CONTACT:
Rebecca Salner, Media Relations Officer
Silicon Valley Community Foundation
650.450.5525 or rsalner@siliconvalleycf.org

Community Foundation and San Mateo County Team Up to Provide Safety Net Relief
Unique collaboration will result in $1.5 million in grants

MOUNTAIN VIEW — Silicon Valley Community Foundation and San Mateo County today announced a joint effort to distribute a total of $1.5 million in grants to nonprofit organizations that are helping residents survive the current economic recession.

As part of the unique partnership, the community foundation will award $1 million to food and shelter providers in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties. The announcement marks the second round of safety net grants from the community foundation since December 2008, when $3 million was awarded to 47 organizations in the two counties.

San Mateo County will distribute up to $500,000 to organizations in the county as part of an Economic Urgency Assistance Program, which was approved by the Board of Supervisors in April. The county also announced that is has created a special area on its website called "San Mateo County Resources for Those in Need."

While the community foundation’s grants target food and shelter services only, the county will consider grants to additional safety net services, such as health care or financial, employment and other counseling, to help individuals and families affected by the recession.

"Our region’s safety net is strained to the breaking point," said Emmett D. Carson, Ph.D., CEO and president of the community foundation. "People who have never before sought help are showing up at food pantries and shelters. The length and breadth of this recession require new ways of thinking and responding, new collaborations and new funding sources. We’re extremely pleased to partner with San Mateo County and believe that this is the kind of innovative public-private collaboration our region needs now."

San Mateo County Manager Dave Boesch noted that while government programs provide a social safety net, the county is trying to help residents before they need county services.

"What we hope is that this $500,000 will help county residents who are on the edge remain self sufficient with a little help now rather than a lot of help later," Boesch said.

The recession, Boesch said, has driven up demand for help within the county. In January, for instance, about 1,200 residents requested food stamps– a 44 percent increase from the same time in 2008. San Mateo County’s unemployment rate, meanwhile, has nearly doubled over the past year to 8.3 percent in March 2009 from 4.2 percent in March 2008.

In addition to the $500,000 that the county will distribute through a request for proposal process, Boesch said the county has launched a new website for residents, "San Mateo County Resources for Those in Need." It can be found on the county’s home page, www.co.sanmateo.ca.us

"Finding help can be confusing and challenging, especially for those who are newly unemployed or never before had trouble making a house or rent payment," Boesch said. "Our aim is to create a one-stop spot for those seeking assistance. We have contact information for dozens of community resources in an easy-to-use format."

The site contains phone numbers and other contact information for many community-based organizations and public agencies that provide assistance. The site also contains a news section that highlights upcoming events that will provide help for job seekers, those seeking to avoid foreclosure or people needing legal advice. The site will be updated frequently.

Santa Clara County has experienced similar increases in demand for services, with officials there saying they have experienced spikes of 40 percent and greater in applications for public assistance.

All applicants for safety net funds – whether they are applying to the community foundation or to San Mateo County – must submit their applications to the community foundation by May 28. A joint request for proposals, with relevant application information, can be found on the community foundation’s website at www.siliconvalleycf.org/grantmaking and on San Mateo County’s website at www.co.sanmateo.ca.us under "News."

San Mateo County grantees can expect to be notified in June. Santa Clara County grantees will be notified in July.

Potential grantees from Santa Clara County can attend an information session at the community foundation on May 12. Potential grantees from San Mateo County can attend an information session on May 14. To register for either session, visit the community foundation’s website and click on Events at www.siliconvalleycf.org.

About Silicon Valley Community Foundation
Silicon Valley Community Foundation® is a catalyst and leader for innovative solutions to our region’s most challenging problems. Serving all of San Mateo and Santa Clara counties, the community foundation has $1.5 billion in assets under management and 1,500 philanthropic funds. The community foundation provides grants through donor advised and corporate funds in addition to its own Community Endowment Fund. In addition, the community foundation serves as a regional center for philanthropy, providing donors simple and effective ways to give locally and around the world. Silicon Valley Community Foundation launched in January 2007 following the landmark merger of Community Foundation Silicon Valley and Peninsula Community Foundation and is now one of the largest community foundations in the nation. Find out more at www.siliconvalleycf.org.

About San Mateo County
San Mateo County is a leader in innovative, collaborative government. Stretching from the Pacific Ocean to San Francisco Bay, region is home to more than 700,000 people who live in 20 cities and a large unincorporated area. San Mateo County government provides vital safety-net services for all of the County’s residents, operates an award-winning public hospital, San Mateo Medical Center, and provides job training and other opportunities for those in need. The County’s more than 5,000 employees also provide public safety and healthcare services, operate 17 parks, conduct elections and perform many other key community services. For more information, please visit www.co.sanmateo.ca.us.