Grants Awarded in Previous Years

The Virginia and Alfred Harrell Foundation has a long tradition of giving back to Kern County through funding grants to a variety of local nonprofits. The Foundation can be contacted via our email address, tcowenhoven@harrell-holdings.com.

*Please Note: 
The Virginia and Alfred Harrell Foundation was formerly known as The Bakersfield Californian Foundation. Only the Foundation's name has changed — its mission and goals, and the entity itself, remain the same.

Foundation Grants Awarded in 2023

The Foundation’s funding focus for 2023 was on the Environment, and our larger grants went toward organizations with environmental projects or programs. We also awarded Small Grants — no larger than $5,000 — to organizations working in the areas of our other core interests, which include Animal Welfare, Education, Literacy, and Historic, Cultural, and Beautification. In addition, we awarded a few Special Grants to organizations that fell outside the above criteria, but which had worthy projects.

The list of these awarded grants is below. It was another great year of funding for the Foundation. We continue to be humbled and inspired by all the great work Kern County nonprofits do for our community.

ENVIRONMENTAL GRANTS:   

•Adventist Health Tehachapi Valley: $5,438 for Inspiring Roots—Trees for Healthy Patients and the Earth.

•Boys & Girls Clubs of Kern County: $20,063 to help fund Boys & Girls Club-Learning Garden (Native Plant Expansion and Education).

•California Native Plant Society: $50,000, for Enhancing community engagement to conserve Kern County’s native plant heritage.

•California State University Bakersfield Foundation: $50,000 to help fund their CSUB Wilderness Orientation program.

•Kern County Museum Foundation: $40,000 to help fund the Children’s Garden in Pioneer Village.

•Kern River Conservancy: $25,000 toward the Kern River Environmental Education Park.

•Kern River Parkway Foundation: $8,000 for the Peacock Academy, at the Kern River Parkway Nature Center, an outdoor educational program for underserved students.

•Tree Foundation of Kern: $59,880 to help fund Shade and Beauty for Parks and the Bike Path.

•White Wolf Wellness Foundation: $50,000 for their Ground Works-Growing Greatness program, a program to help people better understand and connect with the environment.

•The Wildlands Conservancy: $40,000 for Wildlife and Habitat Restoration Monitoring at Wind Wolves Preserves, including the purchase of native seeds and plants, and equipment to monitor wildlife and habitat restoration.

•Woman’s Club of Bakersfield: $25,000 toward fixing the Woman’s Club historic building’s aging HVAC system.

 
SMALL GRANTS:

•Bakersfield Symphony Orchestra: $2,500 to help fund BSO Next Expanded Outreach-Fall 2023.

•Buena Vista Museum of Natural History and Science: $2,500 toward their Summer Science Camp 2023.

•CSF Medical Non-Profit Foundation: $5,000 to help fund their annual “Sharing the Hope” Health Fair.

•Girl Scouts of Central California South: $5,000, to fund Sunset Middle School Robotics Program, a project spearheaded by a local Girl Scout working to earn her Gold Award Project.

•Helping Animals Live Tomorrow: $5,000, for an Animal Assistance Grant, which will go toward veterinary services, as well as spay and neuter services.

•Lockwood Animal Rescue Center: $3,000 toward their LARC Landfill Diversion Program.

•The Open Door Network: $4,345.23 for the purchase of bed bug mattress covers and a wall AC unit.

•Therapeutic Horsemanship of Ridgecrest: $5,000 toward the construction of a barn for their horses.

•Whiskers Paws Hooves and Claws Animal Advocacy: $5,000, for their Feed Fund and Ranch Repairs.

SPECIAL GRANTS:

•Bakersfield Pet Foot Pantry: $12,600 for the purchase of leashes, collars, and ID tags, given free of charge to economically struggling pet owners.

•Children First Campaign: $30,000 to fund Books Unbound: A Free Book Fair Experience.

•Special Olympics Southern California-Kern County: $25,000 to help fund Special Olympics Kern County Programs and New Office Community Engagement.

Grants Given by the Foundation in 2022 

This year was a busy one for the Foundation — we donated more than $750,000 to a variety of Kern County nonprofits focused on everything from literacy, to the environment, to historical and cultural causes, to health and wellbeing, and animal welfare. 

Kern County 501(c)3 Organizations Awarded Grants in 2022:

• Alliance Against Family Violence and Sexual Assault: $78,265 to fund the Delano Domestic Violence Center Playground: A Walkway and Fencing to Ensure Accessibility and Safety.

 • Assistance League of Bakersfield: $10,000, for Operation School Bell, a program that gives underprivileged children money for new school clothes.

• Bakersfield Senior Center: $15,000, used to help fund Diabetes Empowerment and Education Program for financially struggling seniors.

• Child Guidance Guild of Bakersfield, INC: $16,605, to fund the installation of exterior fencing at the Guild House.

• Children First Campaign: $20,000, to help create Bloom 2.0, a community art mural in East Bakersfield.

• Children First Campaign: $35,000, for the Children Frist Community Reading Program.

• Consulting and Rescuing Equine CARE LLC: $5,000, for CARE 2022 Veterinarian Health Support.

• Critters Without Litters: $30,000, to fund Feral Fix 2022, which will spay and neuter feral cats in outlying areas of Kern County. 

