Past Grantmaking
Grants 2010-2011
In its fourth year of grantmaking, the Escondido Charitable Foundation (ECF) focused on Civil Society – Children and Youth, and granted $135,450 to organizations that focus on keeping youth in school and out of trouble.
Grants went to the following organizations and programs:
Hope Works Mentoring Program - Tariq Khamisa Foundation
$21,000 went to the Tariq Khamisa Foundation (TKF) to expand the organization’s ability to provide the coordination and support needed to conduct structured activities with youth participating in the Escondido Hope Works Mentoring Program. The TKF Mentoring Program is conducted in partnership with the Escondido Union School District and targets middle school aged youth.
Mary’s House Youth Transitional Living Program - Promises2Kids
$20,000 went to Promises2Kids to support the general operating expenses of the Mary’s House Youth Transitional Living Program, a residential program for young former foster women who need assistance transitioning out of the foster care system and into independent, productive adulthood. Services and training provided through the program include career counseling, case management, financial / budgeting training, tutoring, and housing resource services.
Middle School Leadership Program - Palomar Family YMCA
$25,000 went to support the Palomar Family YMCA’s Middle School Leadership program, which inspires young teens to think about their futures, and equips them with skills to become independent, successful, civically-minded adults. Through the ECF grant, the middle school students were able to participate in a four-month Model United Nations program, take three trips to visit colleges across Southern California, and to participate in a Middle School Leadership Conference hosted by the Palomar Family YMCA.
“NIP-IT” Ninth Grade Intervention Program - Escondido Union High School District
$25,000 went to the Escondido Union High School District for “NIP-IT,” a behavior focused program that targets high-risk youth for individualized educational, emotional and social development in a small, specialized learning environment. Beginning with a two week summer school session, the NIP-IT students spend their entire ninth grade year with two specialized teachers and increased counseling support in order to develop organization, communication, conflict resolution, and team work skills.
Perceiving Excellence Through Music - Ubiquitous Music Incorporated
$25,000 went to Ubiquitous Music Incorporated to support the Perceiving Excellence Through Music program, which teaches self-discipline, focus and mastery, to students who are academically challenged or at-risk. The ECF grant supported three distinct music programs: an elementary school jazz band, a teen swing band, and a guitar, bass, piano and drums performance group called “Creative Connections in Music.”
Youth Enrichment Program - Community Housing Works
$20,000 went to Community Housing Works to support youth enrichment activities for at-risk youth living at Community Housing Work's Eucalyptus View and Orange Place housing complexes, as well as youth living in South Escondido. Activities offered through the Youth Enrichment Program include after-school homework help, a “Financial Fitness” program, and a Youth Leadership institute for middle school students.
Grants 2009-2010
In its third year of grantmaking, the Escondido Charitable Foundation focused on Science and Mathematics, and granted $61,060 to programs that assist Escondido students in attaining knowledge and critical thinking skills grounded in science and math.
Grants went to the following organizations and programs:
Education and Technology Program - Escondido Union High School District
$21,900 went to the Escondido Union High School District to purchase new interactive technology to enhance student success and conceptual understanding of critical Algebra I concepts. The grant allowed the district to purchase classroom technology and to provide training and implementation instruction to teachers.
Lightbulb Moment: Math and Science Project Based Learning - Escondido Education Foundation
$10,000 went to the Escondido Education Foundation to use as part of a competitive grant program for Escondido Union School District (EUSD) teachers. Teachers in grades 4-8 were able to apply for grants of up to $500 to carry out an innovative classroom project that achieves California State Curriculum Standards focusing on math and science during the 2009-2010 school year.
Math Advancement Program - Grace Lutheran Church and School
$12,600 went to Grace Lutheran Church and School to convert the middle school math program to a technology–based curriculum, coined the Math Advancement Program, or MAP. Using technology to increase student interest and motivation, MAP provides avenues where both the learning-challenged and the advanced math learner can excel. MAP’s goal is to produce students who are better prepared, more competitive and more confident in their math skills.
