Cox Communications is putting serious money behind San Diego students living on the edge of homelessness, pledging a $150,000 matching grant to the Monarch School Project in Barrio Logan. The nonprofit runs the city’s K-12 school for students experiencing homelessness, and the company says the new funds will go toward housing assistance, food security and essential wraparound services for students and their families. With a second match from a local foundation lined up, school leaders say every small donation has the potential to triple in impact through the end of the year.
Cox match targets housing, food and wraparound support
According to the Times of San Diego, Cox structured the $150,000 commitment as a matching grant, so community donations are effectively doubled by the company. The money is earmarked for housing assistance, food security efforts and Monarch’s wraparound programs that help stabilize students and their families. Cox has supported the Monarch School Project for nearly a decade, and school officials say the new match, combined with an additional local foundation match, means gifts made through December 31 can be multiplied.
Cox says investing in youth strengthens the community
Sam Attisha, Cox’s senior vice president for the West region and a member of Monarch’s board, framed the move as both philanthropy and community investment. “Cox is honored to champion this mission because when we invest in our youth, we’re investing in brighter futures and a stronger, more compassionate community for us all,” he told the Times of San Diego. The comments highlight how corporate partners see the campus as a neighborhood safety net for families in a housing crisis.
Lucky Duck match stacks on top
The Lucky Duck Foundation has stepped in with its own challenge, putting up a $100,000 match tied to Giving Tuesday that stacks with Cox’s pledge, according to the foundation’s website. Interim CEO Debra Molyneux said the partnership helps keep students and families from falling further into instability.
What Monarch School provides
Monarch School Project operates a trauma-informed K-12 campus in Barrio Logan focused on academics, social-emotional learning and family stability. As the Monarch School Project explains, nearly 300 students attend classes there each day. Alongside traditional instruction, students and their families receive housing support, daily meals and case management. The model blends education with emergency services so students can keep showing up to class even when their housing situation falls apart.
Philanthropy ramps up support
Monarch’s latest boost comes on the heels of a major local commitment: earlier this year, the San Diego Foundation announced a $1 million endowment for the school as part of its Fifty & Forward campaign. That long-term funding, layered with corporate matches like Cox’s and Lucky Duck’s, gives school leaders more flexibility to address winter housing and food needs. Officials say the timing is critical for families who often face heightened instability during the holiday season.
How San Diegans can give
Monarch and Lucky Duck have posted straightforward instructions for donors who want to take advantage of the matching opportunities. The Monarch School’s support page and Lucky Duck’s Giving Tuesday page explain how contributions can qualify for both matches. Giving options are listed on the Monarch School Project site, while details on the stacking challenge are available from the Lucky Duck Foundation. Leaders say donations made through December 31 will be amplified by the two matches.
