Thanks to the very generous investment by donors and partners, we continue our work as a pillar of community support. During the challenges of COVID-19, contributions from individuals, foundations, corporations, our three Auxiliaries, and other community partners, are more vital than ever to ensure that our most vulnerable neighbors have the tools and support they need to thrive.
As soon as our community began COVID-19 shelter-in- place, PFS pivoted our activities by providing remote services to participants in all three program areas. As our staff spoke with individuals and families, we learned we needed to do even more for our struggling neighbors during the short and long-term impacts of the pandemic. PFS established the COVID-19 emergency relief Fund to distribute gift cards and other support directly to our participants to buy food, medications, diapers, infant formula, or other essential items.
The first gifts to this fund were generously donated by the Hillsborough Auxiliary to peninsula Family Service (HAPFS). An outpouring of support quickly followed from our donors, volunteers and others familiar with the work of PFS. An anonymous Foothill Auxiliary member contributed a challenge grant, matching gifts up to $25,000. peninsula Family Service is extremely grateful to all of our generous donors — from $20 to $25,000, you have made a difference!
PFS also deeply appreciates the commitment of our community partners on the peninsula who have truly stepped up in this time of crisis. We particularly thank the following partners, not only for their ongoing support, but now for their emergency relief funding to PFS in the past several months: Comerica Bank, Genentech, Inc., Peninsula Health Care District, San Mateo County Strong for Nonprofits, Self-Help Federal Credit Union, Sequoia Healthcare District, Silicon Valley Community Foundation, Sobrato Family Foundation, Sunlight Giving Foundation, U. S. Bank, and Wells Fargo Foundation. The COVID-19 emergency relief Fund has made a great impact, both keeping peninsula Family Service strong and providing emergency relief directly to those PFS serves.
A Special Thank you to Self-Help Federal Credit Union
Our deepest thanks to Self-Help Federal Credit Union, one of our community partners in our DriveForward program, for supporting PFS in obtaining invaluable emergency assistance. The CARES Act, which passed the U.S. Congress in March 2020, included a new Payroll Protection Program (PPP), funding nonprofits and businesses to keep their employees on payroll during the COVID-19 shelter-in-place. Each nonprofit applying for PPP needed a qualified financial institution as a sponsor. Self-Help Federal Credit Union selected PFS as a primary nonprofit to sponsor. This partnership enabled PF to obtain PPP of $1.8M, to be used within a period of 24 weeks (6 months), allowing us to retain all staff. PFS staff and Board are deeply grateful.