• Flood Bakersfield Ministries: $71,900, to purchase the Arvin Navigation Center Flood Fresh Shower.

• Fox Theater Foundation: $24,000, to help fund the Fox Theater Marquee and Terrazzo Refurbishment Project.

• Hoffmann Hospice: $38,198, toward their Critical Communication Upgrade Project.

• Kern Athletic Fencing Foundation: $6,000, to help fund Wheelchair Fencing.

• Kern County Cancer Foundation: $45,000, for the Financial Assistance Education Program.

• Kern County Museum Foundation: $40,000, toward the Museum’s Yokut Tejon Education Center.

• Kern Dance Alliance: $5,000, to help fund Books in Motion: DANCE + LITERACY.

• Kern Partnership for Children and Families: $20,000, for Improving the Playground Surface for Children at the Jamison Children’s Center.

• Kern River Conservancy: $25,000, for Getting Dirty, a program that provides outdoor adventure programs, along with conservation lessons, for underserved youths.

• League of Dreams, Inc.,: $5,000, to help fund League of Dreams Fitness Program.

• Links for Life: $15,000, toward their Nutrition & Grocery Card Program.

 • Listen to Shafter: $5,000, toward the City of Shafter Library’s Graphic novel collection development.

• Listen to Shafter: $15,000, for the City of Shafter Library’s Indoor Mural Projects.

• Pet Match Maker California: $12,000, for the Spay/neuter/vaccine and vetting grant.

• R.M. Pyles Boys Camp: $12,216.97, to help fund Pyles Youth Development Program.

• SJV Water: $40,000, for the Multimedia Kern River Education Project.

• Strength of Shadow Dog Rescue, Inc.: $7,000, to help fund Operation Keep Pets in Home.

• Tehachapi Community Orchestra Foundation; $6,000, for the Tehachapi Symphony World Premiere program.

• Tejon Ranch Conservancy: $25,000, toward the 2022-2023 Tejon Ranch Conservancy Environmental Education Program.

• The Hub of Bakersfield: $12,000, to help fund tree planting, part of their East Bakersfield Jacaranda Project.

• The Hub of Bakersfield: $10,000, to help fund Save Sumner Depot.

• The Kern River Parkway Foundation: $5,000, to fund the Transparent Kern River Web Interface and Inaugural Annual Report.

• The Wounded Heroes Fund of Bakersfield: $11,055, to fund their Female Veterans Program.

• Transformation by Bakersfield Angels: $16,500 to help fund 2022 Every Sole Matters, a program that provides new shoes, free of charge, to youth in foster care.

• Tubatulabals of Kern County: $25,500, to help restore the tribe’s Indian Cemetery in Weldon.

• United Way of Kern County: $30,000, toward the STEM & New Parent Home Libraries Distribution. 

Foundation Grants Awarded in 2021 

Below, is a list of the Kern County 501(c)3 nonprofits that received grants from the Foundation in 2021. Our focus for the year was on Environmental causes, along with programs working to alleviate the issues created by COVID. We also awarded Smaller Grants, focused on our core interests of: Early Childhood Education, Literacy, Health & Wellbeing, Historical & Cultural causes, and Animal Welfare.

The Foundation would like to thank all the amazing local nonprofits who participated in 2021's funding cycle. We are truly honored to be able to help you do such important and inspiring work.

2021 ENVIRONMENTAL & COVID-RELATED FOCUS GRANTS:

• Adventist Health Delano: $15,000 for A Harvest of Hope-Adventist Health Delano Community Garden.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of Kern County: $55,000, to help fund Boys & Girls Club Summer Learning Recovery Camp, a program to combat learning loss due to the impact of COVID.
• Buena Vista Museum of Natural History and Science: $26,960 to fund the Archive, Curate and Preserve project, funding the purchase of a professional collections management system, and a part-time curator.
• California Native Plant Society: $20,000 in support of their Connecting People to the Conservation of Kern County's Rarest Plants project, which will fund volunteer outreach and training, and botanical surveys and field trips.
• Child Guidance Guild of Bakersfield, INC: $4,600, for Guild House—Energy Conservation and Energy Costs Reduction, funding insulation for the attic of their 112-year old Craftsman building.
• CSF Medical Non Profit Foundation: $20,000 to help fund the 4^th Annual “Sharing the Hope” Community Wellness Virtual Fair.
• Girl Scouts of Central California South: $30,000 to help fund their Outdoor Skills program.
• Girl Scouts of Central California South: $20,000 for the Trailblazers Club.
• Girl Scouts of Central California South: $5,000 to help fund Girl Scout Tree Promise.
• Kern River Conservancy: $22,805 to help fund the collecting of data for their Wild and Scenic River Waters Project.
• Habitat for Humanity Golden Empire: $25,000 to help fund Habitat for Humanity Golden Empire Aging-in-Place.
• Laborers of the Harvest (LOTH): $60,000 toward the purchase of a refrigerated van for their Food Recovery Project.
• Project Clean Air: $56,399 for the purchase of an electric vehicle for use in Bakersfield College’s ATT Workforce Development program.
• Ridge Route Communities Museum & Historical Society: $5,000 to help fund the refurbishment of their irrigation system.
• The Kern River Parkway Foundation: $10,000, toward Litigation Funds for Kern River Hearing at State Water Board; and, $1,000 for the “Flow” Dry Kern Riverbed Environmental Art Installation.
• The Salvation Army: $75,000 for the purchase of a Refrigerated Vehicle to help with food distribution.
• The Wildlands Conservancy: $45,000 to help fund the Outdoor Discovery Programs at Wind Wolves Preserve for Kern County Schoolchildren.
• The Wounded Heroes Fund of Bakersfield: $10,740 toward Regimen Ruck: Growth Through Adventure Program.
• Tree Foundation of Kern: $86,065 for the Bakersfield College Arboretum.
• White Wolf Wellness Foundation: $45,500 toward the the Om-bulance, a preventative care version of an ambulance, offering free yoga, meditation and similar classes. 
• Woman’s Club of Bakersfield: $5,000 for the purchase of  PPE Required to Re-Open Venue.

