Helping the Folks Who Help
by James Higa, Executive Director
We are in uncharted territory. Adrift at sea, in the dark, with no sense of direction or how far landfall might be.
Many of us are coping and are lucky to be sheltering in place with loved ones, but there are health workers on the front lines and who have no choice. Our restaurants and small businesses are under siege. Their workers are facing uncertain shifts at best and layoffs with no safety nets at worst.
The neediest in our communities are disproportionately being hit the hardest. The homeless don't have a home to shelter in. If you are sharing a room with five people, you can't practice safe social distancing. If you have just come through the border crossing at McAllen, TX seeking asylum, you have no wrap around support. And the nonprofit organizations that have been the backstop to these people are seeing their funds rapidly depleting and their donations dwindling. The big fundraising galas planned for the Spring and Summer are evaporating with dire consequences for budget shortfalls.
PVF has always been about immediate response and extending a hand to those with the most critical needs. Because of our deep connections in the community, we often hear first about grassroots needs and about creative new initiatives for addressing the crises we are facing. We are known for responding rapidly to such opportunities and we will continue to stand together with our community partners as we navigate our way through this crisis together.
Please help us help the folks who help by donating to PVF.  Your support will allow us to move quickly to support needs in our hallmark non-bureaucratic immediate response fashion.  
The Impact of Proactive Giving
A few months ago, before the CoVID-19 crisis hit and Bay Area school districts would transition to remote learning, PVF's San Mateo County Program Director Sheryl Young met with Sara Rich, Principal of Woodrow Wilson Elementary School in Daly City.
PVF asked what funding opportunity would make a big impact for their students. The answer? A loaner computer program.
This week Principal Rich reached back out to PVF to let us know that because of our funding, they were able to give computers to every student in need! 
"Thank you for having a vision, believing in our kids and our community, 
and for being so supportive!  We did something amazing together 
and it is so great for kids and families."

About the Editors
James Higa
James Higa, Executive Director, brings 28 years of executive experience from Silicon Valley, working with Steve Jobs to change the face of technology. He was at the birth of the personal computer revolution as a member of the original Macintosh team and was deeply involved in the creation of many products and services at Apple over 3 decades. He has a long history of public service as a board member of Stanford's Haas Center and in grassroots relief efforts.
Bill Somerville, Founder, has been in non-profit and philanthropic work for over 50 years. He was the director of a community foundation for 17 years, and in 1991, he founded Philanthropic Ventures Foundation. Bill has consulted at over 400 community foundations, on creative grantmaking and foundation operations. Bill is the author of  Grassroots Philanthropy: Field Notes of a Maverick Grantmaker
About PVF
PVF is a demonstration foundation practicing unique forms of grantmaking and innovative philanthropy. Our primary interest is in the creative and significant use of the philanthropic dollar.
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