In the wake of devastating floods that struck San Diego County on January 22, the local community has stepped up to the plate in a major way. The San Diego Flood Response Fund, set up by the San Diego Foundation, has reported a deluge of support, accumulating an impressive $832,000 worth of donations. This fund serves the pressing needs of those affected, channeling the funds to nonprofits on the front lines of disaster relief.

The fundraising initiative recently got a significant boost. The SDF Board of Governors decided to double down on their promise to aid flood victims, introducing a new matching program that pledges $1 for every $2 raised, up to $500,000. According to Mark Stuart, President and CEO of SDF, "The generosity of San Diegans throughout the county is aiding in the recovery of those impacted." He told the San Diego Foundation, "We are grateful for every contribution."

This week marked a milestone with SDF approving a new grant of $190,000 for the YMCA of San Diego County, aimed to rapidly to provide housing vouchers. More than 400 local residents displaced by the floods will benefit from this timely aid. Up to now, the Flood Response Fund has allocated $305,000 in grants to various efforts addressing fundamental needs such as housing, transportation, and food security.

Donations have poured in from over 874 individual benefactors, local businesses, and SDF fundholders, all contributing to the collective effort to lift their neighbors out of the water's wrath. Among the substantial recent donations tallied were $100,000 from the Disaster Relief, Recovery & Resilience Fund at the League of California Community Foundations and $50,000 from PNC Foundation. PNC Regional president for Greater San Diego, Alan Prohaska, expressed his company's pride in San Diego, divulging to the San Diego Foundation, "We hope that our support encourages others to join us in aiding and advocating for those who have been significantly impacted by this unprecedented disaster."

The San Diego Flood Response Fund has committed to channel 100 percent of donations directly to local nonprofits engaged in disaster relief, working to alleviate the hardship experienced by San Diegan families in the wake of the floods. For those looking to contribute or nonprofit organizations in the trenches seeking to apply for funding, detailed information and guidelines can be found at SDFoundation.org.