2021 SMALL GRANT AWARDS:

• Bakersfield Symphony Orchestra: $7,500 to help fund the Young People’s Concert—The Conductor’s Spellbook.
• Fur Friends 4 Life: $5,000 to help fund their Spay/Neuter Sponsor program.
• Helping Animals Live Tomorrow Rescue [HALT]: $5,000 to help fund Putting a HALT to Pandemic Puppies.
• Regents of the University of California/Kern County 4-H: $3,500 to help fund 4-H Avian Embryology, an educational program for kids K-8th grade, allowing them to observe an incubated egg hatch in the classroom.
• The Cat People: $5,000 to help fund veterinary services for the increased cats and kittens in their care, due to COVID.
• Whiskers Paws Hooves and Claws Animal Advocacy: $5,000 for their general rescue efforts.
• Woman’s Club of Bakersfield: $6,000 for Registering Woman’s Club as Historic Site.   

Foundation's 2020 Year in Giving Review 

The Foundation began the year by trying something new: Instead of holding two funding cycles, one in the Spring, and one in the Fall, we decided to focus on one area of interest — in this case, Literacy — and direct the majority of our funding to projects aimed at literacy. Animal Welfare and Environmental causes would also be considered for smaller grants.

Then, COVID hit, and things changed! One of those changes was the Foundation’s shift in focus to include more Health and Social Welfare requests. In some cases, we were able to combine our original focus of Literacy with COVID-related funding.

Below, is the list, grouped by focus, of all the Kern County 501(c)3 nonprofits the Foundation donated to in 2020, including the amount granted, and the project or program that funding supported. 

LITERACY: (some of which contained a bit of COVID-related funding, too)

•Kern Dance Alliance: $5,000, to help fund Books in Motion: DANCE + LITERACY.

•Listen to Shafter: $7,000 for their Dia Del Nino Family Literacy Event, to be held in 2021.

•STEMTaught Foundation: $10,000, to fund STEM book and activity packs to uplift low income students in Kern County during distance learning.

•The United Way of Kern County: $10,000 to fund Raising a Reader.

•Adventist Health Bakersfield: $20,000, to help fund Welcoming All—Health Literacy.

• Bakersfield ARC: $20,000, to fund BARC Adult Literacy Program.

•Kern Literacy Council: $20,785, to help fund Booking Across Kern.

•Hoffmann Hospice: $23,190, to help fund their Grief Literacy program.

•Kern Literacy Council: $25,200, to fund Empowering Women Through Education: Build Your Own Path.

•MARE Riding Center: $28,755 for Horse Tales at MARE.

•Bakersfield Play Center: $35,555 to help fund the Bilingual Reading and STEM Center.

•California State University Bakersfield Foundation: $40,750, to fund Meeting the technical needs of CSUB students during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

•United Way of Kern County: $50,000 to help fund the Home Libraries Program.

•Boys & Girls Clubs of Kern County: $80,000, to help fund the Boys & Girls Club [Summer] Literacy Program.

•Community Action Partnership of Kern: $87,396.40 for Bookmobile Support for Rural Literacy.

HEALTH & SOCIAL WELFARE:

•Brooklynn’s Box Inc.: $2,000, to fund their Caregiver Burden Proposal project.

•League of Dreams, Inc: $2,600, to fund either their fencing, basketball or ADAPTIdance programs.

•Valley Center for the Blind: $5,940, to fund their Increasing Service Capacity for the Blind and Visually Impaired in Kern County.

•CSF Medical Non Profit Foundation: $10,000, to help fund “Sharing the Hope” Community Wellness Fair.

•Mercy Foundation-Bakersfield dba Friends of Mercy Foundation: $10,000, to fund Mercy Hospital Food Insecurity Response Program.

•Boys & Girls Clubs of Kern County: $20,000, to fund Boys & Girls Clubs of Kern County COVID-19 Expanded Meal Program for Children.

•Mission at Kern County: $20,000, to purchase an Industrial Washer/Dryer for the Homeless.

•CSF Medical Non Profit Foundation: $38,400, to help fund their efforts in assisting 32 families with basic necessities, utilities, and food.

•R.M. Pyles Boys Camp: $10,000 to help fund Pyles Youth Development Program.

•Stewards: $10,000 to help fund Stewards Food Pantry.

•Transformation by Bakersfield Angels: $10,000 to help fund their Emergent and Extracurricular Fund Project.

