Grants
Our Grants
It is our honor to help our fellow San Diegans through our grant program. Below are some of our grant recipients throughout the years. To protect their privacy, first and last names may not be displayed.
To request a grant, click the “Request a Grant” button.
Chris
Chris
Chris, a member of the San Diego LGBT community living with HIV, recently lost everything he owned due to a break in at his apartment. Chris’s vocation is specialized construction work and while onsite at a construction job out of town, Chris’ apartment in San Diego was burglarized. The break-in was catastrophic as Chris had just moved to this new apartment and most of his belongings (including most of his tools) were still packed in boxes, which made for easy work for the thieves to literally walk away with everything he owned. The resulting stress of the loss of all he owned caused Chris to have a health crisis, which sent him to the hospital for a week. This grant helped Chris get himself back on his feet and back to making a living.
Grant made November 2015
Francisco
Francisco
The Rob Benzon Foundation came to the aid of a member of the San Diego LGBT community working in the U.S. on a temporary work authorization. Francisco is a high school Spanish teacher who is very well-liked by his students and peers. He has worked with LGBTQ kids, including offering much support to a member of the transgender community that has just started to transition. Due to a delay by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (the government agency that oversees lawful immigration to the United States), he was removed from his teaching position, because of this delay in the approval process. This grant helped Francisco with living expenses until his work authorization was reinstated.
Grant made November 2015
Gregory
Gregory
The Foundation provided assistance for this member of the San Diego community who has been battling stage 3 Non-Hodgkin’s Malt Lymphoma. Gregory was treated with eight weeks of radiation therapy and is now on his third cycle of chemotherapy. The chemo treatments will continue every two months for two years. His prognosis for health is bright, since the cancer has gone into remission, but he was unable to work during the treatments. Without the ability to work, he has had a staggering amount of bills to contend with. This grant provided immediate assistance to pay for living expenses.
Grant made November 2015
2015 Scott Carlson Thanksgiving Dinner
2015 Scott Carlson Thanksgiving Dinner
The Rob Benzon Foundation once again answered the call to assist with costs of the annual Scott Carlson Thanksgiving Dinner held at the San Diego LGBT Community Center on Thanksgiving Day. Started in 1988 by Scott Carlson as a dinner for HIV/AIDS patients, the tradition of giving continues to provide a hot Thanksgiving meal for those in need in our community on the day we earmark to give thanks. The dinner now includes people with cancer and other ailments, homeless people, and anyone needing a safe and inviting place to come together as a community on this holiday. More than 500 people benefited from this year’s dinner.
Grant made November 2015
The San Diego LGBT Community Center’s Behavioral Health Services
The San Diego LGBT Community Center’s Behavioral Health Services in memory of Kurt Cunningham
In honor of the late Kurt Cunningham, this grant provided funds for the San Diego LGBT Community Center’s Behavioral Health Services to benefit those suffering from depression and other behavioral health issues in our community.
Grant made October 2015
Nisha
Nisha
Nisha was diagnosed with inoperable brain tumors. The Rob Benzon Foundation provided her with funds to help cover the cost of expensive co-payments for the radiation treatments she needs.
Grant made October 2015
Patricia
Patricia
Patricia received a terminal diagnosis of heart failure and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and is not expected to live more than six months. Her dying wish is to be able to transition in a clean house with as much love and respect as possible alongside her elderly husband of 30 years. The Foundation approved a grant that would provide funds for housekeeping services at her home twice a month for 12 months.
Grant made August 2015
Theodore
Theodore
Theodore, a 77 year old gentleman, suffered with a terminal diagnosis of Pulmonary Fibrosis and COPD. He and his wife spent most of their lives helping impoverished children in Guatemala, the Philippines and the US. He was in hospice with his body failing quickly. His dying wish was to be able to ride the train to Santa Barbara to visit his best friend who just turned 99. The Rob Benzon Foundation granted Theodore the necessary funds for the cost of the train ride for both he and his wife so she may assist him and for one night’s lodging in an affordable nearby motel.
Grant made June 2015
San Diego Multicultural LGBT Literary Foundation
San Diego Multicultural LGBT Literary Foundation
This grant was used to fund the cost of books at the San Diego Multicultural LGBT Literary Foundation’s “We Alive: A Celebration of Black Lesbian Womanhood” event, which was held on March 8, 2015. The highly successful program featured the acclaimed Black lesbian performance poet Lenelle Moïse and other performance artists. We Alive took place on International Women’s Day and was the only lesbian-focused International Women’s Day event held in San Diego. The focus on Black lesbian women was intended to address anti-Black racism that has most recently led to the creation of the #BlackLivesMatter movement. In that spirit, the Rob Benzon Foundation provided funding for 50 copies of Lenelle Moïse’s book, which was delivered to California women’s prisons with an emphasis on local women’s correctional facilities in San Diego.
Grant made February 2015
Special Delivery San Diego
Special Delivery San Diego
Rob Benzon Foundation again answered the call to improve the nutritional status and quality of life of members of the LGBT community living with life-threatening illnesses in San Diego through the provision of medically-appropriate meals. This grant was targeted specifically for funding for the food pantry at Special Delivery San Diego, which purchased groceries for approximately 150 materially-poor clients with AIDS, heart disease, cancer, kidney disease and other life-threatening illnesses for three months.
Grant made February 2015