Thank You for Supporting Students' Basic Needs
In December 2023, an anonymous donor pledged a $1 million match toward our Hope Initiative, the foundation’s three-million-dollar fundraising initiative to support students’ basic needs including food, housing, and mental health.
Thanks to you, the match was met, and more than $3 million dollars was raised, making a huge impact in the lives of Foothill and De Anza students.
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, there is 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.
As you may know, 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 students 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 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 them opportunities to achieve success, no matter the obstacles that they face.
The funds raised for the Hope Initiative have an immediate, direct effect on the lives and educational success of Foothill and De Anza students.
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.