The Prebys Foundation on Tuesday, Dec. 5, announced the award of 147 grants totaling $30.6 million to organizations in San Diego County in four program areas: visual and performing arts, youth success, healthcare and medical research.
About half of the grantees are first-time recipients of Prebys Foundation grants.
“When we announced the foundation’s strategic plan earlier this year, we knew we had a lot of work ahead of us to make good on our ambitious goals,” said Prebys Foundation CEO Grant Oliphant, in a statement. “We spent this past year crisscrossing the county to build relationships, developing and refining our grant-making strategies, and creating an interconnected investment portfolio that we believe will contribute to a vibrant and thriving region for all. We urge and invite others to invest in their nearby communities, extending support across all levels — every contribution helps our region thrive.”
Throughout the year, the foundation met with community leaders across the region to engage directly with educators, artists, healthcare practitioners, and families and individuals on how to ensure resources go directly to organizations with deep ties to under-served communities and to those that can scale up existing efforts to reach greater numbers of people.
“We are excited about our new and existing partnerships and, as we look ahead to 2024, we will continue to focus on learning from our grantees and on listening carefully to others — what they envision for our community, what they need, and the vital role that leaders, funders, and residents all play to make our shared goals a reality,” Oliphant said.
Visual and performing arts organizations made up the largest portion of beneficiaries — 67 grants, totaling $10.4 million. The types of arts organizations selected for grants were those rooted in local community that stimulate economic development, organizations that elevate the work of artists and that create dynamic art that brings people together from different communities.
Some of these beneficiaries are San Diego Opera, the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center, Asian Story Theater, Kumeyaay Community College, Maraya Performing Arts Collective, Rosin Box Project, San Diego Master Chorale and the Voices of Our City Choir.
Asian Story Theatre actors rehears scenes from the 2022 musical “Not Working.”
(Courtesy of Asian Story Theatre)
Fourteen grants totaling $7 million were awarded in the field of medical research through its newly launched Excellence in Scientific Leadership Program, which provides opportunities for women pursuing research careers. Recipients included Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla Institute of Immunology and the Scripps Research Institute.
The foundation awarded a combined $4 million to 10 organizations that ensure youth from under-served communities have access to high-quality healthcare career training programs. The beneficiaries include East County Economic Development Council Foundation, the Neighborhood House Association Urban Corps of San Diego, La Maestra, Palomar Health Foundation, Vista Community Clinic and Somali Bantu Association of America.
Twenty-three organizations were awarded a collective $2.7 million to provide better access to programs that have been proven to promote the mental well-being of youth. Examples include Lifeline Community Services, Horn of Africa Community, Girls Inc., Resounding Joy, Just in Time for Foster Youth, Vista Hill Foundation and United Women of East African Support Team.
Greyson Zuniga AKA Greg the Human”performs during a drag-showat the the Mid City Can’s Second Annual Queer, Trans, Interex Health Pride and Resiliency Fair at the YMCA in City Heights on Saturday, June 3, 2023.
(Sandy Huffaker/SDUT)
Finally, 33 organizations received a combined $6.45 million to promote youth success through support programs that integrate arts, sciences and humanities to build critical learning and life skills. Some of the grantees are Our Time to Act, Mid-City Can, Casa Familiar, Monarch School Project, the International Rescue Committee, and Home Start.
The grants announced Tuesday are the latest of an ambitious program of community investment launched earlier this year by the Prebys Foundation. In 2023, the foundation has made 214 grants totaling $57.6 million. Visit prebsyfdn.org.
pam.kragen@sduniontribune.com
