Preservation & Environment
Ventura County Community Foundation
The Southern California-based nonprofit organization builds and manages philanthropic support in the region and addresses community needs for the ...
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United Way of Ventura County was established in 1945 to provide residents with crucial health and human services. Since then, the organization has worked to mobilize the community's power and resources to improve the lives of all residents through volunteer-based and community-designed programs focused on -ducation, financial stability, and health. In addition to these direct service programs, United Way of Ventura County played a crucial role in establishing 2-1-1, the county's information and referral social-services call center.
As the region weathered increasingly destructive wildfire seasons, United Way of Ventura County expanded its poverty reduction programming to include disaster relief. In 2017, the Thomas Fire — California's largest-ever wildfire at the time — scorched more than 281,000 acres of land in Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties. In 2018, heavy rains induced mudslides and flash floods in recently burned areas, further endangering citizens and their residences. In response, the United Way of Ventura County established the Thomas Fire and Flood Fund to provide direct aid for the victims, raising more than $4.5 million to individuals and families living in Ventura County.
Disaster Relief - The Thomas Fire Fund