The San Diego Community College District (SDCCD) will soon be distributing emergency basic-needs grants to financially struggling students, thanks to a $50,000 gift from the Molina Family Foundation.

The donation will fund emergency grants of up to $500 per student to help keep unexpected major expenses from derailing their education, and provide transportation support such as bus and trolley passes, and gas cards to ensure that students can get to work and school. The funding will be distributed through the basic needs offices at San Diego City, Mesa, Miramar and Continuing Education colleges.

The need is profound. Some 59% of SDCCD students reported being housing insecure in a 2021 #RealCollege Survey, 43% reported having limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate food, and 18% were living in a shelter, on the streets, in a car, or temporarily with a friend or relative. More than half of SDCCD students are receiving some form of financial aid, nearly one-third are the first in their family to seek a higher education, and more than 1 in 10 are either in the military, are a military veteran, or are a military spouse or dependent.

“The Molina Family Foundation, like the San Diego Community College District, is committed to eliminating disparities in access to education, and we are honored to be the recipient of this truly generous grant that will go a long way in addressing the lack of basic needs so many community college students are grappling with today,” said SDCCD Chancellor Carlos O. Cortez, Ph.D.

The $50,000 grant came as somewhat of a surprise. The SDCCD was first contacted by Hirsch Philanthropy Partners, which was acting on behalf of the Molina Family Foundation’s desire to help tackle basic needs in the district. The district is of interest to the Foundation as two members of the Foundation board are SDCCD graduates: Therese (Flynn) Molina graduated from San Diego City College, and Carley (Fox) Befeler graduated from San Diego Mesa College.

Details about how the grants will be awarded are ongoing, but it is expected that initial distributions will occur within the next several weeks. Funds must be spent by Oct. 1.

“The Molina Family Foundation is delighted to support (the) San Diego Community College District,” states a letter signed by community college alumnus Dr. J. Mario Molina, president of the Molina Family Foundation and former CEO of Molina Healthcare. “Thank you for the meaningful work you do in our community. We wish you great success.”

As one of the largest of California’s 73 community college districts, the San Diego Community College District serves approximately 100,000 students annually through three two-year colleges and the San Diego College of Continuing Education. San Diego City College, San Diego Mesa College, and San Diego Miramar College, offer associate degrees and certificates in occupational programs that prepare students for transfer to four-year colleges and entry-level jobs. Mesa College also offers a bachelor’s degree in Health Information Management. The San Diego College of Continuing Education offers noncredit adult education at seven campuses throughout San Diego.