Join Us in Reaching our Hope Initiative Goal:  

In December 2023, an anonymous donor pledged a $1 million match toward our foundation’s Hope Initiative. The Hope Initiative, launched in the fall of 2021, has a goal of raising $3 million to support students’ basic needs, including food, housing, and mental health. To date, thanks to our community of donors, we have raised more than $1 million towards that goal. Now with this incredible pledge of a $1M match, we are within reach of our fundraising goal 

We can only do this with the help and support of the community.  

The ability for students to meet their most basic needs connects directly to their ability to achieve educational and career goals. The Community College League of California recently published a report, “Real College California: Basic Needs Among California Community Colleges,” that validated what we have experienced on our own campuses – students in our region need support. In fact, the study found that two of every three California community college students face at least one basic needs insecurity, including lack of food and housing. In addition, the report showed a clear connection between basic needs and academic performance — the lower the grades students reported receiving, the greater the likelihood they reported basic needs insecurities.

In addition, the cost-of-living challenges in Silicon Valley, have put immense pressure on our students and their families, particularly those whose circumstances make them the most vulnerable.  Therefore, securing additional support for our students’ basic needs remains an urgent cause for our foundation.  

Foothill and De Anza colleges continue to be among the leading community colleges in the nation because of the incredible investments made by our community, the hard work of our students, and the commitment of our staff, faculty, and administrators.  

The Foundation’s Hope Initiative is helping to bridge the gap by providing the colleges with private support to supply students with food vouchers, emergency grants, and mental health tools that give our students the best opportunities to achieve success, no matter the obstacles they face. 

We are looking to you – our donors, our community, our corporate partners, our friends, and our alumni – to meet the goals of this campaign and to continue your support for educational excellence at Foothill and De Anza colleges. We hope that you will personally join our efforts by making a contribution.    

Now with this incredible $1 million match, each gift can be doubled!  Please consider giving a gift and help us give hope to students who are trying so hard to reach their educational and career goals.

The funds raised for the Hope Initiative have an immediate, direct effect on the lives and educational success of Foothill and De Anza students.