Individual Donors at the Heart of the Community

Our Thanks

All of us at Peninsula Family Service (PFS) are awed and deeply grateful for the outpouring of support to our community during the pandemic. Assistance from individuals and family foundations are ensuring that our community’s most vulnerable families have the tools they need to weather the short- and long-term impacts of COVID-19.

Cash donations have bolstered PFS COVID-19 operations to supply the constant need for personal protective equipment (PPE) and sanitizing materials for staff and those we support. We continue to use donated funds to aid participants by distributing gift cards to assist the purchase of essential needs.

The Heart of Our Community

One private foundation has been deeply moved by the challenges our community members are facing and have offered grants to individuals, providing $5,000 to those who need more help in four grant categories: COVID-19, Emergency, Low-Income, and Moderate-Income. PFS facilitates the applications for these “Guardian Angel Grants”. To-date, ninety $5,000 grants have been made to individuals and families for a total of $450,000! After receiving their check, one family stated: “My family and I reiterate our gratitude to you for all that you do for us. It’s really a big thumbs up in our modest family who will eventually be able to keep a few months of rent with this big check that we have just received from the foundation.” PFS is honored to collaborate in this life-changing grant process. And during the holidays, the “Guardian Angel” also made the holidays shine with thirty-three $1,000 checks to older adults at Fair Oaks Adult Activity Center. One recipient noted: “I am absolutely astounded by the support and it renewed my faith in humanity.”

Inspired by this Guardian Angel, an individual couple contributed $60,000 as a “Community Lift Grant” to be distributed by PFS in $1,200 checks to 50 families. This act of kindness has allowed some of our participants to get ahead on their rent or pay their vehicle loan—something they otherwise would be unable to do because of their current financial situation.

The benevolence by individual donors is supporting our essential program areas, allowing PFS to operate with proven and innovative, new programs for our neighbors in need. Every gift, from $1 and more makes a positive impact on those we serve. In the past eight months PFS has received gifts from both familiar and new donors wanting to help our community. Many have donated to help secure our operations, and some have invested in specific activities such as: STEM from the Start; older adult activities; and an additional classroom for our Leo J. Ryan Safe Daily School Learning Hub. This outpouring of support enables our community members to endure the many challenges caused by COVID-19.

PFS is deeply grateful for those individuals who have carried on their philanthropic vision through estate gifts. Former PFS Governing Board member and Family Tree volunteer Suzanne Parsons and the Trustees of The Eric Lillybeck Living Trust named PFS as beneficiaries of their estates.

You—our extended PFS family—are making this positive difference.