Dear Ventura County Community Foundation Family,
Over the past weeks, we have witnessed extraordinary acts of generosity that have not only improved the lives of hundreds of families in our community, but have also addressed some of Ventura County’s most urgent challenges, including access to clean water, advancing higher education, preserving local journalism, and affordable housing.
Because of your compassion and unwavering support for your neighbors, last week VCCF’s Board of Directors approved an additional $650,000 to assist those most affected by the Mountain Fire. To date, more than $975,313 has been granted, providing families with access to temporary housing, replacement of vital medical equipment, and other essential resources. Your generosity has also covered emergency veterinary bills for injured pets, supported over 450 animal rescues, and provided families with much-needed financial assistance and childcare as they work to rebuild their lives. You have helped farmworkers who lost both work and housing, and so much more.
I wish you could see the gratitude these families feel for each of you—you offer hope, reminding them that they are not alone and that people they may never meet genuinely care.
We are profoundly grateful to our partners at Interface Children & Family Services and Ventura County Voluntary Organizations Active in Disastersfor their steadfast dedication during this critical time. We also want to thank the County of Ventura, especially our elected officials and leadership team, for their tireless efforts to help our community recover.
In addition to these efforts, VCCF’s Board of Directors also approved $511,942.41 in grants to support a wide range of impactful initiatives, including the following:
· Enhancing wellness and recovery through Nate’s Place
· Launching a neurofeedback pilot program with the Oxnard Firefighters Foundation to support the mental health of firefighters and first responders
· Expanding access to art and culture through New Art City Theatre, which creates inclusive opportunities for local artists and audiences to experience the transformative power of live performance
· Supporting formerly homeless residents through the Housing Authority of the City of San Buenaventura by covering initial veterinary expenses and providing essential supplies for their pets as they transition into new homes
· And more…
We are deeply grateful to VCCF’s donor-advised fund holders who have collectively contributed an incredible $2,202,608.91 in grants to nonprofits throughout our community in the past few weeks alone. These transformative gifts include meaningful support for organizations such as Food Share, Project Understanding, Casa Pacifica Centers for Children & Families, Habitat for Humanity, Gold Coast Veterans Foundation, and kidSTREAM, among many others.
As many of you know, one of my favorite songs of all time is Jennifer Warnes and Joe Cocker’s “Up Where We Belong”—a song with a powerful reminder that when we act in love, we can achieve what seems impossible. As 2024 comes to a close, I wish us all a year filled with love and the extraordinary power it brings.
With heartfelt appreciation,
Vanessa
Vanessa Bechtel, VCCF President & CEO