HISTORIC & CULTURAL BEAUTIFICATION:

•Kern River Valley Historical Society: $1,500 for Moving the Vaughn School Bell.

•The Arts Council of Kern: $9,500 for The Beale/Kentucky Mural Project.

•Fort Tejon Historical Association: $10,000 for Fort Tejon's Historic Clothing Inventory Replacement & Upgrade.

•The Hub of Bakersfield: $10,000 for their Downtown Parklet Project; and another $10,000 to help fund their Utility Boxes Arts Project.

•Kern County Historical Society: $34,943.45, to fund the Tule Elk Reserve Visitor Center Renovation.

ENVIRONMENT:

•Kern River Conservancy: $5,000, to fund Summer 2020 River Stewardship Outreach.

ANIMAL WELFARE:

•Helping Animals Live Tomorrow Rescue (HALT): $4,100 for Dental Care for Dogs.

•Pet Match Maker California: $5,000, toward the purchase of a tractor.

•Whiskers Paws Hooves and Claws Animal Advocacy: $6,500, to help fund Horse and Livestock Rescue and Rehabilitation Support.

•Strength of Shadow Dog Rescue, Inc.: $9,000, to fund Vax [Vaccinations] for Victory 2020.

•Consulting and Rescuing Equine CARE LLC: $9,300, to help fund CARE Equine Veterinary Assistance. 

And last, but certainly not least:

•$50,000 to the Bakersfield SPCA — matching funds for the $50,000 they raised toward the construction of a new puppy and kitten nursery.

Foundation's 2019 Fall Grant Cycle Awards

The Foundation's Board awarded close to $400,000 to a variety of Kern County nonprofits on Thursday, November 14, 2019. The list of those awarded funding, along with the name of their project and amount granted, are listed below.

Thanks to all who participated in this unique, two-part Grant Cycle, and for all you do to better our community. 

Organizations Awarded Grants, Projects Funded, and Amounts Awarded:

• CASA of Kern County: CASA of Kern County Training Renovation Project = $21,000

• The Salvation Army: Bakersfield Corps Kitchen Renovation = $25,000

• Tree Foundation of Kern: Water on Wheels for Our Trees = $47,785.90

• Oildale Community Action Team: OCAT Mobile Resource Center = $48,304

• Weill Child Guidance Foundation: Roberts Lane Clinic Playground Project = $55,733.38

• Bethany Services, Inc. dba Bakersfield Homeless Center: Bakersfield Homeless Center Efficiency Project = $95,126 

• Kern Medical Center Foundation: Kern Medical Pediatric Centered Medical Home at Columbus = $100,000 

In addition, the Board also offered a matching grant of $50,000 to the Bakersfield SPCA and their $100,000 New Construction for Puppy & Kitten Nursery project.

Foundation's 2019 Non-Cycle Grant Awards

As of July, 22, 2019, the Foundation has donated $122,850 to 16 nonprofits serving Kern County, part of our ongoing non-cycle grant awards. These awards, typically for smaller amounts, focus on literacy, education, historical and cultural improvements, environmental causes, and animal welfare.

Below, are the nonprofits awarded grants, along with a little bit about the program or project these awards funded:

•Assistance League of Bakersfield: $10,000 to help fund the Operation School Bell and Operation Hugs programs.

•Bakersfield Pet Food Pantry: $10,750 for the No More Fleas, Please! project, which will provide flea and tick medication to economically struggling pet owners.

•California State University Bakersfield Foundation: $6,000 to help fund the The California Writers Series.

•Helping Animals Live Tomorrow (HALT): $8,500 for the Training for a Purpose program.

 •Keepers of the Kern, Inc.: $5,000 for their cleanup project, Keepers Keeping the Wild and Scenic Kern River “Scenic & Clean.”

•Kern Athletic Fencing Foundation: $10,000 to help fund Smart Fencing for Kern County: Phase II.  

•Kern Literacy Council: $11,100 for the Empowering At-Risk Women through Educational Attainment program.

•Reading is Fundamental of Southern California: $9,500 toward their Motivational Reading Program.

•SJV Water: $10,000 to help fund SJV Water start up.

 •Soroptimist International of Delano: $5,000 for the Dream It Be It program.

•Strength of Shadow Dog Rescue, Inc: $5,000 to help fund their Spay and Neuter 2019 program.

•Teen Success, Inc.: $8,000 toward the Kern County Teen Success Program.

•Tehachapi Community Orchestra Foundation: $5,000 to help fund the Tehachapi Symphony All-American Concert with Fiddler Jana Jae event. 

•United Way of Kern County: $10,000 toward the Book of the Month Club.

•Whiskers Paws Hooves and Claws Animal Advocacy: $6,500 for Equine and Livestock Rescue Support. 

•Wits’ End: $2,500, to help fund the organization’s general operations, helping hikers on the Pacific Crest Trail.

Foundation's 2019 Spring Grant Cycle Awards Announced 

On Tuesday, May 14, the Foundation's Board awarded close to $245,000 to twelve Kern County nonprofits involved in helping underserved populations, with a specific focus on addressing food insecurity.

Below, are the organizations funded, the specific program supported, and the amount awarded to that program or project.

