by Richard Lieberman
Jeffery Lambert, Chief Operating Officer for Ventura County Community Foundation wants to remind Ventura County residents that “Covid is not over, the impact is still there” said Lambert. “It’s not going away simply because everyone is vaccinated,” he added.
The current health and economic challenges since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic continue, so do community needs. Food Share Inc. a Ventura County Community Foundation partner has gone from serving meals to 75,000 people per month to 150,000 people since the start of the pandemic.
The Amgen Foundation has announced it will contribute $300,000 in matching grants to VCCF’s Rapid Response Fund. “our goal is to triple the fund with matching contributions, for every fifty cents they give us we will attempt to raise $1.00 in matching funds.” Lambert added. “In addition, we want to continue to fund non-profits that serve individuals and families affected by Covid-19.” He added.
Funds raised from the matching campaign will benefit local nonprofit organizations addressing the on going needs of individuals and families with food and housing support, childcare, wage replacement, mental health care, and more related to Covid-19.
A speaker’s program, available on-line produced by the VCCF, offers a series of forty-five-minute videos that tell the story of the real impact Covid-19 has had on our community. “They are really powerful hearing the stories of people on the ground making the impact happen by providing direct relief,” Said Lambert. “We are not out of this crisis yet we are still deep into it and the real impact is still there and will be for some time to come,” he said.
Established in 1987, the Ventura County Community Foundation builds philanthropy in the region by stewarding legacies through careful management of charitable capital. The foundation honors donor intent by protecting endowments. The nonprofit specializes in connecting philanthropic resources with community needs for the benefit of all. The organization also serves the community through scholarships, grant making, and collaborative partnerships.
The Amgen Foundation seeks to advance excellence in science education to inspire the next generation of innovators and invest in strengthening communities where Amgen staff members live and work. The Amgen Foundation brings the excitement of discovery to the scientists of tomorrow through several signature programs, including Amgen Scholars, Amgen Biotech Experience and LabXchange.
Since the start of the global Covid-19 pandemic, Ventura County Community Foundation donors have granted out fourteen million dollars to support local small businesses, individuals and families in need, our essential workers, and our nonprofits.
