Bank of the Sierra Provides COVID-19 Funding Through Sierra Grant Program, Awards $23K to Central Valley Nonprofits During Fourth Quarter
February 9, 2021
Porterville, Calif. – Bank of the Sierra announced today that $23,000 was given to eight nonprofits in the Central Valley during the fourth quarter. The Bank will continue to prioritize funding to nonprofit organizations that are fighting or have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic through its Sierra Grant Program. Bank of the Sierra awards $1,000-$5,000 grants to 15-25 nonprofit organizations each quarter as part of the program. Overall in the fourth quarter, the Bank awarded a total of $55,000 to nonprofits in the eight counties it serves.
A Sierra Grant will make it possible for Boys & Girls Clubs of Kern County to allow 25 underprivileged school-age children to attend the club’s programs at the E.L. Jack and Monica Armstrong Youth Center five days per week. Due to COVID-19, the clubs have added on-site learning hubs at their facilities so children can attend school and access their teacher and class through distance learning. In addition, a full day at the Center will include healthy meals and after-school enrichment for the children.
Regular fundraisers for Visalia Gleaning Seniors have been canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but now the organization can use a Sierra Grant to help pay for expenses. The nonprofit delivers fresh fruit, nuts, vegetables, bread, and sweets to around 400 low-income seniors in Visalia, Farmersville, and Ivanhoe with delivery distributions occurring up to five days a week. The organization has no paid staff and instead is run entirely by volunteer senior citizens.
Abundant Life Ranch will use its Sierra Grant to help cover costs involved with hosting at-risk children from Tulare, Kings, and Fresno counties for therapeutic sessions in an outdoor ranch setting. Children’s activities at the ranch are designed to benefit their mental health and teach them communication, trust, respect, and confidence. COVID-19 has limited donations from other previous donors.
“One of the many ways we’re helping our communities impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic is through the Sierra Grant Program,” said Kevin McPhaill, Bank of the Sierra President and Chief Executive Officer. “We look forward to helping our local nonprofits overcome challenges they may face throughout 2021!”
About the Sierra Grant Program
Since its inception in 2004, the Sierra Grant Program has been responsible for donating over $2.6 million to organizations that improve local communities. Nonprofits who wish to apply for a Sierra Grant can pick up an instructional brochure at any Bank of the Sierra branch or visit the bank’s website at bankofthesierra.com/sierragrant.
About Bank of the Sierra
Bank of the Sierra is in its 44th year of operations and is the largest independent bank headquartered in the South San Joaquin Valley. Bank of the Sierra is a community-centric regional bank, which offers a full range of retail and commercial banking services with full-service branches located within the counties of Tulare, Kern, Kings, Fresno, Los Angeles, Ventura, San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara. The bank also maintains a loan production office and an online branch and provides specialized lending services through an agricultural credit center and an SBA center. Bank of the Sierra is recognized as one of the strongest and top-performing community banks in the country with a 5-star rating from Bauer Financial.
