Santa Cruz Community Foundation Awards $90,500 to 20 Local Nonprofits

2024 Santa Cruz Grantees (3)

The Santa Cruz Community Foundation (SCCF), a geographic affiliate of the Community Foundation for Southern Arizona, made in partnership with the H.S. Lopez Foundation has awarded a total of $90,500 in grants this year. The funding is distributed among 20 local and regional nonprofit organizations working to improve the quality of life in Santa Cruz County.

2023-2024 Santa Cruz Community Foundation Grantees include:

“Receiving the 2024 Santa Cruz Community Foundation grant is incredibly meaningful to our organization and the individuals we serve. This grant not only provides crucial financial support but also validates the importance of our work within the community. This grant enables us to continue our services, enhance existing programs, and reach more individuals in need. This will profoundly impact the people we serve by increasing access to essential resources such as shelter, food, clothing, and hygiene supplies. It allows us to continue to provide opportunities for individuals to regain stability and independence.” -Alejandra Martinez, Executive Director/ CEO, Crossroads Nogales Mission

The Santa Cruz Community Foundation (SCCF) is a permanent charitable resource that was founded in 2001 by area residents to empower their community to invest in itself. SCCF assists Santa Cruz County in preparing for the future by strengthening the community through scholarships and grants to nonprofit organizations.

Learn more about the Santa Cruz Community Foundation here.

"The 2024 Santa Cruz Community Foundation Grant is providing support at a critical time for our organization. We are incredibly grateful for these funds that can be dedicated to General Support. It is always a challenge to find grant opportunities that cover general operating costs and we appreciate the Santa Cruz Community Foundation's commitment to helping so many organizations in our region. Currently we are pursuing expanded programs through our commercial kitchen and through the creation of the new Foxworth business incubator. This grant will help us continue to move forward so we can provide important services to our community."

— Clariza Gastelum, Nogales Community Development Corp.
BBBS of Santa Cruz

"The Santa Cruz Community Foundation fund will help us provide staff, supplies and participant incentives for our Power Hour/Project Learn program. Homework Help is conducted daily throughout the school year for all grade levels and high-yield activities are being conducted daily in all areas of the Boys & Girls Club. High-yield learning activities are conducted in content areas aligned with Arizona state standards to provide reinforcement of concepts being taught in the schools. Some examples are: Math Baseball in the gym, where players choose a level of difficulty and answer a math question to advance around the bases; Alphabet Soup in the games room, where teams beat the clock to spell a word correctly using their alphabet flash cards; and Mouse Trap in the technology center, where participants vie to put their pieces together to build the best mouse trap. We also conduct reading programs for 3rd-5th graders and 6th-12th graders along with having volunteers reading to younger children. We provide at least one free book annually to participants."

— German Celaya, Boys & Girls Club of Santa Cruz County
Crossroads Nogales Mission

"Receiving the 2024 Santa Cruz Community Foundation grant is incredibly meaningful to our organization and the individuals we serve. This grant not only provides crucial financial support but also validates the importance of our work within the community. For our organization, the grant would enable us to continue our services, enhance existing programs, and reach more individuals in need. This will have a profound impact on the people we serve, as it would mean access to essential resources such as shelter, food, clothing, and hygiene. It will continue to provide opportunities for empowering individuals to regain stability and independence."

— Alejandra Martinez, Executive Director/ CEO at Crossroads Nogales Mission
0S3 Movement

"Receiving a 2024 Santa Cruz Community Foundation grant is immensely significant for our organization and the individuals we serve. This grant not only provides crucial financial support but also validates the importance and effectiveness of our work in the community. For our organization, this grant signifies recognition of our efforts and the value we bring to the Santa Cruz community. It enables us to continue and expand our programs, reaching more people and making a greater impact. With the funding, we can enhance our services, develop new initiatives, and strengthen our infrastructure, ultimately increasing our capacity to address the needs of our constituents. Moreover, the grant has a direct and positive impact on the individuals and groups we serve. It allows us to provide essential services, support, and resources to those who rely on our assistance. Furthermore, receiving the Santa Cruz Community Foundation grant is not just about the financial support; it's about recognition, empowerment, and the opportunity to make a lasting difference in the lives of those we serve."

— Melissa Gallegos, Program Director at OS3 Movement
Santa Cruz Training Programs

"Thank you for coordinating funders, and special thanks to the HS Lopez Foundation for partnering with this grant, and the Foundation's support for the last nine years. We can count on you to help us shorten the wait on projects that support our mission to provide heartfelt services for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Your work connects everyone in the community, which is especially meaningful to us to have you as a partner to make sure people with disabilities are seen, heard, and integrated into community life."

— Jennifer Alejos, Communications Coordinator at Santa Cruz Training Programs, Inc.
Mariposa Community Health Center

"Receiving these funds will allow us to provide needed car seats to families who cannot afford to purchase them and also allow us to provide breast prosthesis to breast cancer patients who have had a mastectomy and cannot afford one for themselves."

— Patty Molina, Senior Director of Community Health Services at Mariposa Community Health Center