Anaheim Community Foundation

Anaheim Community Foundation

2023 HELPING HANDS GRANT APPLICATIONS – Now Open!

The Anaheim Community Foundation has begun the application process for the 2023 Helping Hands Grant program.  Nonprofit organizations may apply for small, targeted grants to address community needs in Anaheim. Only one (1) application per organization.

• Grant awards typically range from $1,000 – $2,500
• Must primarily impact Anaheim residents.
• Special consideration for organizations that:
  • Serve youth or other at-risk populations.
  • Provide services that address key Anaheim needs, particularly poverty, children/family health, food insecurity, academic support, and workforce development.
• A follow up report will be requested from grantees 60 days after the money is spent and/or by January 30, 2025.

The application deadline is September 30, 2023. 

The grant application is available here

The Anaheim Community Foundation is sad to learn of the passing of
longtime board member and Chair, Sarah Alevizon, on June 18, 2023.

Sarah joined the Anaheim Community Foundation in 1995, and served as
President with distinction for five years, dedicated to building community
through people, partnerships, and pride to encourage community
participation, collaborate relationships that strengthen community-based
organizations, promote volunteerism and provide community leadership

Sarah Alevizon was a founding member of the Canyon Hills Community
Council, Women Together, Anaheim Hills Assistance League Auxiliary, San
Antonio Christian Women’s Group, Anaheim Arts Council and Anaheim
Ballet, and served on the Boards of Ebell Club, Women’s Division of the
Anaheim Chamber of Commerce, Anaheim Public Library Foundation,
Orange/Anaheim Republican Women, and American Association of
University Women.

She used her substantial leadership skills to assist with several citywide
festival committees, including Holiday Nutcracker Committee, July 4th
Celebration, Flag Day Celebration, Fall Festival, Children’s Festival, and
Imagination Celebration. Her honors include the Orange County School
District Women of the Year and National PTA Award (1991), Annie
Accolade Woman of the Year Award from Women’s Division of the
Anaheim Chamber of Commerce (1992), and Citizen of the Year (1996).

The Anaheim Community Foundation voted her as a Board Member
Emeritus in July 2017 and is grateful for her exceptional dedication and
extraordinary leadership to the people, business community and nonprofit
organizations of Anaheim.

Thank you!

ImpACT Anaheim

Our Anaheim youth are facing greater challenges than ever before. YOU can help turn barriers into bridges by YOU can help turn barriers into bridges by donating to ImpACT Anaheim Giving Day, a 24-hour virtual day of giving dedicated to helping the underserved youth and teens of Anaheim.

Please join our campaign and help us reach our goal of $50,000!

Tell your friends and family members about the important work ACF does in our community and ask them to join us.

Get involved with ACF on ImpACT Anaheim

Here is how you can give back and get involved:

• Spread the Word: Tell your friends and family about this Giving Day by following us on Facebook and Instagram.
• Donate to ACF on July 26th: Save the date for July 26th and donate here. Your support is essential to making this day a success.

Every gift to ACF will have a triple impact: 1) help youth directly through our youth-focused programs; 2) advance ACF’s operations and collaborative efforts related to youth and teens; 3) impact future generations of youth through ACF’s endowment.

Thank You to this year’s Matching Gift Donors

The Samueli Foundation strives to create societal value by investing in innovative, entrepreneurial and sustainable ideas. “Our vision is to be a resource for organizations that empower people to more fully realize their potential.”

Additional Matching Donors

D.E.V.O.T.E

GBP Labs/Bio Cell Labs

Northgate Gonzalez Market

Republic Services

Rutan & Tucker, LLC

Solari Enterprises

Give on July 26th and learn more at

https://impact-anaheim-giving-day.ocnonprofitcentral.org

The Anaheim Community Foundation (ACF) has received a $5,000 gift from Solidshape. Company President Elchin Mirzayev attended the Anaheim City Council meeting recenty and presented the check to ACF Board Chair Kimberly Chips and Vice Chair Carol Latham. Support from the business community fuels our efforts to address critical needs and we are grateful for companies like Solidshape for their generosity. 

Solidshape Statement: At Solidshape, our mission is to support and give back to our local communities, particularly those in need. We believe in being a responsible corporate citizen and making a positive impact where we can. Starting with Anaheim, where many of our warehouses are based, we will be donating our first check to the Anaheim Community Foundation to support those who are less fortunate, including the homeless. Our eventual goal is to give back 20% of our profits to local communities, demonstrating our commitment to making a positive impact beyond providing exceptional materials and customer service. As a supplier of finish materials for residential and commercial construction, we understand the importance of a home and recognize that while many of us enjoy building and renovating our homes, there are people who do not have a home to call their own. We are dedicated to being more than just a business but a community partner that makes a difference in the lives of those in need. 

The Anaheim Community Foundation (ACF) has awarded over $50,000 to 39 non-profit organizations with a 2022 Helping Hands Grant. The Christopher K. Jarvi Helping Hands grant program focuses on strengthening youth, residents, and neighborhoods through supporting community-based organizations.  Named after the founding Executive Director of the Anaheim Community Foundation, the Helping Hands grant honors the memory of Chris Jarvi who was a strong advocate for youth and Anaheim.  

