Grants

Being Alive San Diego was granted $1000 for their food pantry “Daniel’s Market” which provides groceries each month for 1,000 needy individuals affected with HIV/AIDS in San Diego. “Daniel’s Market” is a farmer’s market style food distribution that restores not only their client’s ability to get enough to eat but, as Shannon Wagner, BASD Executive Director put it, “It also restores their HOPE.” She went on to say, “Our clients that are affected by HIV/AIDS are also seniors, working poor, families and most importantly; our family, friends and neighbors.”

Grant made February 2020

We have received and paid an emergency grant request from Kerrie and her wife Karen. Karen has had some profoundly serious medical issues and was not able to work. She eventually lost her job due to these issues. It is sad and ironic that they found themselves suddenly in a position desperately needing financial assistance. They lived their lives constantly assisting the San Diego LGBTQ community. In fact, they only recently were honored by San Diego civic leaders for their years helping raise money for those in need. It was an honor for our foundation to be able to give back to this wonderful and generous couple when they were the ones needing help. We gave them rental assistance for two months and paid an overdue phone bill to avoid disconnection.

Grant made February 2020

Eugene was a 24 year old gay man who was in his senior year at Cal State University-San Marcos. He was scheduled to graduate with a degree in May in Business Administration. Unfortunately, his grandmother died unexpectedly at the age of 77 leaving him without any family support or financial support. She had raised him since he was five years old and he had no other family to whom he could turn. The Rob Benzon Foundation approved a grant to pay his past due rent, cover a small tuition bill so he could get his degree and we bought him some much appreciated groceries.

Grant made December 2019

Raymond was diagnosed with terminal kidney disease and while being able to work for awhile to support his family, a year later he was no longer able to do so. He was unemployed, receiving disability benefits, getting in-home care and undergoing daily dialysis at home. The dialysis machine resulted in higher energy costs and the family had fallen behind with SDGE to the point that they were threatened with disconnection of their power. Our foundation was able to approve a grant to pay the family’s SDGE bill so as to avoid disconnection of service allowing Raymond to continue his desperately needed daily dialysis treatments.

Grant made December 2019

Children of Holiday Magic Project produces yearly, several thousand, 12-page activity/coloring and interactive CD books, that are distributed to sick and hospital bound children at Rady’s Children’s Hospital of San Diego during the holiday season. The Rob Benzon Foundation approved a grant to pay for the printing costs of these much-anticipated children books for the hospitalized children.

Grant made December 2019

The Rob Benzon Foundation has again answered the call to assist with costs of the annual Scott Carlson Community 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 individuals benefited from this year’s dinner.

Grant made in November 2019

John’s family were refugees from Uganda that were already struggling to afford to live in San Diego before an illness brought them additional financial hardship. They were living paycheck to paycheck as their income is only enough to rent which meant that were unable to keep current with their water utility bill. Our foundation was able to approve a grant to pay their water bill to avoid disconnection.

Grant was made November 2019

Douglass, 67, had a surgery to remove his cancerous bladder and prostate. Doctors were able to construct a new bladder from his small intestine. Tubes were used to deal with his temporary incontinence. Douglass used incontinence pull-ups as he heals. His health problems and resulting bills, meant he was financially challenged while his insurance company denied covering the needed pads. The Rob Benzon Foundation provided several months of needed pull- ups incontinence supplies so he could make a safe and comfortable recovery.

Grant was made October 2019

Kevin M. was a local massage therapist that always would volunteer his time for local charity events helping the LGBTQ community until his own health took an unexpected turn for the worse. His family had a history of kidney issues and Kevin it turns out, was no exception, He was going to require a kidney transplant. He was scheduled for a kidney transplant but last minute heart problems brought about an unexpected delay to his surgery. This also meant more unexpected medical bills and more time not being able to work. Our foundation approved a grant for both rental assistance and groceries to provide him with both stable housing and nutritious food during his recovery.

Grant was made September 2019

Patrick was a 56 year old man who had been suffering from AIDS and associated issues for years. He was unemployed, without significant assets resulting from fall several months prior that shattered both his wrists so he was unable to work, drive or deal with other daily tasks. With four needed surgeries and a long road to recovery ahead of him, a disability insurance mistake meant an unexpected delay that left him without funds to pay his bills. The Rob Benzon Foundation approved a grant for his rent to prevent his impending eviction and thus allow him the time to heal without further hardship.

Grant was made August 2019