ENHANCING ESCONDIDO THROUGH CONNECTIONS & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT - Escondido Charitable Foundation 13th Grant Cycle 
          In the Spring of 2019, ECF invited nonprofit organizations and agencies to submit proposals for initiatives that enhance Escondido through programs, activities and events that create connections, increasing civic engagement to build a stronger community. Successful applications will foster community participation and volunteerism, break down walls and silos that exist in the region, demonstrate collaboration and unite Escondido as a whole. 
          Research shows that youth, young adults and seniors who have meaningful, positive relationships in their lives have better mental and physical health outcomes; are more active in the community; are less likely to be involved in isolating behaviors; and feel an increased sense of belonging. In addition, vibrant neighborhoods and community gatherings strengthen quality of life by creating opportunities for residents to participate in and support the common good. By focusing on these aspects of community life, this ECF grants cycle will help build a shared sense of community among Escondido residents.
          ​The six programs funded for the 2019-2020 grant cycle include: Middle & High School Leadership Initiative with A Step Beyond; Northern Lights with California Center for the Arts Escondido; Field Renovations with Escondido American Little League; Grant Avenue Music Festival with Escondido Downtown Business Association; Dixon Lake Playground with Hidden Valley Kiwanis; Explore and Restore Felicita County Park with the Nature Collective; and Inter-generational Literacy Tutoring Program with San Diego Oasis.

• A Step Beyond Middle & High School Leadership Initiative 

This grant of $35,000 will enable A Step Beyond to pilot a new high school academic support curriculum to 40 students in Escondido that includes career nights, college tours, and opportunities to meet working professionals to discuss job options. In addition, the grant will support STEAM education and experiences, dance classes and additional youth development initiatives that set Escondido youth up for success later in life.

• California Center for the Arts Escondido Northern Lights

This grant of $35,000 will help California Center for the Arts Escondido transform downtown Escondido into an unforgettable holiday destination for locals and visitors alike. The project will build on the continued success and growth of the Escondido Winter Wonderland Festival by adding hundreds of thousands of lights to downtown locations and buildings during the four weeks of December.

• Escondido American Little League Field Renovations

This grant of $35,000 will enable the Escondido American Little League to provide quality and safe playing fields for the 400 Escondido youth that participate each year. The current baseball fields are in desperate need of repair, which caused multiple games to be canceled and reschedule last season. Grant funding will ensure that the fields at Jesmond Dene Park are playable for years to come.

• Escondido Downtown Business Association Grand Avenue Music Festival

This grant of $35,000 will enhance the annual Grand Avenue Music Festival, which brings thousands of people to historic Downtown Escondido for an evening of entertainment, food and community. This multi-stage street party is set to the backdrop of the 19th and 20th century architecture of Escondido to showcase the history and culture of the community.

• Hidden Valley Kiwanis Dixon Lake Playground

This grant of $20,000 will enable the Hidden Valley Kiwanis to rebuild the playground equipment at Dixon Lake Recreation Area that once benefited the nearly 100,000 youth visitors each year. Once installed, the new playground structure will provide an estimated two million hours of childhood play during the useful life of the equipment.

• San Diego Oasis Inter-generational Literacy Tutoring Program

This grant of $15,000 will support the Inter-generational Literacy Tutoring Program, which makes a profound difference in children’s lives by helping them learn to read while providing meaningful engagement opportunities for older adults in the community. Volunteer tutors commit to working one-on-one with the same child for an entire school year, which has proven to help improve reading and writing skills while decreasing the number of school days missed each year.

• Nature Collective Explore and Restore Felicita County Park

This grant of $27,500 will provide Escondido residents with monthly trips to Felicita County Park where they will learn about native species, conservation and environmental restoration. The program will provide six consecutive multi-generational nature experiences that will engage young and ‘young at heart’ alike to learn more about San Diego’s natural space and create more environmental stewards in the community.

​ENHANCING ESCONDIDO THROUGH ARTS & CULTURAL EXPERIENCES - Escondido Charitable Foundation 13th Grant Cycle

Arts and cultural experiences positively impact our local economy, generating $1.1 billion in total economy activity.  Equally important is the affect arts and culture has in local neighborhoods. Artists have deep roots in communities, and their work inspires conversation, civic pride and positive, meaningful experiences within communities.  That’s one of the many reasons why the Escondido Charitable Foundation (ECF) is hoping to increase arts and cultural experiences within its community.

At its 12th Annual Grants Celebration, ECF awarded $183,910 to six nonprofit programs that will enhance Escondido through interactive, publicly-accessible arts and cultural experiences. 

• The Allegro Project from Civic Youth Orchestra, Inc. ($50,000)

               "Allegro Program plants seeds to nurture into young musicians: ‘At this point we are hoping we get the roses." - The Times-Advocate
               "Allegro Strings Program Concert" Escondido Union School District Facebook Page

• The Wall Speaks from Escondido Community Child Development Center ($30,000)​

              "Mural depicting Escondido's history to be unveiled" - The Times-Advocate
              "The “Wall Speaks” mural to be dedicated June 18" - The Times-Advocate
              "Mural to Highlight Escondido Culture" - Escondido Community Child Development Center Latest News
              "Escondido Duo Paints 180-Foot-Long Mural of City's History" - NBC San Diego
              "Escondido Celebrates 180 Feet of History on Mural" - NBC San Diego

• Restoration of Historic Victorian from Escondido History Center ($16,778)
• Excavating Escondido II: An Interactive Adventure in Discovery from La Jolla Playhouse ($50,000)
• Ticitozaa Folklorico Dance Festival from Tierra Caliente Academy of Arts ($15,432)

              "Thank you Escondido Charitable Foundation..." - Tierra Caliente Academy Facebook Page
              "Ticitozaa Folkloric Dance Festival Trailer" - Tierra Caliente Academy YouTube Page