Stanislaus Community Foundation

Today we are celebrating the three-year work anniversary of SCF's Chief Strategy Officer, Maria Cortez!

Marian Kaanon, President & CEO, shared, "Maria shows up each day with curiosity, intention, and a steady presence that moves our work forward. She cares deeply for our community, and it shows in everything she does." We are so glad to have her as part of the SCF team! 💜

Stanislaus Community Foundation (SCF) is excited to announce the 2026 Tupo Pamoja Fund Awardees! Established in 2024 in partnership with the Piccinini Pesco Family Fund, the Tupo Pamoja Fund is governed by a committee of local Black residents who have received comprehensive training in the grantmaking process. The committee's funding priorities in 2026 included Black community building and education, including K-12, financial literacy, health & wellness, senior education, and workforce development. In collaboration with the SCF team, the committee has selected the following organizations to receive a total of $75,000 in funding:

• An Insightful Journey
• Central Valley Black Chamber of Commerce
• CSU Stanislaus Foundation – Black Student Success Program
• Dani’el House
• Family Literacy Initiative
• Linguistic Artistry
• Sankofa Theatre Company
• Sisterhood Society
• The Men’s Group
• West Modesto People of Action Council

To learn more about the awardees and the programs and projects these grants will support, visit stanislauscf.org/tupo-pamoja-fund.

Stanislaus Community Foundation (SCF) is excited to announce the 2026 Adelante Fund Awardees! Established in 2024 in partnership with the Piccinini Pesco Family Fund, the Adelante Fund is governed by a committee of local Latino residents who have received comprehensive training in the grantmaking process. This year, the committee focused their funding on services and programs that support migrant & immigrant families, as well as arts & culture projects. In collaboration with the SCF team, the committee has selected the following organizations to receive a total of $75,000 in funding:

• Arte, Familia y Cultura
• Ballet Folklorico Los Falcones
• Colores Del Futuro
• Debrief
• Local Latino Community Advocates
• The Latine Leadership Network at MJC
• Monarch Scholar Services at CSU Stanislaus
• Refugio de Bienestar
• Stanislaus Arts Council
• yüda ayuda

To learn more about the awardees and the programs and projects these grants will support, visit stanislauscf.org/adelante-fund.

The Stanislaus Community Foundation team and members of the Board and Grants Committee recently visited the Modesto Gospel Mission, a local nonprofit organization that has provided a place for refuge, recovery, and restoration to the most vulnerable members of our community since 1948. While the organization is widely known for offering daily meals and a safe place to sleep, their services extend far beyond that – including life skills classes, employment training and assistance, addiction recovery, a 12-month New Life Program, and an after school youth center.

Our visit included a tour of the Modesto Gospel Mission's latest project: Hannah's House. The new shelter, which opened its doors in Spring of 2025, is a dedicated space for women and women with children experiencing homelessness in our community. Through structured classes, weekly counseling, and other wraparound services, Hannah's House provides stability that allows women and children to heal, grow, and rebuild their lives.

To learn more about the Modesto Gospel Mission, visit mymission.org.