Ventura County Community Foundation

Shining a spotlight on Reins of H.O.P.E.! This Ojai based nonprofit is dedicated to improving mental health for individuals by empowering and building resiliency through Equine Assisted Psychotherapy. Ventura County Community Foundation is a proud supporter of Reins of H.O.P.E. "Everyday as humans, we may have to deal with work, phone calls, family challenges, substances, possible PTSD, aging parents, the list is endless. In the wild, a herd is set up to protect the vulnerab...le. Lead mare in the front, stallion in the back. Military members, healthy families, good friends, support groups, therapy, understand this. Find your 'Herd' and ask for support." Read more at https://vccf.org/power-of-community-reins-of-hope

Wishing you all a safe and happy holidays from the VCCF Family to you and yours! Our offices will be closed Friday, December 25th for the holiday.

A heartfelt thank you to the Powell Financial Group for their PFG Charitable Giving Event this past Giving Tuesday. The event featured numerous local organizations, providing financial contributions to My Stuff Bags Foundation on Westlake Village, CA, Special Equestrian Riding Therapy of Moorpark, CA, The Organic Soup Kitchen of Santa Barbara, CA and the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Bend, Oregon.

The Weingart Foundation is now accepting applications to the second cohort of the John W. Mack Movement Building Fellows program. This program helps leaders new to their roles develop their adaptive leadership skills, hone their leadership stance, improve their ability to develop more effective campaign strategies, and better access resources that support them as leaders in movement organizations and networks, all through a racial justice and equity framework. Applications are due by January 11, 2021, at 5 p.m. Fellows will be announced by early March 2021. Learn more at: https://weingartfnd.org/John-W-Mack-Movement-Building-Fello

Reminder! Our last Student Scholarship Q&A session of 2020 is happening today at 3:30p.m. (More to come in January!) Come with your questions and get a head start on your applications over the holiday break. Visit vccf.org/scholarships to register.

Thank you 805 Living for this beautiful feature. Our communities are so much stronger when we all come together, and we are so fortunate to work alongside wonderful colleagues at Santa Barbara Foundation and The Community Foundation San Luis Obispo County. "Community foundation visionaries from Ventura, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo counties collaborate to speed assistance to residents of the Central Coast. Not long ago Pacific Coast Business Times founder Henry Dub...roff and publisher Linda le Brock hosted a Zoom panel discussion with the three CEOs of our region’s community foundations to look at issues they faceand collaborate onin these unusual times. Vanessa Bechtel of the Ventura County Community Foundation, Jackie Carrera of the Santa Barbara Foundation and Heidi McPherson of The Community Foundation San Luis Obispo County were thoughtful about the past, clear-eyed about the present, and inspiring about the future and what members of the 805 community can do to help. For this Giving Back issue, 805 Living extends their conversation." Read article here: https://vccf.org/were-all-in-this-together/

We are a proud sponsor of this event An Evening of Hope Virtual Variety Show hosted by our friends at the Ventura County Family Justice Center Foundation. The show will stream on their Facebook page this TODAY at 6:30pm and feature great acts like REO Speedwagon, Tower of Power, Ignition, special guest Gregg Bissonette and the Reddcoats, and more There are no tickets for this event as it is FREE for viewing. Register now at: eventbrite.com/e/an-evening-of-hope-tickets-128658802943

As reported in the VC Star, the 2020 U.S. Census count ended last month with Ventura County achieving one of the highest self-response rates among 3,215 counties in the nation! Read more about this amazing achievement!

Mary Leavens Schwabauer was a woman of great poise and endless generosity. The impact that she had is unparalleled. Our hearts go out to her son David, Michael, Brianne, and the entire Leavens family. As VCCF’s first female Board Chair, Mary has had a profound impact on our ability to best be of service to Ventura County and we will miss her always. https://www.mpacorn.com//schwabauer-a-woman-of-endless-ge/

A quick message from our President and CEO, Vanessa Bechtel, as we wrap up our outreach for the Census. There are just a few hours remaining for people to self-respond. (Go to https://my2020census.gov or call 844-330-2020 if you haven't yet!) However, we mainly want to express our sincere gratitude for all of you who have helped to make the Census the success it is for our community, our county, and our region! Thank you!

