Thank You for Supporting Students' Basic Needs
In 2021, the Foothill-De Anza Foundation launched the Hope Initiative, a $3 million fundraising effort dedicated to supporting students' basic needs, including food, housing, and mental health services.
This initiative was established in response to the significant challenges faced by our students, particularly in the high-cost Silicon Valley area, where many struggle to meet essential needs while pursuing their educational and career goals.
In December 2023, an anonymous donor pledged a $1 million matching gift to bolster our efforts. Thanks to the generosity of our community, we successfully matched this pledge in 2024, bringing us over our $3 million goal.
Your contributions have made a tangible difference. Funds from the Hope Initiative have directly impacted the lives of Foothill and De Anza students by supporting food pantries, providing emergency grants, and offering mental health resources.
For an overview of the impact of your donations, we invite you to review our annual report, which details the programs and services made possible through your generosity. View the 2024 Annual Report here.
Thank you once again for your unwavering support. Together, we are making a profound difference in the lives of our students, empowering them to overcome obstacles and achieve success.
Did you know that students surveyed by the colleges responded that they ate less or went hungry because they didn’t have enough money for food? Each college has a food pantry where students can access e-gift cards for food purchases. Funds from the Hope Initiative support food pantries at both Foothill and De Anza, helping students and their families keep healthy food on their tables. More than 1,600 students utilized the campus food pantries in 2022-23 year.
Listen to David, a De Anza student and veteran explain how the food pantry helped him as he transitioned from the military to being a student.
Mental health has become a serious issue among college students and can be a barrier to student success. Funds through our Hope Initiative helps the colleges bridge the gap in funding to purchase the TimelyCare smartphone app, which provides free mental health support and other online resources to all Foothill and De Anza students. Students can speak right away with a mental health professional at any time of night or day, schedule an appointment for a one-on-one online session with a licensed counselor, and find online resources and referrals for a variety of basic needs. In fact, nearly 500 students enrolled in the virtual on-demand mental health service app in the 2022-23 academic year.
Did you know that many of our students moved often, shared a room, or struggled to pay for housing or utilities? According to a recent De Anza College survey, one in six respondents said they had been homeless during the previous year. Hope funds are providing emergency grants for students who are struggling with housing issues. Covering the cost of a utility bill or a rent gap can be a lifesaver for students.
The Foothill-De Anza Foundation's tax identification number is 94-3258220
Your gifts to the Hope Initiative will help with the resources the colleges offer.