San Diego Foundation raises $32 million to offset federal cuts to social programs

The San Diego Foundation announced Wednesday that $32.3 million has been raised for its San Diego Unity Fund and $960,000 has been awarded in grants, including $710,000 earlier this week to five nonprofits helping families and senior citizens.

The foundation said the recent fundraising success comes as “federal cuts push more seniors and families to the brink of homelessness.”

The Unity Fund was launched on Sept. 25 as part of a rapid response by San Diego county’s three largest foundations — the Prebys Foundation, Price Philanthropies and the San Diego Foundation — “in response to federal funding reductions in food, housing and health care programs,” officials said.

The three foundations committed $70 million, with the Unity Fund bringing in additional funding from other foundations and the general public.

The $32.3 million comes from $20 million provided by the San Diego Foundation, $12 million from the San Diego County Partnership to Protect San Diegans and over $300,000 in cash and online donations.

The nonprofits receiving the $960,000 in grants are:

• ElderHelp — $250,000 to help seniors in their homes and provide care coordination of services, nutrition and transportation
• The Karen Organization of San Diego — $150,000 to provide health care and wellness programs for refugee families through the San Diego Refugee Communities Coalition
• Urban League of San Diego County — $350,000 to help families at immediate risk of homelessness with emergency payments to landlords
• UC San Diego Shiley EyeMobile for Children — $100,000 to provide vision screenings, exams and glasses to schools, supporting over 5,000 students
• Partnership for the Advancement of New Americans — $50,000 to help families with emergency rent assistance, food and case management
• San Diego Rescue Mission — $60,000 that will pay for emergency shelter, meals and trauma-informed care for homeless people and families

More seniors and families “are now one unexpected bill away from falling behind on their housing,” said Mark Stuart, president and CEO of San Diego Foundation.

“As federal support is reduced, local nonprofits are being asked to do more with less, and our community is stepping up,” Stuart said. “Thanks to generous Unity Fund donors, we can move quickly so a missed paycheck or surprise medical expense does not turn into an eviction or a night sleeping in a car.”

Deborah Martin, CEO and executive director of ElderHelp, said the grant will help seniors stay in their homes, a critical factor in “reducing hospitalizations, preventing falls, and promoting overall health and longevity.”

“Safe, stable housing is not a luxury — it’s a fundamental need that enables seniors to maintain their dignity and connection to their communities,” she added.

Al Abdallah, president and CEO of the Urban League of San Diego County, said his organization was deeply grateful for foundation’s help.

“By helping cover mortgage and rental payments, we are not only stabilizing households, but we are also preserving dignity, safety and opportunity for our community members,” Abdallah said. “Together, we are ensuring that more San Diegans can remain housed and hopeful.”

City News Service contributed to this article.