Bank of the Sierra Provides COVID-19 Funding Through Sierra Grant Program, Awards Over $22K to Coastal and Southern California Nonprofits During Third Quarter
November 16, 2020
Porterville, Calif. – Bank of the Sierra announced today that $22,500 was given to six nonprofits in the Bank’s Central Coast and Southern California markets during the third 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 third quarter, Bank of the Sierra awarded a total of $54,500 to nonprofits in the eight counties it serves.
Bags4Kids provides comfort bags filled with books, teddy bears, school supplies, clothes, blankets, and more to Los Angeles and Kern County low-income families and foster children who have recently become displaced from their homes. The nonprofit plans to donate bags to families affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. A Sierra Grant will help pay for the supplies and items used to fill the comfort bags.
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Oxnard and Port Hueneme and the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Ventura received Sierra Grants. The Clubs will use their Sierra Grants to provide operating support as they face challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Greater Oxnard and Port Hueneme Clubs have expanded their food distribution and are now offering some services online, while the Greater Ventura Club is helping essential workers and holding meetings virtually until social distancing guidelines can be lifted.
The mission of Applause Children’s Theater is to provide an inspiring and enriching musical theater environment for children in San Luis Obispo County. COVID-19 forced the organization to postpone this year’s show. A Sierra Grant will help the nonprofit secure its own theater, upgrade equipment, hire instructors, offer scholarships, and more.
“Our Sierra Grant Program is here to help the wonderful community nonprofits that are fighting against the coronavirus pandemic,” said Kevin McPhaill, Bank of the Sierra President and Chief Executive Officer. “We strongly encourage our local nonprofits to apply for a Sierra Grant if they have been impacted by COVID-19.”
About the Sierra Grant Program
Since its inception in 2004, the Sierra Grant Program has been responsible for donating over $2.4 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 43rd 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.
