The SVB Foundation recently awarded FTSV a $10,000 grant to underwrite financial assistance for 72 underserved participants. This allows these youth access to an 8-week life and golf skills class taught by mentors providing a safe, positive, welcoming and nurturing experience. The funds will help us to continue to serve a diverse population of youth regardless of background especially those experiencing the opportunity gap prevalent in Silicon Valley
The SVB Foundation is currently focusing on partnering with employees who regularly volunteer to award grants to non-profit organizations that are most passionate about. Reka Mishra, SVB Executive, Finance – Chief Officer and Head of Strategy was recruited to join FTSV’s Board in 2019 to be instrumental in providing leadership in the areas of STEM Programming and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). Reka shared, “I was drawn to their mission to develop youth throughout Silicon Valley, transforming their lives and giving them a brighter future. Being an advocate for STEM, I consulted on their innovative platform to offer under-served youth the opportunity to develop both personally and professionally while exposing them to STEM concepts for improved career choices. I am also proud to serve an organization that holds DEI at the core of their identity and ensures it is part of our culture and present in all aspects of our business.”
Kids are never turned away from taking FTSV’s youth development through golf classes due to an inability to pay. We work to actively create a space of belonging for every kid – no matter what walk of life. Our diversity,equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts are not a project, program or series of events, but an expression of who we are and a purposeful process to ensure our mission is fulfilled. We offer programs for kids and teens up to age 18. We help kids discover what’s inside of them, guide them to strengthen it, and mentor them to put it into action in everything they do.
FTSV offers financial assistance for our 8-week season on a sliding scale from $20 to $180 depending upon need, which is determined by self-reported household income, number in the household, enrollment in the SFLP, and financial hardship. Due to the impact of Covid-19, our low-income families have experienced increased financial hardship which has increased our number of requests for aid and an increased number of families only able to pay $20. The demand for our classes is at an all-time high with families looking for safe outdoor naturally social distanced activities for their children during a pandemic.
Thank you SVB Foundation for providing the necessary funds so we can expand our financial aid program to more families in need. The grant will allow us to continue providing our youth development program which enable kids and teens to build the strength of character that empowers them through a lifetime of new challenges by seamlessly integrating the game of golf with life skills.
For more than 35 years, SVB Financial Group (NASDAQ: SIVB) and its subsidiaries have helped innovative companies and their investors move bold ideas forward, fast. SVB Financial Group’s businesses, including Silicon Valley Bank, offer commercial and private banking, asset management, private wealth management, brokerage and investment services and funds management services to companies in the technology, life science and healthcare, private equity and venture capital, and premium wine industries. Headquartered in Santa Clara, California, SVB Financial Group operates in centers of innovation around the world. Learn more at svb.com.