Grants

Jose was a 36 year old man suffering from AIDS and until a few months ago homeless. Despite his situation and through several battles with severe illness, he decided 3 years ago to change his life around. He completed 2 years of community college and was accepted to Cal State San Marcos where he received a Cal Grant for financial aid covering most of his tuition per semester leaving him still slightly short for this semester’s tuition. He was not in a position to borrow the additional funds and has no other source of payment. Our foundation provided a grant of much needed emergency tuition funds to allow him to finish his education to get his degree.

Grant was made August 2019

Swantay E. was a 38 year old woman raising a 6 year old daughter who had been served a 3 day notice to quit. She had a history of steady employment but recently suffered a severe attack from her abusive spouse which on top of her physical injury, triggered a PTSD reoccurrence that she first suffered from when her mother was murdered years ago. Her hospitalization and psychiatric treatment caused her great financial hardship which caused her to fall behind on her rent. The Rob Benzon foundation approved a grant to cover her rent so she and her daughter would not be evicted from their apartment.

Grant was made July 2019

Haydee was fighting a brave fight against cancer. Because of her illness, her bills became insurmountable to the point that she could not afford her critically needed medical insurance. Our foundation approved a grant to fund the cost of reinstating her medical insurance so she could maintain her life-saving treatment schedule.

Grant made June 2019

LLLAC is the 4th oldest Sober Community Center in the country. They provide meeting space to 1,000 participants per week with over 45 weekly Twelve-step recovery meetings which include meetings about alcohol, drugs, co-dependency, nicotine and the list goes on. LLLAC was told they were being evicted from their long-time location and they needed help to relocate to a new location. Our foundation approved a grant for assistance with their first month’s rent in a new location which allowed them to open their doors promptly and maintain assisting the community with no interruptions to their vital community meeting schedule.

Grant made June 2019

A grant was approved for Bernard, in the form of one month’s rental assistance, after the sudden and unexpected illness and death of his best friend and roommate, Tad. Bernard was overwhelmed with expenses associated with this tragic event and we were able to help him avoid eviction.

Grant made June 2019

The Foundation assisted Leighton who was being treated for breast cancer by paying her rent while she received treatment.

Grant made in April 2019

Lew is a person who was assaulted first, then in visiting the hospital, blood work and tests showed him to have prostate cancer. He was also in a car accident the same month with a $1,000. deductible. Because Lew’s ongoing illness, the hospital stays and ongoing bills that came with it, Lew was unable to pay his rent on time and was facing eviction from his apartment. The Foundation provided 3 months of rental assistance which allowed Lew to remain in his home and receive the medical care he needed without the fear of becoming homeless.

Grant made in March 2019

Rob Benzon Memorial Scholarship

The Rob Benzon Foundation awarded two scholarships at the annual Launching Leaders PFLAG Scholarship Awards to two LGBTQ students pursuing higher education. The Rob Benzon Memorial Scholarship was awarded to Ramon Aquino and Levin Guerra.

Grant made in March 2019

Robin P.

A senior and member of the LGBT community, she had been been bedridden with multiple serious health conditions, and at great risk to developing a UTI because her health insurance denied her the correct type of antibiotic treated catheter she needed. Because of the financial burden connected with her past and current health issues of multiple sclerosis, Robin’s family found itself unable to afford the expenses associated with purchasing the catherters. The Foundation stepped in to help by paying for the much needed catheters with a one year supply though a grant in 2018 and again in 2019.

Grant made in March 2018 & March 2019

Mama’s Kitchen

The Foundation once again awarded a grant to Mama’s Kitchen to support their Home Delivered Meal Service program, a home-delivered meal service that provides meals to individuals in San Diego County affected by AIDS or cancer. The meal program delivery package contains 6 meals (a warm dinner for Monday, breakfast/lunch/dinner for Tuesday, and breakfast/lunch for Wednesday). On an average delivery day, there are typically 320 individuals who receive these meals daily through this program.

Grant was made in March 2019.