First Responders Children's Foundation | |
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The introductory meeting with the First Responder's Children's Foundation (FRCF) in Kern County marked the beginning of a promising partnership. FRCF is a national organization dedicated to supporting the families of first responders who put their lives on the line every day to keep our communities safe. FRCF wants to expand its efforts in Kern County. The meeting brought together local community leaders, law enforcement agencies, and representatives from elected officials' offices to discuss this partnership. A special thanks to Assemblywoman Bains for sharing her valuable insights as a first responder.
The meeting presented the attendees with a clear vision: to develop tailored programs and initiatives that directly address the needs of first responders and their families. FRCF seeks to help build stronger and more resilient communities in Kern County so first responders can continue to serve with pride, knowing their families have the support they deserve.
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GBK: Report to the Community | |
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The Give Big Kern 2023 Community Report has arrived, and it’s time to celebrate the incredible achievements of this year’s event! In the report, you will see the highlights, prize winners, and the impact made possible by our generous sponsors and donors.
Give Big Kern is a month-long event of community engagement in giving and volunteering that leads up to the first Tuesday in May. On the actual Giving Day, nonprofits can compete for cash prizes. This year, thanks to our generous sponsors, participating nonprofit organizations had the opportunity to compete for prizes totaling $13,300.
One of the most exciting aspects of this year’s report is that GBK 2023 raised a grand total of $965,839 for local participating nonprofits! This remarkable achievement reflects the collective effort and passion of our community. Together, we are making a difference in the lives of those who rely on the services provided by these nonprofits.
We extend our gratitude to all our sponsors and donors who made Give Big Kern 2023 possible. Your generosity and commitment to our community are truly remarkable. Without your support, none of this would have been achievable. Every dollar raised has a direct and lasting impact on local nonprofits and the people they serve.
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Bakersfield Life's 20 Under 40: Glenda Garcia | |
Congratulations to Glenda Garcia, Vice Chair of Kern Community Foundation's Board of Directors, for her well-deserved recognition in Bakersfield's Life 20 under 40! Your dedication and impact are truly inspiring, making our community stronger every day. | |
Bakersfield West Rotary Charity Mixer | |
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Thank you Bakersfield West Rotary for inviting Kern Community Foundation to the charity lunch mixer at Stockdale Country Club. It was great to see old friends and introduce new nonprofits to Give Big Kern.
This charity mixer's purpose was to introduce community based organizations to the members of Bakersfield Rotary West and vice versa.
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Bakersfield Youth Jobs Program (BYJP) | |
September has been an eventful month for the Bakersfield Youth Jobs Program. Here are our newest updates: We have announced the selection of our Fellows for the City Hall Fellowship for 2023-2024. We have continued to meet with non-profit organizations around Kern County to expand our network, create more opportunities for our youth, and enhance their skill development and community engagement. In collaboration with Kern County Behavioral Health, we celebrated the success of IPS program graduates. Kern Community Foundation was honored by Kern County Behavioral Health for the positive impact of our efforts in the community and our work in hiring Individual Placement and Support (IPS) program participants. Finally, we participated in the 2023 Annual "Sharing the Hope" Community Wellness Health Fair with Cirugia Sin Fronteras (CSF) Medical Foundation that currently serves as one of our non-profit internship hosts. The event brought awareness about maintaining good health and embracing a healthy lifestyle. | |
Kern Connected Community Network | |
KCCN has 164 network partners and 1,175 active users. The network partners provide a variety of service types, such as individual and family support, education, food assistance, and more. In September, KCCN hosted its Nonprofit Spotlight, recognizing some of our most active network partners: United Way of Kern County, Bakersfield American Indian Project, Omni, and Catholic Charities.
KCCN will also be participating in Healthful Harvest on October 28, 2023, at Haven Drive Middle School from 12 PM to 4 PM.
For more information on KCCN (Click Here). If you would like to get connected to community resources (Click Here). If you are interested in presenting in 2024, please contact Teems Tulfo at fatima@kernfoundation.org with any questions.
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The Women's and Girl's Fund Grant Opportunity | |
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The application window for the Women's and Girl's Fund is now open. All nonprofits registered with Kern Community Foundation are welcomed to apply.
Application Window: Now – November 13, 2023.