A big thank you to all the nonprofits who applied for this very meaningful cycle. As one Board Member noted: "The diversity of programs out there, and the many ways people are working to address these issues, makes one proud to live in Kern County!"

• Alliance Against Family Violence And Sexual Assault: System of Care—Integrated Phones = $20,000

 • Boys & Girls Clubs of Kern County: Armstrong Youth Center — Summer Day Camp = $20,000

• Community Action Partnership of Kern: CAPK Food Bank = $35,000

• Have a Heart: Food for Love = $9,509

• Hopecam Inc.: Give Hope, Get Connected-Bakersfield = $5,000

• Independent Living Center of Kern County: Transitions = $20,000

• Kern County 4-H: Juntos Summer Academy = $8,000 

• Kern Partnership for Children & Families: Alleviating Food Insecurity Among College Students = $20,000

• Links for Life: Linking to Resources = $15,600 

• The Mission at Kern County: Summer Meals for the Homeless = $20,000

• Rebuilding Together Kern County: The Walk-In Pantry at the Bakersfield Senior Center = $50,000

• Sleepy Baby Box Foundation: Parent Education Center = $21,300

Thank you Foundation Board Members!

As a way to honor the Foundation's Board Members, who volunteer their time to help us improve Kern County, Foundation President Ginger Moorhouse gifted each member $5,000 to donate to a Kern County nonprofit of their choice. 

Foundation's Non-Cycle Grant Awards

Throughout the year, the Foundation awards non-cycle grants, funding projects that focus on animal welfare, literacy, education, and historical and environmental improvement. As of July, 30, 2018, the Foundation has awarded a variety of these grants, totaling $107,098.60. Below, is a list of these organizations, the projects funded, and the amounts awarded.

LITERACY, EDUCATION & HISTORICAL ENRICHMENT GRANTS:
• Reading is Fundamental of Southern California: $9,114 for the Motivational Reading Program at two Kern County schools, Rosamond and Westpark Elementary. The funds will go toward the purchase of new books, along with other project support.
• Arts Council of Kern: $7,000, to help fund the Stories from the Sidewalk event, an historical and educational walking tour that will highlight Kern County’s history through live performances, enacted by local actors, from scripts written by Kern County writers.
• Bakersfield College Foundation: $4,339.60, toward purchasing textbooks for Bakersfield College’s Inmate Scholars Program.
• National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): $6,000 to help fund Ending the Silence, 50-minute presentations for middle and high school students, with the goal of raising awareness about mental illness.
• Teen Success, Inc.: $10,000, toward The Kern County Teen Success Program, which provides 30 low-income teen mothers from Bakersfield and Lamont with 18 months of educational and parenting support.
• Junior Achievement of Bakersfield: $10,000 for their program, Moving At-Risk Elementary Students to Secondary School Success, which identifies students at risk of not completing high school, and works to counter that trend, helping these students earn their high school diploma.
• Dress for Success Bakersfield: $8,000, toward their program of empowering women to seek and maintain employment and achieve self-sufficiency.

ANIMAL WELFARE GRANTS:
• Boxer Mutts and Wiggle Butts: $9,000 to fund spay/neuter surgeries for 15 dogs, along with implanting microchips for each dog.
• Pet Match Maker California: $17,200, roughly half of which went to help fund their Turf Upgrade for Kennels project, with the other half going toward helping them pay off their veterinarian and specialist bills.
• Whiskers Paws Hooves and Claws Animal Advocacy: $9,000 to help fund their general rescue operations.
•Friends of the Kern County Animal Shelters Foundation: $9,000 for the Kern River Valley Snip & Tip Program for Feral/Community Cats program.
• Have a Heart Humane Society: $3,445 to help fund the Kitten Habitat project.
• Meow Co. SOXrescue: $5,000 to fund the the Kitten Guardian Project.

Foundation's Spring Cycle Grants Awarded

Foundation's Fall Grant Winners Announced 

Inspired by all the exciting projects in this year's Fall Grant Cycle, the Foundation Board decided to award three $25,000 grant awards, two $50,000 grant awards, and two $100,000 grant awards, for a grand total of $375,000 donated this Fall Cycle.

We would like to again thank all the local nonprofits that applied for this unique two-part grant funding cycle. Kern County is fortunate to have so many dedicated organizations working on its behalf.

•$25,000 Grant Award Winners & the projects that will be funded:

1) Downtown Bakersfield Development Corporation: Project to Significantly Reduce Trash Out of Place in Downtown Bakersfield
2) Rebuilding Together Kern County: Rebuilding the Carnation Neighborhood
3) United Way of Kern County: Book of the Month Club

 •$50,000 Grant Award Winners & the projects that will be funded:

1) Garden Pathways: Garden Pathways Hope Village Project
2) Recycling Lives: Recycling Lives Glass Pulverizer Purchase to Create Local Industry & Paid Job Skills Development 
 

 •$100,000 Grant Award Winners & the projects that will be funded:

1) Mercy Foundation-Bakersfield dba Friends of Mercy Foundation: Advancing Women’s Health in Kern County
2) Tree Foundation of Kern: Bakersfield Beautification Project 

Foundation's 2017 Non-Cycle Grants

Along with our Spring and Fall grant cycles, the Foundation also awards non-cycle grants to Kern County nonprofits throughout the year. Non-cycle grants are usually focused on either literacy, education, animal welfare or cultural or environmental improvement. So far this year, the Foundation has awarded $76,377 in support of a variety of projects.

