Tri-county tech startups join effort to distribute PPE
Tech startups across the Tri-Counties and Greater Los Angeles combined forces to raise some $200,000 in donations for personal protective equipment and direct it to Southern California health care systems.
The effort, called SoCal Tech for SoCal Hospitals, combines the expertise of logistics and health care startups including Santa Barbara-based Well Health, and fundraising from bathroom cleaning system maker Shine.
The organization has sourced more than 50,000 N95 masks from providers in China and distributed them among hospitals including Sansum Clinic, Cottage Hospital, and Community Memorial Health System Ventura, and others in San Diego and Los Angeles.
Outdoor furniture maker Outer has coordinated shipments using its warehouses, while storage and logistics company Clutter managed distribution. Supporters of the partnership include software maker Honey and investment firm Upfront Ventures, among several others.
$200K DONATED TO HEALTH CENTERS
To bolster the fight against COVID-19 and support the Central Coast’s medically underserved farmworker community, the Santa Barbara Vintners Foundation and Direct Relief gave a gift of $200,000 to Community Health Centers of the Central Coast.
“This generous gift will literally save lives — it’s that simple,” said Community Health Centers CEO Ron Castle. “Our clinics are on the health care frontline. As a result, CHC has never had a greater need for support. We are extremely grateful to the Vintners Foundation and Direct Relief for their joint donation.”
JUNIOR LEAGUE FUNDS NONPROFITS
The Junior League of Santa Barbara has awarded $12,000 to seven nonprofit organizations:
• Children and Family Resource Services
• Court Appointed Special Advocates of Santa Barbara County
• Family Care Network
• Peoples’ Self-Help Housing
• Royal Family Kids of Santa Barbara
• Santa Barbara Public Library Foundation
• Storyteller Children’s Center.
DIGITAL EDUCATION GRANTS
Charter Communications, which serves San Luis Obispo and Ventura counties, is accepting applications for the 2020 Spectrum Digital Education grant program, which supports nonprofit organizations that educate community members on the benefits of broadband and how to use it in their lives.
Applications are available at corporate.charter.com/digital-education/grants and will be accepted until 5 p.m. June 26.
Grants will be announced in August and awarded in September.
Charter opened the Spectrum Digital Education application portal two months earlier than planned to help meet the overwhelming need from nonprofit organizations focused on providing broadband training, access and education during the COVID-19 crisis.
• The Good Works column is a monthly roundup of nonprofit and philanthropy news in the Tri-Counties. Submit items to Glenn Rabinowitz at grabinowitz@pacbiztimes.com.
