to families of the 12 people killed in the Borderline shooting and those who escaped the scene, an official at the Ventura County Community Foundation said this week. CEO Vanessa Bechtel said the funds came from all 50 states

This story was originally shared from VCStar and can be found here. How big is the opening-soon Dave & Buster’s in Thousand Oaks? So big that it’s hard to imagine the location’s previous tenant, Sports Authority, ever needing quite so much space to sell basketballs, athletic shoes and yoga gear before the store closed in 2016. When it debuts at 11 a.m.

This post was originally shared by California Community Foundation and can be found here. LOS ANGELES, March 05, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The California Community Foundation’s (CCF) Wildfire Relief Fund announced it would give $5 million to support immediate and longer-term recovery efforts in communities impacted by the Camp, Woolsey and Hill Fires. In November

This piece was originally published by the Salvation Army and can be found here. Ventura, CA. March 20, 2019 – The Salvation Army received a $1,099,882 grant from the Ventura County Community Foundation to better assist those affected by the recent wildfires in Ventura County and Los Angeles County. The grant – the largest one-time gift

This story was originally published on PRweb.com and can be found here. Investment will be leveraged for community development throughout California’s low-income and distressed communities LAKE FOREST, CALIF. (PRWEB) MARCH 20, 2019 – Clearinghouse Community Development Financial Institution (Clearinghouse CDFI) announced today a $500,000 Class A equity investment from Pacific Mercantile Bank. Based in Costa

This article was originally published on VCStar, and can be found here.  With near agreement that the Museum of Ventura County is successfully revamping after a near closure, Ventura’s elected officials voted to set aside $250,000 for the downtown institution in the city’s 2019-20 budget. The taxpayer-funded contribution will be considered and finalized once the City Council

This press release was shared by The California Community Foundation and can be found here.  LOS ANGELES – February 28, 2019 – The California Community Foundation’s (CCF) Wildfire Relief Fund announced it would give $5 million to support immediate and longer-term recovery efforts in communities impacted by the Camp, Woolsey and Hill Fires. In November 2018,

This article was originally featured on ESPN.com and can be found here. Los Angeles Rams left tackle Andrew Whitworth was named the 2019 NFLPA Alan Page Community Award winner on Thursday. Whitworth will receive $100,000 for his Big Whit 77 Foundation with the award, which was voted on by NFL players. The other finalists were the Bengals’ Geno Atkins,

This article is written by Kateri Wozny and was originally published on Conejo Valley Lifestyle and can be read here. A local nonprofit has dedicated its time and energy by focusing on preserving Ventura County and giving back to its residents who were affected by two recent tragedies. The Ventura County Community Foundation was founded in

This article was originally published on VC Star and can be found here.  Organizers are trying to raise more than $1 million and mount a major campaign to reach Ventura County residents likely to be missed in next year’s federal census. “It is going to take all hands on deck,” said Mike Pettit, an assistant

This article was originally published in VC Star and can be read here.  Guest column: 100 days since the Borderline shooting Feb. 14 marks 100 days since the Borderline mass shooting. What has been done in these one hundred days: Four hours after the shooting: The Reunification Center opens at the Thousand Oaks Teen Center

This video originally aired on NBC Los Angeles and can be found here.  Country star Tyler RIch is using his voice to help heal the loved ones of the California Borderline shooting victims.  

This video originally aired on ET Live Online and can be found here. REO Speedwagon Honors Victims of Borderline Shooting and Woolsey Fire The legendary rock band is giving back to their Thousand Oaks community following the heartbreaking Borderline shooting and destructive Woolsey Fire.

This article was originally published on abc7.com and can be found here.  THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. (KABC) — The community of Thousand Oaks rallied together Sunday for a benefit concert at the Civic Arts Plaza, honoring the victims and survivors of the 2018 mass shooting at Borderline Bar and Grill. The concert, called Music Strong, was

This story was originally published on Sports Illustrated. The first call came in at 11:20 p.m. on Nov. 7. Shots fired. Borderline Bar & Grill. Tim Hagel, the Chief of Police in Thousand Oaks, Calif., hopped in his squad car and sped toward the scene. He didn’t anticipate anything unusual, maybe an angry customer firing a shot

This article was originally published on Pro Player Insiders.  Earlier this week, The NFL Players Association (NFLPA) held a press conference in downtown Atlanta, Georgia ahead of Super Bowl LIII. Los Angeles Rams left tackle, Andrew Whitworth, was honored with the Alan Page Community (APC) MVP award – the highest honor the NFLPA can give to

This story was originally published on NBC Los Angeles and can be viewed here.  Just a few short months ago, Ventura County was hit by two devastating tragedies. The first was the horrific shooting of twelve community members at the Borderline Bar & Grill in Thousand Oaks on the evening of November 7. Less than

This press release was distributed by the Academy of Country Music Lifting Lives®. Deana Carter, Morgan Evans, and Gone West feat. Colbie Caillat Added to Performace Lineup for ACM Lifting Lives® Presents: Borderline Strong. Special Benefit Event to Take Place on Monday, February 11 at the Fred Kavli Theatre in Thousand Oaks, CA. WHAT: ACM Lifting

This article was originally shared from Conejo Valley Guide and can be read here.  A good place to start for those seeking aid in recovery from local disasters is Ventura County 2-2-1. Visit THIS LINK for an intake form to start the process (THiS LINK for Spanish). Note that VCCF continues to raise support for

CAMARILLO, CA – The document which will determine the process and distribution protocols for awarding financial support to qualified applicants of the Conejo Valley Victims Fund has been finalized. This Final Protocol, formerly the Draft Final Protocol, was shared with the general public to ensure that concerned community members had an opportunity to provide comment

On January 3rd, 2019, the Ventura County Community Foundation hosted a public forum at the Scherr Forum Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza to provide an opportunity for community members to provide feedback to the Draft Final Protocol for the Conejo Valley Victims Fund. This document will determine the process and distribution protocols for awarding financial support to qualified