NVCF teams with Almanor Foundation
CHICO >> The North Valley Community Foundation and the Almanor Foundation have teamed up to award grants to organizations supporting Dixie Fire relief and recovery.
The two foundations have been raising money to provide grants to organizations helping Dixie Fire evacuees. So far, the NVCF has awarded $55,000 in grants through its Wildfire Relief and Recovery Fund, while the Almanor Foundation granted its first funds for the Dixie Fire last week.
As a joint fund, the organization has given to the Tiny Pine Foundation, a nonprofit known for building tiny homes for survivors of fires built entirely with donations and volunteers.
The joint fund has also given to the Project:Camp, a volunteer-based day camp providing support and care to children and families after experiencing disaster induced trauma. Currently Project:Camp is assisting at the Quincy Pioneer Elementary School in partnership with Plumas County Office of Education and Mountain Passages, a Quincy-based organization.
The NVCF and Almanor Foundation joint fund has also awarded funding to the Susanville Salvation Army.
In total, all three grants amount to $15,000 in awards.
As previously reported, the NVCF began issuing grants for Dixie Fire relief in early August. Grants are being directed towards organizations that can provide instant help for those displaced from their homes compared to long-term recovery relief funds the NVCF continues to do with the Camp Fire and North Complex funds.
The NVCF said by partnering with the Almanor Foundation the application process for those applying for fire relief will be expedited. With the joint fund, organizations will only have to complete one application instead of two.
The foundations are also working together to vet applications and pooling resources on grant awards.
“We have been working with Almanor Foundation leaders for more than a year to incubate their new foundation,” said Alexa BensonValavanis NVCF president and CEO in a press release. “When the Dixie Fire struck we were able to set up their Almanor Foundation Wildfire Relief Fund and partner with grantmaking applications. They have tremendous local expertise that will inform our grant decisions. Our hearts are in the same place. We just want to help.”
The Almanor Foundation was founded in December with the intention of providing resources for the community to address ongoing issues like wildfire recovery, water quality and addiction.
Almanor Foundation Executive Director Susan Bruner said partnering with the NVCF was a great opportunity to provide support to Dixie Fire evacuees.
“NVCF and their staff have been wonderful mentors through the organizational effort of founding our organization,” Bryner said in a press release. “We are thrilled now to be able to work in partnership with them for this wildfire relief and recovery effort.”
More information on Dixie Fire relief can be found by visiting the NVCF website at https://www.nvcf. org/dixie-fire-grant-program or the Almanor Foundation at https://almanorfoundation.com/wildfirerelief-fund.