Record-breaking donation from Junior League of San Diego funds seven local nonprofit organizations
Two scholarships award students affected by domestic violence
San Diego CA— Junior League of San Diego has announced that dozens of volunteers from the women’s leadership organization delivered donations totaling $20,000 to seven nonprofit organizations to empower transition-age foster youth to achieve their dreams.
“The League empowers women to promote philanthropy and voluntarism in our community, and this is the perfect example of our mission in action,” said the League’s community council vice president, Brandi Cropper. “We’re especially proud of this contribution to support transition-age youth because this is the largest donation in the League’s 90-year history in San Diego.”
One in three transition-age youth become homeless within two years of exiting the foster care system. Foster youth are also vulnerable to human trafficking, especially when transitioning out of foster care into the real world. In fact, San Diego is one of 13 cities in the nation with highest occurrences of human trafficking, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The seven grant recipients provide a range of services to assist foster youth to overcome these obstacles and become productive members of society. The League’s donation funds the following programs:
- Break the Silence Against Domestic Violence:
- Funds two scholarships for students impacted by domestic violence, in honor of Tracie – a local victim of domestic violence
- Just in Time Funds Career Horizons for Young Women:
- Connects 15-20 young women transitioning from foster care with professional mentors and resources to expand career options
- Monarch School:
- Stocks six classrooms with school supplies for students affected by homelessness
- Promises2Kids:
- Funds a Guardian Scholar for one year, providing a foster youth with a partial scholarship to pursue higher education
- TAY Academy:
- Provides healthy food and other essentials to meet immediate needs of transition-age foster youth
- Urban Street Angels:
- Opens the doors of a North Park church for an additional day of service and overnight shelter for homeless youth every week.
- Voices for Children:
- Sends four foster youth to summer camp and pays for five pairs of reading glasses
“We are incredibly grateful and humbled by the opportunity to receive these two scholarships,” said Break the Silence Against Domestic Violence founder and executive director Kristen Faith. “Since 2014, Break the Silence has awarded over $25,000 with our Angel Scholarship Program. Thank you so much for giving survivors the opportunity to continue their education, and thank you for believing in our mission.”