TUSTIN COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

The Tustin Community Foundation coordinates community resources to create positive change and support the area’s actual and most pressing needs. Unlike typical not-for-profit organizations, community Foundations have the unique ability to meet a wide variety of diverse current and emerging community needs. As such, TCF has an "Emergency Response and Recovery Fund" to help meet community needs. This flexible program allows us to rapidly deploy resources where needed, as has been done during the COVID-19 pandemic and assisting families during local fires.

Providing grants for local nonprofit organizations and schools is the primary way the Foundation makes an impact. Since 2008, 112 local nonprofit organizations, schools and community wide programs, including the Assistance League of Tustin, Tustin Public Schools Foundation, Tustin Area Council for Fine Arts, Families Forward, Council on Aging and booster clubs that support arts and athletics at all TUSD high schools, have received grants to help them deal with the ever-changing critical issues facing the community. The Foundation conducts annual Community Needs Assessments to direct grant funds where they are most needed and will make the largest impact.

When COVID hit, TCF immediately became a community resource with information on our website. TCF conducted an important community survey to determine community needs and raised much needed funds that are still being distributed to organizations that distribute food and supplies. TCF helped additional organizations by purchasing personal protection equipment, COVID testing supplies, remote learning and meeting software and equipment, etc. Knowing that seniors had a fear of leaving their homes and that many lacked the funds to shop for groceries, TCF kicked off "Friends Feeding Seniors", a program that delivers 3 free healthy restaurant meals to their door each Friday. This program served up to 156 seniors each week.

The Foundation recently provided the seed money for American Legion Post 227’s Veterans Relief Fund to care for Tustin veterans; continuously collected food for the Tustin Area Senior Center Food Distribution Program; kicked off the Tustin Rocks! craze that has connected over 1000 Tustinites of all ages; hosted the annual Superheroes of Tustin Luncheon where local non-profits honored their special volunteers and held Patriots & Pioneers programs to recognize local military heroes who perished while serving our nation.

The Foundation's annual Project Pajamas connects local businesses, nonprofit organizations and members of the community who collect and/or donate new pajamas that are distributed through youth homes (including Waymakers and Hope Harbor homes) and other nonprofit organizations (including Big Brothers Big Sisters, the Tustin Area Senior Center, the Tustin Family & Youth Center) and school resource centers in December. 3398 pairs were distributed in 2023!

Another way that the Foundation brings local businesses, nonprofits, schools and residents together is through their annual Paper Football Tournament. On Super Bowl Saturday the Foundation brings 48 nonprofit organizations and schools together to win cash prizes by playing paper football. No skills are required so anyone can play this friendly game - The youngest player has been 4 and the oldest 92. In addition, TCF assists the organizations and schools with finding additional sponsors.

The core mission of the Tustin Community Foundation is to work with donors and other partners to enhance the quality of life in throughout greater Tustin. The Foundation strives to understand local needs and seek creative solutions to meet those needs by bringing people and organizations together to address local issues and opportunities. The Foundation exists to support local charities in a non-partisan manner and serve donors who wish to better their community, now and in the future.

The Foundation does not receive funding from the City of Tustin or taxpayer dollars. All funds raised are from individual donors and through a variety of fundraising events.