Science Essentials - Bernardo Elementary School
$16,560 went to Bernardo Elementary School for its Science Essentials program, builds on a foundation of exemplary science education with an emphasis on “doing” science rather than memorizing science facts. The ECF grant supported the establishment of a collection of permanent science equipment and instructional materials to support and enrich science instruction. Funding provided hands-on, minds-on learning materials that promote science literacy and increased student confidence in their science knowledge.
Grants 2008-2009
In its second year of grantmaking, the Escondido Charitable Foundation focused on Healthy Lifestyle Choices, with the ultimate goal of making Escondido one of “America’s Healthiest Cities.” The ECF granted $80,000 to programs and initiatives that encouraged healthy lifestyle choices and addressed current disease and health issues.
Grants went to the following organizations and programs:
Escondido Community Sobering Services - Interfaith Community Services
$28,600 went to Interfaith Community Services to supplement the salaries of an on-site psychiatrist and psychologist for the Escondido Communtiy Sobering Services program. The two mental health care providers were critical additions to Interfaith’s new on-site mental health treatment program, which made its substance abuse intervention and case management program more comprehensive and effective.
Escondido Joslyn Senior Center Nutrition Program - City of Escondido Older Adult Services
$25,500 went to the Joslyn Senior Center to expand its Nutrition Program through additional weekday meals served at the Park Avenue Café and the addition of weekend take-home meals for seniors who were previously going without food on Saturdays and Sundays. The ECF funding was also used to support an increase in exercise programs and fitness education workshops at the center.
Toddler and Preschool Counseling & Parent Education Program - The Escondido Community Child Development Center
$25,900 went to The Escondido Community Child Development Center (ECCDC) to extend early intervention services in the form of social-emotional screening with therapeutic services to almost 100 infants and toddlers. Parents of children receiving therapeutic services will participate in Parent Education classes to better understand the ages and stages of normal development and thereby learn age appropriate parenting techniques and collaborative strategies for behavior management and best practices in child-rearing.
Grants 2007-2008
In its first year of grantmaking, the Escondido Charitable Foundation focused on Youth Education and Youth Services, and granted $90,000 to local organizations that provided homework help, after school programs and mentoring.
Grants went to the following organizations and programs:
“After School and Beyond” at the Cobblestone Village Learning Center - Hope Through Housing Foundation
$25,000 went to the Hope Through Housing Foundation for the Cobblestone Village Learning Center’s “After School and Beyond” program, a daily, no-cost, after-school program serving the youth who live at the Cobblestone Village affordable housing community. Program participants receive homework assistance, literacy tutoring, a nutritious snack, recreation opportunities, and life skills training. The ECF funding supported the purchase of computers, recreation equipment, library materials and the Voyager VMath Curriculum.
Laptop Lab Homework Centers - Escondido Public Library
$25,000 went to the Escondido Public Library for its Laptop Lab Homework Centers. The Laptop Lab Homework Centers’ goal is to promote academic success among K-12 students who need access to technology by providing computers dedicated to homework and research at Escondido Public Libraries. The Library’s program also provides computing assistance during “Anytime School.” The Foundation’s grant supported the purchase and installation of 12 laptop computers, as well as homework and technology assistance for Escondido youth.
Orange Place Learning Communities After-School Program – Community Housing Works
$20,000 went to Community Housing Works to expand its successful Learning Communities After-School Program at the Orange Place affordable housing complex. The program enhances educational outcomes and decreases the digital divide for marginalized school-aged children who receive homework assistance, language skill training, and access to computers and the Internet. Funding from the ECF enabled the After-School Program to expand from two to five days a week.
Promoting Positive Change - Mentoring Through Athletics - San Diego County Office of Education
$20,000 went to the San Diego County Office of Education to implement the newly created “Promoting Positive Change - Mentoring Through Athletics,” a mentoring and motivational program for at-risk 7th and 8th grade students. Funding from the ECF went to help with the identification of 50 students at risk of academic failure, dropping out, or gang involvement who would participate in the program. The grant also helped to support the transformation of the project from a pilot into a more permanent program.