Child Development Resources recently partnered up with Nyeland Promise to distribute Census information during their morning food pantry. Isn't our community just amazing?! You can help ensure critical resources are available for your friends and neighbors by being counted. Today is the LAST DAY complete the census. Visit 2020census.gov now!

Last chance to #BeCounted! The 2020 Census count officially ends tomorrow, October 15 at midnight. Friends, business leaders, nonprofits, and all Ventura County community members we are counting on you. This is our chance to shape the future of our communities for the next 10 years. Help us spread the word and encourage your friends, family members, employees, patrons, and networks to take the census TODAY at www.2020census.gov

Complete the form NOW at my2020census.gov, call 844-330-2020 or submit it by mail. #EveryoneCounts

Beyond grant applications, how can fundraisers engage with Community Foundations to create meaningful partnerships and further their goals? If you have ever wanted to learn more about engaging with your local community foundation, now is your chance. Join Jackie Carrera, President & CEO of the Santa Barbara Foundation and Vanessa Bechtel, President & CEO of the Ventura County Community Foundation to learn about Donor Advised Funds, examples of meaningful partnerships, and mo...re! Register today. https://bit.ly/3iMeKPq

When you donate to FHAP, who are you supporting? You are supporting farmworkers and their families in the Ventura County community. You are supporting folks... who have been impacted by COVID-19. And your support is a 100% direct donation - each family receives between 1,200 and 1,500 of financial assistance for rent, groceries, and more. We're so grateful for your support! Every little bit helps, and there is just one day left for donations to be matched by Ventura County. If you feel moved, please share this post and hop over to www.vccf.org/donate to make your contribution today!

Reminder! Funding opportunity for arts and cultural organizations in western Ventura County. Deadline is Friday, October 23, 2020. The Smith-Hobson Foundation supports arts and cultural projects, such as those associated with museums, historical societies, fine and performing arts, and arts education and access. Applications and additional details are available at https://vccf.org/nonprofits/#grant-process.

When you donate to FHAP, who are you supporting? You are supporting farmworkers and their families in the Ventura County community. You are supporting folks... who have been impacted by COVID-19. And your support is a 100% direct donation - each family receives between 1,200 and 1,500 of financial assistance for rent, groceries, and more. We're so grateful for your support! Every little bit helps, and there is just one day left for donations to be matched by Ventura County. If you feel moved, please share this post and hop over to www.vccf.org/donate to make your contribution today!

Funding opportunity for arts and cultural organizations in western Ventura County. The Smith-Hobson Foundation supports arts and cultural projects, such as those associated with museums, historical societies, fine and performing arts, and arts education and access. Deadline is Friday, October 23, 2020. Applications and additional details are available at https://vccf.org/nonprofits/#grant-process.

Just 7 days remain of the 2020 Census! Friends, business leaders, nonprofits, and all Ventura County community members this is your chance to be a Census Superhero. Help us spread the word to ensure and accurate count and a better future for our community. #BeCounted at www.2020Census.gov

Housing is Key provides resources to help Californians stay in their homes or understand housing options during COVID-19 and beyond. This new resource website assists tenants, landlords, homeowners, legal assistance and community-based organizations in understanding the current protections available. Learn more below. https://landlordtenant.dre.ca.gov/index.html

This organization is a shining example of turning life's lemons into lemonade! Epic Lemonade established the Epic Lemonade Fund at the Ventura County Community Foundation to raise money during this global pandemic. Through their 805 Day campaign that ran for the month of August, they encouraged community members to support Ventura County by donating, shopping, and dining local. Thank you Epic Lemonade, for giving back to our beautiful Ventura County!

Introducing the Farmworker Household Assistance Program The Farmworker Household Assistance Program (FHAP) was created to support Ventura County farmworkers who have been economically impacted by COVID-19. FHAP is a collaboration between agricultural employers and farmworker advocates working in partnership with the Ventura County Community Foundation, House Farm Workers!, the Farmworker Resource Program, and the County of Ventura.... Every penny of your donation will go directly to farmworker families who are struggling to pay rent and other essential bills. To learn more and donate, please visit www.vccf.org/fhap

We just love this video of our very own Vanessa Bechtel, President and CEO of VCCF and Co-Chair of the Ventura County Complete Count Committee, about the importance of the 2020 Census and the fast-approaching deadline. Go Vanessa!