California Philanthropic Leaders Unite in Support of DACA

Saturday, September 16, 2017

More than 40 leading California foundations have signed onto this statement in support of DACA following the program's cancellation.

Statement 

The Trump Administration announced the termination of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), thereby rescinding work authorization and protection from deportation for nearly 800,000 undocumented young people. This action will have a devastating impact on almost 223,000 DACAmented Californians. 

As philanthropic institutions committed to building a prosperous, vibrant, and inclusive California, we denounce the termination of DACA as antithetical to fundamental American values, and detrimental to the well-being of all communities. DACA beneficiaries have secured better jobs, purchased cars and homes, launched new businesses, supported their families, and invigorated their communities. They have become an integral part of our social, economic, and civic fabric.

By repealing DACA, the Trump administration deprives DACAmented immigrants of the opportunity to strive for the American Dream, contribute to our collective vitality, and live a life without fear of being deported from the only home many of them have ever known. The administration’s decision pushes these young people out of the workforce, disrupts businesses, erodes our tax base, and undercuts our economic growth. Consequently, over the next decade, our nation stands to lose $460.3 billion in gross domestic product and $24.6 billion in Medicare and Social Security contributions.

DACA’s repeal will have a reverberating impact on all facets of life in communities across California, and philanthropy must mount a vigorous response. We urge our grantmaking colleagues to join us in speaking out, taking action, and increasing grantmaking at this critical moment. Ending the DACA program threatens the health and mental well-being of our neighborhoods, our families and our very humanity. We urge you to stand with immigrant communities and reaffirm your belief in fairness, justice, and the American Dream.

 

Signatories  

Akonadi Foundation
Lateefah Simon, President

Asian Pacific Fund
Audrey Yamamoto, President & Executive Director

California Bar Foundation
Sonia Gonzales, Executive Director

California Community Foundation
Antonia Hernández, President & CEO

The California Endowment
Dr. Robert K. Ross, President & CEO

The California Wellness Foundation
Judy Belk, President & CEO

Chavez Family Foundation
Tom Chavez, Founder & CEO

Common Counsel Foundation
Laura Livoti, CEO

Community Foundation Santa Cruz County
Susan True, CEO

Conrad N. Hilton Foundation
Peter Laugharn, President & CEO

East Bay Community Foundation
James W. Head, President & CEO

Evelyn and Walter Haas Jr. Fund
Jennie Lehua Watson, Interim President

Firedoll Foundation
Sandor Straus, President
Faye Straus, Vice President

Groundswell Fund
Vanessa Daniel, Executive Director 

The Grove Foundation
Leslie Dorosin, Executive Director

Heising-Simons Foundation
Deanna Gomby, President & CEO

Hellman Foundation
Susan Mayer Hirsch, Executive Director

The James Irvine Foundation
Don Howard, President & CEO

Latino Community Foundation
Jacqueline Martinez Garcel, CEO

Leichtag Foundation
James S. Farley, Esquire, President & CEO

The Penney Family Fund
Sarah Malachowsky, President 

Rappaport Family Foundation
Deborah Rappaport, President

The Reis Foundation
Pamela Reis, President

Rosenberg Foundation
Tim Silard, President

S.H. Cowell Foundation
Ann Alpers, President

Sierra Health Foundation
Chet P. Hewitt, President & CEO

Silicon Valley Community Foundation
Emmett D. Carson, Ph.D., President & CEO

The San Francisco Foundation
Fred Blackwell, CEO

Thomas J. Long Foundation
Mark Friedman, CEO

Thousand Currents
Rajasvini Bhansali, Executive Director

Urgent Action Fund
Kate Kroeger, Executive Director

United Way Bay Area
Anne Wilson, CEO

van Löben Sels/RembeRock Foundation
Nancy Wiltsek, Executive Director

The Wallace Alexander Gerbode Foundation
Stacie Ma'a, President

The Walter & Elise Haas Fund
Pamela H David, Executive Director

Weingart Foundation
Fred Ali, President & CEO

Werner-Kohnstamm Family Fund
Edward Kissam, Trustee

Westly Foundation
Catherine Crystal Foster, Executive Director

Women's Foundation of California
​Surina Khan, CEO

Y & H Soda Foundation
Bob Uyeki, CEO

The Zellerbach Family Foundation
Allison Magee, Executive Director

 

Resources

Individual Statements from Philanthropy

DACA Resources

 

 

A special thanks to GCIR members and funders for their support in making this statement possible.

PhotoJustin Valas / Creative Commons