Bank of the Sierra Provides Extra Round of Funding Through Sierra Grant Program, Awards Additional $105K to Central Valley Nonprofits
January 7, 2021
Porterville, Calif. – Bank of the Sierra announced today that $105,000 was given to 10 Central Valley nonprofits in an extra round of funding from its Sierra Grant Program. The Bank also awards $1,000-$5,000 grants to 15-25 nonprofit organizations each quarter as part of the program. Bank of the Sierra prioritizes funding to nonprofit organizations that are fighting or have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Overall as part of this special funding initiative, the Bank awarded a total of $145,000 to nonprofits in the eight counties it serves.
Nonprofit organizations that received Sierra Grants include the following:
The Poverello House has been a Fresno institution for several decades. The organization offers free medical services to those in need at its Holy Cross Clinic in partnership with Saint Agnes Medical Center. The Poverello House also provides hot meals, shelter, housing referrals, clothing, showers, laundry, and social services to the poor and homeless.
The Community Action Partnership of Kern (CAPK) is the official anti-poverty agency for Kern County. The organization assists low-income residents with their educational, employment, housing, and medical needs. Its Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) offers support for those who need help paying their electric, gas, or propane utility bills.
Visalia-based Self-Help Enterprises serves Tulare, Kern, Fresno, Kings, Madera, Mariposa, Merced, and Stanislaus counties. The organization helps construct single family homes and develop rental housing. Self-Help Enterprises also helps rural communities with clean water and offers additional services such as rental asset management, training and counseling assistance, and more.
Sierra Grants were also awarded to Bags4Kids, The Castro and Borges Family Basic Needs Endowment, Enterprise Community Partners, Fresno Metro Black Chamber of Commerce, St. Anne’s Food Bank, Salt + Light Works, and Valley Small Business Development Corporation.
“At the end of a year full of challenges, we are thrilled to help the amazing organizations that have done so much for our communities in times of need,” said Kevin McPhaill, Bank of the Sierra President and Chief Executive Officer. “We look forward to helping even more nonprofits through our Sierra Grant Program in 2021.”
About the Sierra Grant Program
Since its inception in 2004, the Sierra Grant Program has been responsible for donating over $2.5 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.
