The Santa Barbara Foundation has awarded $224,000 in 2008 Education and Personal Development grants to six Santa Maria Valley nonprofits, according to a recent press release from the Santa Barbara Foundation. Many of the grants will benefit children and youths.

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Maria Valley received one of the first (and one of the largest) general operating grants: $75,000 to support staff salaries and training. The organization operates three clubs in Santa Maria and Guadalupe and offers after-school programs at five schools, serving 4,000 children.

The Santa Maria Young Men's Christian Association also received a general operating grant: $50,000 to support 120 staff salaries. The YMCA has 5,300 members, 60 percent of whom receive financial assistance.

Other grants included Allan Hancock College Foundation: $30,000 for a Citizenship Program to help legal residents complete the naturalization process; Camp Fire USA: $4,000 for Classic Club and Community Family Club programs for Good Samaritan Shelter clients; Conflict Solutions Center of Santa Barbara County: $30,000 for the Restorative Justice Partnership Initiative for the juvenile justice system in North County; and Fighting Back Santa Maria Valley: $35,000 for the Parent Project.

Grants were awarded with help from the members of the foundation's Santa Maria Affiliate. All volunteers, they share their knowledge of the Santa Maria community to help direct grants where they are most needed.

For more information, call Affiliate Coordinator Kathy Simas at 346-6123, or visit www.sbfoundation.org.

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