Two Coastside Organizations Receive Grants

PALO ALTO – The Lucile Packard Foundation for Children’s Health has awarded a two-year, $75,000 grant to the Peninsula Family YMCA to expand an after-school program at the Moonridge public housing development, and a two-year, $20,000 grant to the Coastside Collaborative for Children, Youth and Families for its annual Youth Summit.

The grants were two of 11 awards recently announced by Stephen Peeps, foundation president and CEO.

The “Y” currently runs a comprehensive summer and after-school program at Moonridge. Foundation funds will allow for a focus on pre-teens, with a leadership club and mentoring program. The program will serve at least 100 children, ages 9 to 13.

The Coastside Collaborative for Children, Youth and Families will use foundation funds to support the participation of middle school students in the Collaborative’s annual Youth Summit. The Summit is one part of a comprehensive community plan to provide activities for youth to discourage their participation in high-risk behaviors.

In the weeks leading up to the Summit, youth identify key problem areas affecting their lives, and work with peers to come up with solutions. Susan Alvaro, coordinator for the Collaborative, said, “The Summit gives youth a voice and power in their community, and that includes their school community.

“This year we’re holding the Summit on Nov. 16,” said Alvaro. “That gives us the rest of the school year to follow up and see to it that the solutions are implemented.”

The Lucile Packard Foundation makes grants in two areas: protecting children, ages 0 to 5, from injury, with an emphasis on preventing child abuse and neglect; and promoting behavioral, mental and emotional health in pre-teens.

Other San Mateo County grantees are: Family Support Center of the Mid-Peninsula, $88,000 over two years; Redwood City Healthy Start Network, $150,000 over two years; San Carlos Healthy Cities Project, $25,000; and the San Francisco 49ers Academy, $75,000.

Santa Clara County grantees are: Catholic Charities of San Jose, $250,000 over two years; Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose, $150,000 over two years; Mexican American Community Services Agency, $125,000 over two years; and Social Advocates for Youth, $175,000 over two years. Today’s Youth Matter, an organization that works to build the self-esteem of troubled youth from both counties, will receive $121,405, over three years, to add year-round mentoring to its current summer camp program.

The Lucile Packard Foundation for Children’s Health was established as a public charity in 1996, when the previously independent Lucile Salter Packard Children’s Hospital became part of Stanford University Medical Center. The foundation’s mission is to “promote, protect, and sustain the physical, mental, emotional, and behavioral health of children.”

Funding for the community grantmaking program comes from the foundation’s endowment. Grants are awarded twice a year, in June and December.

The foundation also is the fundraiser for Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital and the pediatric programs at Stanford Medical School. A program of public information and education regarding children’s health issues is under development at the foundation.

For more information about the foundation’s community grantmaking program, call (650) 736-0676, or visit the Web site, www.lpfch.org.