Below, is a breakdown of these grant awards:

•$3,500 to California City Animal Outreach Foundation, to fund the replacement of a roll up door.

•$12,000 to DonorsChoose, continuing our partnership with them, which allows the Foundation to fund Pre-K to 2nd grade literacy-based classroom projects in Kern County schools.

•$4,000 to Keepers of the Kern. Inc., for their Making a Difference on the Wild and Scenic Kern River project.

•$7,000 to the Kern Agriculture Foundation, for seven, $1,000 scholarships.

•$5,000 to the Tehachapi Community Orchestra Foundation, to help fund their World Premiere of New Work Concert.

•$10,500 to the Kern County Museum, toward their Kern County Museum Archive Preservation Project.

•$11,877 to The Salvation Army, Service Extension Mojave, to help fund the Mojave East Kern Outreach program.

•$5,000 to St. Vincent de Paul, St Malachy Conference, Tehachapi, for general funding.

•$5,000 to California State Old-Time Fiddlers Association, District 3, to help sponsor the 41st Annual “Fiddlin’ Down the Tracks” Fiddle Contest.

•$7,500 to the California Native Plant Society and their Important Plant Areas of Kern County project. These funds were part of a matching grant, which the organization successfully met.

•$5,000 to Friends of the Kern County Animal Shelters Foundation, to help fund the Kern River Valley Snip & Tip TNR program.

Grant Awards for 2017 Spring Cycle Announced

For its Spring Grant Cycle, focused on animal welfare causes and summer literacy programs, the Foundation awarded 21 Kern County non-profits a variety of grants, for a total donated amount of $249,472.

Listed below are the organizations awarded funding, the amount each received, and the projects that will be funded.

• All The King's Horses of Robison Ranch: $8,000, toward the purchase of equipment and equine medicine for their horse rescue operation.

• Bakersfield Pet Food Pantry: $5,000 to fund their Pet Collar, Leash and ID Tag Project II, a continuation of their program of giving away pet ID tags, collars, and leashes to struggling pet owners.

• Bakersfield Police Activities League: $10,000, to help fund the Safe Haven Program, which offers education, guidance, and life-skills to at-risk youth.

• Bakersfield SPCA: $25,000 toward the creation of The Cat's Meow Outdoor Habitat, an outdoor cat habitat that will allow cats and potential adopters to interact.

• Bit-O-Heaven Ranch Inc: $18,500, to design, construct, and fill a new Hay Barn.

• Boys & Girls Clubs of Kern County: $15,751, to help fund their Summer Brain Gain: Read! program, a summer reading program aimed at preventing summer learning loss.

• Christmas for Seniors of Kern County Inc: $5,000 for the Animals and Senior Bed and Blanket Blessings project, which will help purchase materials for low-income seniors to make pet blankets, pet beds, and pet toys for animals awaiting adoption.

• Critters without Litters: $10,000, to help fund their Feral Cat Program Expansion project, to improve their feral cat trap-neuter-return program.

• Have a Heart Humane Society: $12,000, to help fund the Spay/Neuter Eastern Kern County Pet Project 2017, which will provide, at a reduced cost, spay/neuter surgery, and related pet care, to Tehachapi-area pet owners.

• Helping Animals Live Tomorrow [HALT]: $10,000, to fund expansion of the PAWS (Pet Awareness Week for Students) educational program, as well as restocking their Rags to Rescue free library with pet-related books.

• Kern Athletic Fencing Foundation: $10,000, to help fund the Smart Fencing for Kern County program, a program offering free fencing instruction and tutoring sessions to struggling students.

• Kern County Chapter of California Turtle and Tortoise Club: $15,295, toward the creation of a habitat enclosure.

• Kern Dance Alliance: $9,000, to help fund their Books in Motion: Dance + Literacy program, a free program combining dance and literacy, for children from kindergarten through third grade.

• Kern Literacy Council: $8,000, for their Family Literacy Summer Jump Start program, which includes funding two program: the BCSD Summer Parent Academy; and the Summer Reading/Healthy Eating Workshops for pre-school children.

• LightWave Education: $15,000 for their Summer Literacy and Leadership Program, pairing low-income and at-risk students with college student mentor-teachers.

• Marley's Mutts Spay & Neuter: $10,000, to help fund the North Kern Fix 'n' Chips program, a low-cost mobile spay and neuter clinic, serving the outlying areas of Shafter, Wasco, McFarland, and Delano.

• Mercy Foundation-Bakersfield dba Friends of Mercy Foundation: $10,926 toward their Summer Learning Program, which will provide tutors, books, and science kits, at no cost, to 40 students.

• Pet Match Maker: $12,000, to fund general improvements to their rescue facility.

• SOXrescue: $10,000 for support of their general rescue operation.

• Tehachapi Mountain Rodeo Association: $20,000, toward the construction of 12 permanent horse pens, with automatic water, and covered tops.

• Whiskers Paws Hooves and Claws Animal Advocacy: $10,000, toward general funding of their animal welfare organization.

