Gilroy Foundation began modestly, but the group has upped the
ante with a $1.7 million permanent endowment fund
By Erin Cooper, Special to the Dispatch
Gilroy – Kindergarten teacher Donna Kline knew the supplies would make a difference. They allowed her and other teachers to break students into different groups and work on math projects hands on.
“The activities have really enriched their learning instead of them always watching us,” Kline said.
Last year, the Gilroy Foundation awarded Eliot Elementary School kindergarten $1,000 for teaching supplies. The teachers purchased supplies that helped them teach math using visual aids.
“We were so happy to receive the money,” Kline added. “It has really helped and enriched the children a lot.”
The Gilroy Foundation has given out more than $560,000 in 25 years to various non-profit organizations, said Donna Pray executive director.
“The Foundation tries to partner with the community in different ways,” Pray said. “With the different donors we help them achieve their giving goals, with other Gilroy non-profits we assist them in maximizing their investments, and with the community as a whole we seek out the needs to direct our efforts in grant making.”
The fund grew steadily over the years, but the past 18 months have seen spectacular growth, Pray said. When city officials voted to build a community center for the arts, local donations came pouring in. Donors wanting to help local nonprofits afford rental fees for using the new center for the arts pledged $1.8 million. About $800,000 has been collected and they have promises for another $1.2 million. The permanent endowment now stands at $1.7 million.
Each year the foundation gives out grants from money earned. Last year, $60,000 went to 18 organizations including St. Joseph’s Family Center, CALSTAR, City of Gilroy Youth Center, HOPE Services, Go Kids and the Eliot School kindergarten program. That’s a far cry from the modest $482 they gave in 1982, the first year the foundation awarded money. Their goal is to try and reach the members and programs of the community that are most in need.
The city of Gilroy’s youth center received a $1,455 grant this past April. The money was used to provide school supplies to students who use the center at Sixth and Railroad avenues.
“The grant gave school kid members of the youth center … money to make really nice book bags,” said Gayle Glines, recreation supervisor. “They made over 100 book bags containing every school supply you would need.”
St. Joseph’s Family Center also received a grant in the amount of $3,000 which went toward services for the unemployed.
“People want to work and it is very hard to live here. It is hard to find jobs here that provide enough money to live on. We give people the opportunity to help them find a job to sustain their living needs,” said David Cox, director, St. Joseph’s Family Center.
St. Joseph’s Family Center has established great relationships with different employers including Goldsmith Seeds, Saint Louise Regional Hospital, and the Gilroy Dispatch. The non-profit organization hopes to apply this year again because of the help the grant provided for them this past year.
“We want to apply this year again because it has been so successful. It is very hard to find grants for this program,” said Cox.
“St. Joseph’s is such a great service because they really help the whole community of Gilroy and a lot of the things we do rely on how many grants we receive,” said a volunteer who asked to remain anonymous.
The foundation gives out grants ranging from $500 to $5,000.
The Gilroy Foundation is set up through many different funds donated by families, organizations, and individuals. The different funds individuals donate to the Gilroy Foundation are invested to maximize the investment potential. A separate fund must have a minimum balance of at least $10,000. Residents Jeff and Pam Martin created a family fund four years ago.
“Our family fund is not designated right now to a specific area. We started it four years ago because we really like Gilroy and want to help it in anyway we can,” said Jeff Martin.
The Connell Family Music fund is designed for elementary music programs in the Gilroy Unified School District. It was created by a couple who loved children and the joy of music.
“My parents set up the Connell Family Music fund for elementary programs because the schools stopped funding music for the children,” said Lawrence Connell. “They believe it is important for a child’s growth and studies have proven children do better in math and science when they play an instrument. My mother plays the organ, piano and oboe. Both of my parents love children very much.”
The Goldsmith family, owners of Goldsmith seeds, have their own family trust fund as well. It is an unrestricted fund as of right now created to help the community.
“My parents set up this fund because they strongly support the community we have grown up in and that has supported our business,” said Joel Goldsmith. “They just wanted to give to a community that has done a lot for us”
Pray said the foundation is a valuable asset.
“Helping the community in anyway we can is what we are here for,” she said.
Gilroy Foundation Competitive Grants
1. St. Joseph Family Center (education): Employment Services for the unemployed, $3,000
2. Community Association for Rehabilitation (health): Respite Program training for companions for relief support, $750.
3. Eliot School Kindergarten (education): Teaching supplies for classroom, $1,000.
4. Leadership Gilroy Foundation (civic services): Underwrite Facilitation Contract Services for programs, $1,017.
5. CALSTAR (health): Purchase a medical infusion pump for their aircraft, $2,000.
6. Gilroy High School Color Guard & Band (youth music): Repair musical instruments and equipment, $3,072.
7. School Health Clinics of Santa Clara County (health): Purchase an Automatic External Defibrillator, $1,000.
8. Hope Services (education): Purchase education materials for developmentally disabled, $2,500.
9. Go Kids, Inc. (civic): Sponsor two neighborhood “Pride” events within Glenview neighborhood, $500.
10. Gilroy Historical Society (Civic, Culture, Education): Transfer 2000 feed of historical film to DVDs, $500.
11. Gilroy Downtown Bus. Assn. (culture): Starter grant for Downtown Summer Music Series, $1,500.
12. Antonio Del Buono School Violin Program (youth art): Violin program expenses, $3,072.
13. Gilroy High Latinos Program (civic, education): sponsor university trips/events/and, cultural events, $800.
14. Gilroy High Girls Soccer program (recreation): purchase safe equipment, attend university tournaments, $500.
15. GUSD, Student Opportunity and Access (education): after-school tutoring program, $2,000.
16. Gilroy Comm. Services Department (art): “Concerts in the Park” summer series sponsor, $1,000
17. Gilroy Comm. Services Department (recreation): Provide school supplies for youth at the Community Youth Center, $1,455.
18. Community Solutions (education/recreation): Purchase equipment/supplies for Computer Literacy/Tech programs, $1,500.