The Helping Hands program has recently expanded to provide one-time emergency assistance grants of $500-$2,500. The application is available on the ACF website at www.anaheimcf.org 

ACF’s Helping Hands is funded through the generosity of Anaheim residents that make gifts through Anaheim Utilities. Since 1992, over $700,000 in Helping Hands funds have supported the program.  

ANAHEIM, California (October 25, 2022)

—Janis Heckel has been selected Executive Director of the Anaheim Community Foundation, it was announced today by Board Chair Kim Chips.

“It is with great enthusiasm that we welcome Janis back to our Anaheim Community Foundation family,” said Chips. “Her experience with the city, the non-profit sector and the ACF are strong assets that will help us advance our mission and build a stronger community.”

Ms. Heckel has been an enthusiastic administrator with over 35 years of management experience in community programming, recreational activities and funding initiatives. Her professional resume includes 10 years with the city as its Community Services Superintendent, in which she served as a liaison to the ACF. She has served on a variety of community boards as well as volunteered with the Girl Scouts of Orange County, the Boy Scouts of America, Relay for Life and several PTA’s. A graduate of Cal Poly Pomona, she has been a resident of Orange County for over 25 years.

“I am thrilled to be joining the ACF team and look forward to working with the board of directors to continue making a positive impact in our community,” said Heckel.

Heckel succeeds former Executive Director John Guastaferro who left the organization in June for career advancement. Ed Munson has served as the Interim Executive Director during the search for a permanent director.

For additional information, please visit our website at www.anaheimcf.org.

Together, ten organizations engaged 467 donors and raised a grand total of $231,199!

The Anaheim Community Foundation would like to extend our gratitude for supporting Impact Anaheim Giving Day. This collaborative 24-hour campaign with nine other organizations to support Anaheim’s underserved youth raised $231,199 with the help of 467 donors, surpassing our collective goal of $125,000! Thank you to our fellow Anaheim-based nonprofits for joining us:

Thanks to our ACF donors, we engaged 46 donors and raised $34,225 to support Anaheim youth

Thank you to our Matching Gift Donors

Additional Matching Gift Donors

Disney VoluntEARS

Rutan & Tucker

Kaiser Permanente

Kiwanis Club of Greater Anaheim

John Guastaferro

Thank you to our Major Gifts donors

Hilgenfeld Mortuary

Bharat Patel

ImpACT Anaheim

Our Anaheim youth are facing greater challenges than ever before. YOU can help turn barriers into bridges by YOU can help turn barriers into bridges by donating to ImpACT Anaheim Giving Day, a 24-hour virtual day of giving dedicated to helping the underserved youth and teens of Anaheim.

Please join our campaign and help us reach our goal of $30,000!

Tell your friends and family members about the important work ACF does in our community and ask them to join us.

Get involved with ACF on ImpACT Anaheim

Here is how you can give back and get involved:

• Spread the Word: Tell your friends and family about this Giving Day by following us on Facebook and Instagram.
• Donate to ACF on July 27th: Save the date for July 27 and donate here. Your support is essential to making this day a success.

Every gift to ACF will have a triple impact: 1) help youth directly through our youth-focused programs; 2) advance ACF’s operations and collaborative efforts related to youth and teens; 3) impact future generations of youth through ACF’s endowment.

Thank You to this year’s Matching Gift Donors

The Samueli Foundation strives to create societal value by investing in innovative, entrepreneurial and sustainable ideas. ““Our vision is to be a resource for organizations that empower people to more fully realize their potential.”

From small renovations to complex billion dollar projects; from sports arenas to water treatment plants and petrochemical facilities, PCL has you covered. Collaborative, driven and innovative: we’re focused on finding the best way forward and elevating your vision of success.

Additional Matching Donors

Disney VoluntEARS

Rutan & Tucker

Kaiser Permanente

John Guastaferro

Give on July 27th and learn more at

https://impact-anaheim-giving-day.ocnonprofitcentral.org

John Guastaferro, Executive Director of the Anaheim Community Foundation since October 1, 2018, has announced his plans to pursue a new career opportunity. Beginning July 1, John will join Hyundai Motor America, where he will lead Hyundai Hope On Wheels and Genesis Inspiration Foundation, both with a history of impacting youth nationwide.

John was ACF’s first full-time paid employee.  Before his time as Executive Director, John was an ACF Board Member with a life and career deeply rooted in Anaheim.

During John’s time with ACF, he has led a period of tremendous growth for the organization, including:

• securing ongoing financial support from a variety of community partners,
• leading the Impact Anaheim annual giving day in collaboration with numerous Anaheim nonprofits;
• building structure and financial processes to facilitate ACF’s long-term financial sustainability;
• instituting ACF’s commitment to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion;
• chartering much-needed community research and hosting ACF’s very first annual Outcomes Forum to share research finding with the Anaheim community;
• revitalized ACF’s annual Impact Report;
• initiating various Action Planning Groups to facilitate cross-sector collaboration and change;
• launching ACF’s Response & Recovery pandemic relief grant program, thanks to $4 million in city funding, to provide aid and support to Anaheim residents; and
• engaging donors in making a triple impact by supporting ACF’s programs, mission, and future.

ACF will be conducting an executive director search over the next 12 weeks. In the meantime, past board chair Ed Munson will serve as interim Executive Director under the continued board leadership of Kim Chips. Over the next 12 weeks, ACF will conduct a search for ACF’s next executive director.

To all of our partners and donors, thank you for your continued support and dedication to ACF!