money

Everyone knows that the student loan debt crisis has gotten out of control in this country but not many people are aware of the impact this problem has on the most vulnerable population in our society.

Nobody can dispute the value to a child, whether in the foster care system or not, of having a permanent family. In my forty-something years of working within the child welfare system, the public policy shift to safety, wellbeing and permanency has been fantastic, absolutely in the best interest of kids within the system.

On October 1, The California Wellness Foundation launched its new grant program, Advancing Wellness. The foundation went through a restructuring period and stopped accepting letters of interest last November. Not only are they currently accepting letters of interest on an ongoing basis, but they have streamlined the application process.

As the end of the federal fiscal year draws nigh, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention has nearly completed its dispersion of grants for the year. As we did in fiscal 2013, Youth Services is ready with a breakdown of that funding.

Clarence E. Heller Charitable Foundation San Francisco, Calif. http://www.cehcf.org The Heller Foundation made the following education-related grants at the end of 2013: Alliance for Arts Learning Leadership (Alameda County Office of Education), Hayward, Calif.,

Walmart Foundation Bentonville, Arkansas The Walmart Foundation has recently announced grants totaling $1.75 million to create more higher education and career opportunities for young black males. Grant recipients include the United Negro College Fund (UNCF), the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), and the National Urban League (NUL).

East Harlem Tutorial Program New York, N.Y. www.ehtp.org The East Harlem Tutorial Program, a New York City-based educational support organization, has received a $15 million donation to expand their services in the city.

At the fourth annual Culinary Inspirations fundraiser this week, 17 current and former foster youths will be paired with area chefs to benefit the oldest youth-led child welfare advocacy organization in the country.

The Foundation Center is now offering free access at partner sites around the country to a set of its collection of funder databases. Those databases cost about $1,295 per year to access directly at your home or organization.