Puente will participate in Coastside Gives on Thursday, May 4, 2017. This One Day fundraising campaign initiated by East Bay Gives takes the place of the very successful Silicon Valley Gives campaign that ended in 2016. Your support to Puente through Coastside Gives will allow us to serve more families, youth, and individuals on the South Coast with vital programs and services. Coastside Gives is a unique opportunity to double your support to Puente. Donations made on Thursday, May 4, 2017 will be matched dollar for dollar by other generous donors during the campaign! Donations for Coastside Gives can be made at: https://www.eastbaygives.org/puente
Funding from Coastside Gives will largely support our youth program, which is one of Puente’s flagship programs. Puente has maintained the steady growth of this program despite losing federal funding through the San Mateo County Work Investment Force Program, which formerly supported it. We have focused our efforts in growing this program, because of the great promise of our youth. Students like Diego Castro, who has participated in Puente’s Employment and Leadership program for 2 years, comes from immigrant parents, and will be the first in his family to graduate from High School, go to college and have a career. Diego’s remarkable work ethic, dedication, and academic excellence have led him to get accepted to San Jose State University. Diego has a keen interest in accounting and engineering. Puente helped Diego last year gain an internship with YMCA Camp Jones Gulch as a counselor, to understand financial aid awards, and helped him apply to scholarships and enroll for classes at San Jose State. There are dozens of students like Diego that Puente works with on a regular basis, encouraging them to pursue their academic goals, and career aspirations.
This year has challenged Puente like never before. We face a time of uncertainty about various issues including immigration, health care, education, and civil rights. These challenging times however, give us an opportunity to come together, and build our community in a way that raises our diverse voices in unity, and dignifies every one of our neighbors, family, and friends. Now more than ever Puente needs the help of our supporters to move our mission forward and continue to nurture a healthy, sustainable, and an inclusive community in the South Coast. Please support our Coastside Gives campaign and help Puente continue to improve the quality of life for South Coast residents.
Schedule your donation at https://www.eastbaygives.org/puente today!
