California is one of the largest states in
the the US and home to millions of residents,
some of whom need a little more help
from society than others. This list, in no
particular order, highlights some organizations providing opportunities and
support to poor people living in the Golden
State.
Kicking off our list at # 1 is
Para Los Ninos. Founded in the Skid Row
neighborhood of Downtown Los Angeles, this organization aims
to foster pathways to success for low-income children,
young adults, and families each year through education
and community building.
PLN's mental health services offer therapy to children,
which includes trauma-specific supports. The program works collaboratively
with the organization's early education sites, charter schools,
and other programs in its students and community
services initiative, supporting caregivers and teachers as well
as children.
At # 2 we present the College Futures
Foundation, an organization that works in partnership with
other nonprofits and leaders across California to create
more seamless, student-centered pathways to higher education, especially
for those who are traditionally underrepresented at universities.
The Foundation maintains a multi-year investment to help
community colleges implement Guided Pathways, a tool that
aids institutions in identifying students who need extra
assistance. From there, it guides students to clarify
and achieve their educational goals by providing counseling
services and improving course scheduling and sequencing.
For # 3 we have United Ways of
California, a network of organizations of the same
name that fight to ensure that every family
in the state has the tools and resources
they need to lead successful lives. It aims
to advance opportunities for low-income people by focusing
on three priority areas health education, and income.
The group works to achieve its mission through
education and advocacy. As a nonpartisan state organization,
it sees its role as bringing diverse groupings
of stakeholders, such as businesses nonprofits philanthropy, and
government together, along with local chapters, to address
common social problems.
Coming in at # 4 we have the
San Francisco-Marin Food Bank its mission is to
end hunger for Bay Area residents. One of
its initiatives provides home-delivered groceries to support better
health and promote independent living for low-income seniors
and adults with disabilities.
The organization also assists eligible Californians in accessing
their food stamps benefits. With other community partners,
it helps residents enroll in the program through
education outreach, client advocacy, and application assistance. In
addition, the Food Bank provides weekly groceries to
low-income college students.
Rounding out our list at # 5 is
Cal EITC 4 Me, a statewide campaign dedicated
to raising awareness about the benefits of the
California Earned Income Tax Credit, a program designed
to assist low-income people by giving them a
tax refund or reducing the amount they owe
when filing.
The organization runs a multi-channel, multicultural outreach campaign
to build awareness of this tax credit. It
provides a range of printable materials to help
people understand how to claim it, with the
goal of getting working families the maximum refund
amount during tax season.