Foundation awards $250,000 to five Kern County nonprofits

On November 4, 2016, the Foundation's two-part competitive fall cycle came to a close. Inspired by all the compelling proposals, the Foundation Board awarded two $25,000 grants, two $50,000 grants, and one $100,000 grant.

Thank you to all who applied for this two-part grant cycle. This was a particularly strong year and we deeply appreciate all the time and energy that went into applying.

Below, are the winners, broken down by the amount awarded.

$25,000 Grant Award Winners:

1) Kern Literacy Council for their Fighting Illiteracy: Property Improvements to Attract Tutors, Students, and Staff, a multi-pronged project that will improve the appearance and safety of their downtown location, and includes paving the 13-space parking lot, and installing security cameras and lighting, among other improvements.

2) Special Olympics Southern California, for their Special Olympics Sports Programming in Kern County, which will entail the purchase of uniforms, equipment, and awards, along with rental facilities, for their School Partnership Program.

$50,000 Grant Award Winners:

1) California Recreation Foundation/One Spade Youth Packers’ One Spade Youth Packers Improvement project will involve the purchase of materials, supplies and equipment, including trailers, a tractor, tack, tools, and new packing equipment, among other items.

2) The Wildlands Conservancy for their San Emigdio Sunset Theater, which will host the ongoing “Movies in the Canyon”, a free event that screens family-friendly movies outside, so attendees can witness the beauty of the Wind Wolves Preserve.

$100,00 Grant Award Winner:

The $100,000 grant was awarded to Kern Medical Center Foundation for their Infusion Therapy Clinic at Kern Medical project, the creation of a space designed specifically for patients receiving chemotherapy and other infusion services.

Spring Cycle Grants Awarded

On Friday, May 6, 2016, The Foundation donated $328,251.70 to local Kern County nonprofits for projects focused on arts and culture. Below, are the organizations awarded, the amount they won, and the projects for which they were granted funding.

• Bakersfield Community Theatre: $10,000 to improve and upgrade their Youth Theatre program.

• Bakersfield Ivy Legacy Foundation, Inc.: $5,000 for their ASCEND (Achievement, Self Awareness, Communications, Engagement, Networking and Developing) Program, which exposes middle and high school students to cultural and artistic activities.

• Bessie Owens Primary School: $4,500 to purchase risers for their stage area, to help with award ceremonies, assemblies, and performances.

• Boys & Girls Club of Kern County: $16,650.27 for the expansion and upgrade of the Club’s sound system for their Performing Arts Program.

• Child Guidance Guild of Bakersfield, Inc.: $10,122.43, to help replace damaged kitchen equipment.

• Covenant Community Services: $12,500 for Fostering Art, an art advocacy and educational program for former foster youth.

• Kawaiisu Language and Cultural Center: $6,000 for Go Native! 2016, an annual outdoor event that exposes the public to Native American traditional crafts, music, storytelling and food.

• Kern County Library Foundation: $48,898 to help in the creation of a Digital Arts Lab, an interactive space that will allow library patrons to use enhanced technologies to create everything from movies, digital art, video games, and 3D objects.

• Kern County Museum: $49,925 to fund painting the exterior of the Hotel Fellows, one of the historic properties in Pioneer Village.

• Kern County Superintendent of Schools: $51,223 toward the funding of the California Living Museum’s Master Sign Plan, including Bluetooth-enabled interpretive signage, which will interact with their forthcoming app.

• Kern Dance Alliance: $10,000 for the Kern Dance Alliance + Garden Pathways Summer Dance Camp & $3,650 for SHINE for Girls, MATH + DANCE = SUCCESS program.

• Kern River Valley Historical Society: $20,000 to help fund construction costs of the Kern Valley Museum Annex.

• New Advances for People with Disabilities: $25,000 toward the purchase of sound, video recording, and stage lighting equipment to outfit their new state of the art center.

• North of the River Junior Theatre: $12,000 for this summer’s Junior Theatre Summer Program, which will be producing The Little Mermaid.

• Ridge Route Communities Museum & Historical Society: $5,283 for upgrades to their Museum Signage, and improvements to their Outdoor Learning Center.

• Tehachapi Community Theatre Association: $25,000 to help with the funding of the expansion of the BeeKay Community Theater.

• Tehachapi Parks Foundation: $12,500 for the purchase of artistic bike racks and cultural features at locations in the Tehachapi Valley Recreation and Parks District.

Foundation donated $879,725 in 2015

This year, the Foundation donated $879,725 to Kern Country nonprofits, giving grants to organizations ranging from Lightwave Education to Keep Bakersfield Beautiful to the Kawaiisu Language and Cultural Center, and funded projects that included community gardens, scholarships to local students, and literacy programs.

The Foundation would like to thank all the amazing local nonprofits who make our mission to improve Kern County so worthwhile.

Six Kern County Nonprofits Awarded $275,000

On Friday, November 13, the second phase of the Foundation’s 2015 Fall Grant Cycle wrapped up, with the Foundation Board awarding three $25,000 grant awards, two $50,000 grant awards, and one $100,000 grant award.

Here, broken down by amount, are the organizations awarded, and the projects that will be funded: 

• $25,000: Because of the number of compelling projects, the Board decided to award three $25,000 grants. These three $25,000 winners are:

-Independent Living Center of Kern County, toward the purchase of a Wheelchair Accessible Van.

