Bank of the Sierra Provides Extra Round of Funding Through Sierra Grant Program, Awards Additional $50K to Coastal and Southern California Nonprofits
January 7, 2021
Porterville, Calif. – Bank of the Sierra announced today that $50,000 was given to seven Coastal and Southern California 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 Ventura County Community Development Corporation (VCCDC) offers home ownership services to its community. The organization’s goal is to help low- to moderate-income clients trying to build wealth through homeownership. VCCDC also provides workshops, counseling, and lending and realty support.
5Cities Homeless Coalition (5CHC) helps families and individuals without permanent housing in South San Luis Obispo County with resources and support. The nonprofit wants to help people become self-sufficient and productive members of the community. 5CHC previously used a Sierra Grant to help single-parent households with COVID-19 related hardships.
CommUnify, formerly known as the Community Action Commission of Santa Barbara County, provides solutions to residents to help them improve their health and economic well-being. The nonprofit used an earlier Sierra Grant to boost its Senior Nutrition Program, which serves meals to around 1,300 low-income seniors five days a week. CommUnify’s services are especially in need during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sierra Grants were also awarded to El Camino Homeless Organization (ECHO), Enterprise Community Partners, Habitat for Humanity for San Luis Obispo County, and Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics.
“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.
