Biddy Mason org gets Starbucks grant to support foster youth

The Biddy Mason Charitable Foundation has received a Neighborhood Grant of $9,000 from The Starbucks Foundation to support ongoing programs serving the Los Angeles foster care community, BMCF announced Sunday.

“We’re a small nonprofit serving hundreds of LA’s current and former foster youth through scholarships, residential support and other critical programs. Collaborations like those with Starbucks amplify our work beyond what we could do independently,” BMCF CEO and President Jackie Broxton said in a statement. “We’re so thankful to The Starbucks Foundation for demonstrating how we can help more people by working together!”

Starbucks launched its Neighborhood Grants program in 2019 to generate sustainable local impact and inspire increased partner engagement with nonprofit organizations that work in its communities, according to the announcement. To date, The Starbucks Foundation has awarded more than $20 million to over 13,000 nonprofits. A total of 33,000 nonprofits were nominated by Starbucks employees to receive a 2024 grant, and 2,800 received funding.

“Our partners (employees) know their communities best and have shared great insights about the organizations helping to uplift others in their neighborhoods, from supporting youth and families to fighting hunger and promoting environmental stewardship,” Alicia Vermaele, executive director of The Starbucks Foundation, said in a statement. “Through our latest round of Neighborhood Grants, we’re proud to support local organizations nominated by Starbucks partners who make our communities stronger.”

Starbucks and BMCF have a growing alliance going, with Starbucks supporting several BMCF events, including its annual Foster Youth Resource Fair that took place in May. BMCF intends to expand the partnership as it implements new programs, according to the organization.

For more information about the Biddy Mason Charitable Foundation, go to biddymason.com.