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WGF: Women Supporting Women | |
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Unlock your potential with guidance from women who have already walked the path. On Thursday, October 26, 2023, The Women’s and Girls’ Fund invites you to celebrate National Mentoring Day and meet potential mentors in our community. Kern Economic Development Foundation observed in the Status of Women & Girls in Kern County 2020 that women in STEM would benefit from mentorship to address challenges like unequal pay and lack of professional respect. Mentors offer invaluable insights, open doors to new opportunities, and support your professional and personal challenges.
Time: 4:30 - 6:30 PM
Venue: Junior League of Bakersfield Community House
Click the link below to RSVP, or call 661-325-5346 or email us at info@kernfoundation.org. Bring a friend!
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Links for Life has been providing services to women, men, and families affected by breast cancer in Kern County for over 30 years. The organization is proud to be 100% locally funded and operated. It was founded in 1992 by Sharyn Woods and Carol Barraza to promote breast cancer awareness and provide services for women coping with breast cancer in Kern County. The organization has been increasingly recognized by the community as the go-to place for people in Kern County facing breast cancer.
Links for Life conducts and participates in local outreach events to educate the community about breast health. The education provided by the organization contributes to an increase in early detection. Links for Life also funds mammograms, ultrasounds, and needle biopsies for under-insured and uninsured women and men in need of a breast cancer screening. Their wig boutique offers wig services for anyone facing hair loss due to cancer, as well as care packets to help guide women through their treatments. They host several support groups each month for newly diagnosed survivors, longtime survivors, male caregivers (via the Strong Links Hangout), and Spanish-speaking survivors (Grupo de Esperanza). In 2019, Links for Life added a nutrition and grocery card program and has since served over 400 breast cancer survivors with monthly grocery cards and nutrition education with a registered dietitian.
With October being breast cancer awareness month, Links for Life is busier than ever before, bringing attention to the services they provide and raising money for those in the community they are proud to serve. The organization is grateful for the partnerships forged with individuals and organizations throughout Kern County who support their mission. Links for Life raised approximately $40,000 this past weekend at the annual Lace'n It Up 5k run and 1-mile celebration walk. They are also preparing for their annual Hot Pink Celebration coming up on October 27th, and tickets are available.
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In this section of our newsletter, we tell the inspiring stories behind our scholarship funds and share the journeys of the individuals and organizations that have established these funds to encourage aspiring students in their educational pursuits. | |
East Bakersfield High School Class Of 1957 - Ron Robison Memorial Scholarship Fund | |
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In 1997, EB Class of '57 members gathered for their 40th reunion. They toured the EB high school, eager to catch up and see the new developments on campus. During this reunion, the EB grads put out a list of all the ways they could contribute to their alma mater, hoping to make a difference. This included the possibility of giving scholarships to graduating seniors with financial need pursuing higher education. A phone conversation between Ron Robison and Ann Gordon Bigler continued the idea of providing a scholarship to EB students. Ron met with Jody Thomason to talk about the vision he and Ann discussed. Ron, Jody, and Ann sent out the first donation letter that year to classmates and asked them to donate to the scholarship fund. This effort raised enough money to start giving scholarships in the spring of that year. This method of raising money continued for many years. Since the fund began 25 years ago, 80 members of the EB Class of '57 have contributed to the fund.
EB classmate, Claude Marsh, contacted the group and asked about considering a more strategic approach to the scholarship. Instead of sending a check directly to East Bakersfield High School, Claude asked the group to explore donating to a foundation. Simultaneously, Ann came across a brochure from Kern Community Foundation. The group established their scholarship fund with KCF and became the Fund’s advisors on September 3, 2015.
Sadly, in 2015, just before the EB 55th reunion, Ron Robison passed away. In his memory, the scholarship fund was officially named the "EB Class of '57 Ron Robison Memorial Scholarship Fund." This gesture ensured that Ron's legacy would live on through the scholarship.
The fund advisors say the partnership with Kern Community Foundation has been instrumental in the success of the EB Class of '57 Ron Robison Memorial Scholarship Fund and has played a pivotal role in notifying East Bakersfield students about available scholarships, simplifying the application process, selecting the students, and importantly, mentoring the scholarship recipients to ensure their academic success.
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Community members, did you know Kern Community Foundation has a Community Calendar? To make it easier for you to stay in the loop, KCF created a Community Calendar that lists all upcoming nonprofit events, including workshops, galas, and marathons, as well as volunteer opportunities.
Nonprofits registered with Kern Community Foundation, did you know you can share your events? If you have an event you would like to post on our community calendar and social media, please send the information to Teems at Fatima@kernfoundation.org.
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