Karen Zuber of KRVBC along side Aaron Falk, President & CEO of KCF (left) who awarded Gary Ananian of the KRC (right). Photo by Catherine Stachowiak
Aaron Falk, President & CEO of Kern Community Foundation awarded Kern River Conservancy a Grant check, during the National Night Out event, Tuesday October 1, in Lake Isabella.
The Kern Community Foundation announced the award of the $8,000 Grant to Kern River Conservancy for Post-Borel Fire Response, September 30, but officially awarded the check October 1.
Founder of Kern River Conservancy (KRC) Gary Ananian told the Kern Valley Sun, before stepping onto the stage that night, to receive the check, that he applied for the grant. He said he did it for Borel Fire victims knowing that floods can be devastating following a fire of such magnitude. Ananian wanted to help, with his group of volunteers, those who suffered from the Borel Fire, most especially Havilah residents.
According to Kern Community Foundation this funding will help residents prepare for increased risks of rain runoff and flooding in burn-scarred areas.
KRC plans to work with local authorities as well as residents identifying high-risk areas. They plan to provide essential supplies, such as sandbags and wild land tools, to protect homes. Ananian plans, and knows how to organize volunteers for debris clearance and restoring natural landscaping, drainage improvement and reduction of the risk for mudslides, which was why he had the foresight to apply to the grant.
The grant, which the foundation awarded to Kern River Conservancy, was possible because of the Disaster Relief, Recovery, and Resilience Fund at the League of California Community Foundations through Kern Community Foundation.
This grant award is merely part of a broader effort by Kern Community Foundation and its partners, who have contributed over all $41,650 in direct relief and recovery for the Borel Fire.
Nonprofits such as Kern River Conservancy were able to request funding from the Borel Fire Relief Fund by filling out the Assistance Request Form through the Kern Community Foundation’s grant portal.
Donations to such efforts are welcome at kernfoundation.org/borel.
For over 20 years the Kern Community Foundation has been serving as a charitable resource through which to provide philanthropic assistance making Kern County a better place to be.