-Lamont Women’s Club, Inc., to help fund the restoration of the Old Lamont Sign.

-Youth 2 Leaders Education Foundation, for their Technology for College Readiness and Success program.

• $50,000: Again, inspired by the number of worthwhile projects, the Board decided to award two $50,000 grants. These two $50,000 winners are:

-Bakersfield SPCA, for their WAGGIN’ TAIL CORRAL project.

-Children First Campaign and their East Bakersfield Family Zone Pocket Park. (The Board also offered an additional $50,000 in matching funds toward this project.)

• $100,000: The winner of the $100,000 grant award was Community Action Partnership of Kern, for their Food Bank Solar Energy Improvement Project.

We truly appreciate all the Kern County nonprofits who participated in this year’s two-part grant cycle. Thank you for all that you do to better Kern County.

Spring Grant Cycle Awards Announced 

On Friday, May 1, 2015, The Foundation awarded close to $300,000 to local nonprofits engaged in improving downtown Bakersfield.

Individual grant recipients and the monetary awards they received:

• Arts Council of Kern: $4,800 to help fund their First Friday ArtWalk Headquarters, including the purchase of banners, totes and ArtWalk maps.

• Bakersfield Foundation: $9,975 for ArtTrek: A Walking Tour of Art in Downtown Bakersfield, a brochure and map containing the complete inventory of all the art resources available in downtown Bakersfield.

• Bakersfield Museum of Art: $54,000 for their Community Art Exhibit, a public art exhibit of 30 fiberglass pick-up trucks, decorated and embellished by local artists. In addition, the Foundation offered the Museum a matching grant of $27,350 for improvements to their wall at 19^th and R Streets.

• Bakersfield Music Theatre/Stars: $40,000 for their “Beautiful Bakersfield” Venue Beatification Project, including installing an awning, adding shrubbery, and installing LED lighting, among other improvements.

• Bike Bakersfield: $5,000 for their Downtown Bicycle Parking and Community Enhancement project, which will add artistic bicycle racks in front of downtown businesses.

• Buena Vista Museum: $30,000 for a new roof for their building on Chester Avenue.

• Fox Theater Foundation: $30,000 for their Fox Theater Restoration Project, which will fund the restoration of the 20^th street sidewalk level façade, and the interior wrought iron railings in the theater’s lobby.

• Garden Pathways: $35,000 for clean-up equipment to help enhance Garden Pathways Downtown Neighborhood Transformation program.

• Junior League of Bakersfield: $41,796.84 for interior and exterior improvements to their historic Payne & Son mortuary building on the corner of 19^th and Eye Street. Improvements include adding outdoor lighting, installing synthetic grass, and updating carpet and tile.

• Keep Bakersfield Beautiful: $12,380.20 for their Rehab Downtown Furnishings project, which entails the purchase of a gum removal machine and other related tools, in order to clean up trash receptacles and benches originally erected to commemorate Bakersfield’s centennial.

Fall Grant Cycle Winners Announced 

On Friday, November 14, the Foundation Board awarded four grant awards: Three $50,000 awards and one $100,000 award.

Spring 2014 Grant Awards

On May 16, 2014, the Foundation awarded $211,325 to local nonprofits focused on improving the lives of Kern County animals.

Individual Grant Recipients and the monetary awards they received:

• 2nd Chance Ranch [Tehachapi]: $15,000 for the purchase of a new tractor.

• All The King’s Horses of Robison Ranch [Ridgecrest]: $5,000 to replace old equipment and tools.

• Bakersfield Pet Food Pantry: $10,025 for their Pet Collar, Leash and ID Project, which will provide collars, leashes and ID tags to needy Bakersfield pet owners.

• Bakersfield SPCA: $40,000 for kennel resurfacing and to expand a cat habitat.

• Bit-O-Heaven Ranch: $20,000 for the Well Horse Health Program.

 • Cathey’s K-9 Rescue: $5,000 for spay and neuter vouchers.

• Critters Without Litters: $20,000 for their No More Cattin’ Around Project, which will provide subsidized surgical sterilization.

• Friends of the Kern County Animal Shelters Foundation: $30,000 to fund their spay and neuter efforts.

• Have a Heart Humane Society [Tehachapi]: $14,000 for a Mobile Adoption Center.

• Helping Animals Live Tomorrow (HALT) Rescue: $13,300 to provide veterinary care for rescue animals, plus emergency vet care for economically disadvantaged pet owners.

• People Assisting Wasco Shelter (PAWS): $12,000 for the construction of a play yard for dogs.

• Pet Match Maker California: $10,000 to build a shelter for rescue animals.

• A SafeFurr Place Animal Rescue: $5,000 for their ‘No Littering’ spay/neuter voucher program.

• Whiskers Paws Hooves and Claws Animal Advocacy: $12,000 to help fund their horse rescue and rehabilitation efforts.

Fall 2013 Grant Cycle

The Foundation is pleased to announce that the winner of the $100,000 grant award is The Salvation Army, Tehachapi Service Center. The grant will go to fund the creation of a Community Center, serving a wide variety of residents in the Tehachapi area.

Thanks again to all who participated in this Fall's two-part cycle. We received many wonderful proposals —it was a very difficult decision.

Spring 2013 Grant Awards