[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 134 (Tuesday, September 22, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2330]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  CONGRATULATING THE KERN COMMUNITY FOUNDATION ON ITS 10TH ANNIVERSARY

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                          HON. KEVIN McCARTHY

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 22, 2009

  Mr. McCARTHY of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the 
Kern Community Foundation (KCF) on its 10th anniversary serving the 
citizens of the southern San Joaquin Valley. KCF was formally 
established in 1999, but it actually organized in 1995. The Foundation 
was created to build endowments to address Kern County's changing needs 
over time, help donors create charitable legacies, and assist nonprofit 
groups to deliver services to manage their donated funds.
  In 2002, KCF joined the League of California Community Foundations, 
and received re-granting funds from the California Endowment for health 
needs in Kern County. KCF then launched the Nonprofits' Resource Center 
in 2003 to assist Kern County's nonprofit organizations with training, 
discussions of community issues, technical assistance, grant-writing 
help, e-blast communications, and program support.
  In 2005, KCF introduced the Women's & Girls' Fund of Kern County as 
its first Field of Interest Fund. The Women's & Girls' Fund provides 
ongoing support to nonprofit organizations that serve Kern's women and 
girls. To date, the Fund has introduced the concepts of ``collective 
giving'' and `` giving circles'' to more than 300 donors. KCF's Women's 
& Girls' Fund has been model for other small foundations in California 
to emulate.
  Also in 2005, the Kern Community Foundation entered strategic re-
granting partnerships with private foundations, all of which continue 
in 2009. These partners include the California Wellness Foundation, the 
Weingart Foundation, and the James Irvine Foundation. The Kern 
Community Foundation achieved compliance with ``National Standards for 
U.S. Community Foundations'' in 2006.
  Since its inception, the Kern Community Foundation has promoted 
philanthropy to individuals, nonprofits and civic groups in numerous 
Kern communities including Bakersfield, Ridgecrest, Shafter, Wasco and 
the Kern River Valley area. With new funds added each year, KCF 
currently holds 90 charitable funds to suit various donors' intent. The 
Foundation has operated several grant making programs to benefit Kern 
County: Discretionary Grants; Kern Community Wellness Grants; Weingart-
KCF Grants; Kern Community Response Grants; School-to-Career Grants; 
Women's & Girls' Fund Grants; and GABY (Grant Advisory Board for Youth) 
Grants.
  The Kern Community Foundation has given the County of Kern ten years 
of dedicated service. I commend KCF for its service to Kern County 
residents in standing by their mission statement of ``enhancing the 
quality of life for all of the people of Kern County by encouraging 
philanthropy, by providing services to donors, and by assisting those 
who serve to meet the needs of the community.'' I applaud KCF's 
admirable service to Kern County and will continue to do so for years 
to come.

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