The Chula Vista Community Foundation has long been dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for those who live and work in Chula Vista. This year, its members are shining a light on an often overlooked—but deeply meaningful—issue: animal welfare.
For the 2025 grant cycle, the Foundation is focusing its efforts on supporting organizations that care for animals and the people who love them.
According to CVCF Board Chair Robert Farwell, this focus was a long time coming. “Our board and grants committee have always wanted to do something for animal welfare, and it has always been among the top two or three focus areas when the members vote to select the focus area for previous grant cycles,” he explained. “We all have a warm spot in our hearts for our pets, and we were elated when it was our members’ top choice for this last grant cycle.”
At the heart of CVCF’s mission is its commitment to member-driven philanthropy. Members vote each year to determine the focus area, then play a hands-on role in the grant selection process.
“This is one of the things that I think makes CVCF so special,” Farwell said. “Our members are directly involved throughout the process of grant-making, from voting on the grant focus area each year, to participating in the grant application reviews, site visits, and ultimately, voting on the grant awardees.”
Those who serve on the grants committee gain firsthand insight into local nonprofit efforts, connecting with potential grantees and learning about their initiatives in detail.
This year, the Chula Vista Animal Care Facility and SBCS, formerly South Bay Community Services, were selected as the 2025 grant recipients. Both organizations impressed the committee with their compassionate, forward-thinking approaches to animal welfare and support for local families. Farwell said, “We felt that both organizations are dedicated to combatting animal overpopulation, reducing the need to surrender pets due to financial or family hardships, and they demonstrate a culture of compassion towards animals and their families living in Chula Vista.”
The impact of this grant cycle may go beyond the immediate benefits to pets and their owners, laying the groundwork for long-term change.
“The grant funding will help both organizations expand on some of the great work they are already doing for animals and their families in Chula Vista,” Farwell said.
He also shared a promising development: “I recently learned that the leaders of both organizations were able to spend some time together at our grant awards celebration last week, and they are currently discussing ways that they can support each other going forward. To me, this is a great example of how CVCF can bring organizations together to multiply the impact of our grant-making.”
Each organization is pursuing unique yet complementary projects. SBCS is launching its Families United with Resilience (FUR) Pilot program, which seeks to provide fully pet-friendly accommodation in their domestic violence shelter and transitional housing in Chula Vista. This initiative is designed to ensure that survivors of domestic violence don’t have to choose between personal safety and their beloved pets.
“Recognizing that pets provide essential emotional support, the initiative addresses the challenge faced by victims who might otherwise have to choose between their safety and their animals,” Farwell said.
Kathie Lembo, president and CEO of SBCS, said the funding will help eliminate that heartbreaking choice. “We are deeply grateful to the Chula Vista Community Foundation for their generous $30,000 grant supporting our Families United with Resilience pilot program. This funding will help us better serve survivors of domestic violence by eliminating the heartbreaking choice between personal safety and staying with beloved pets. We know that for many families, pets are not just animals, their family members who provide crucial emotional support during the most difficult times. We’re excited to develop a model that we hope will inspire similar programs throughout our region, ensuring that no family has to leave a cherished pet behind when seeking safety and a fresh start.”
The program will offer veterinary care and pet supplies as part of its holistic, trauma-informed support system—an effort that could become a model for other communities.
Meanwhile, the Chula Vista Animal Care Facility is putting its grant to immediate use by enhancing operations through a newly acquired transport van and expanding its Medical Specialty Fund. The van will enable safe transportation for up to 13 animals to adoption events, partner shelters, or emergency rescues. The Medical Fund, on the other hand, will ensure shelter animals with urgent needs receive critical care.
“We’re hoping the Medical Specialty Fund will address urgent medical needs, ensuring that more animals receive life-saving care, improving the health and quality of life for shelter animals,” Farwell said.
Ultimately, the goal is to build a sustainable model for animal care that reinforces compassion and community engagement.
Since its founding in 2011, CVCF has granted more than $800,000 to 45 nonprofit programs in Chula Vista, playing a significant role in local development. Farwell believes this legacy speaks volumes: “Those funds have helped nonprofit programs strengthen the quality of life for all who live, work, and enjoy Chula Vista. Our purpose is to increase charitable giving by and for the benefit of all Chula Vistans, build a community endowment to annually fund local organizations and causes, and give community members a vehicle for legacy planning that will benefit Chula Vista, now and forever.”
For residents interested in contributing to the Foundation’s future, there are several ways to get involved.
“We encourage Chula Vista residents, or anyone who has ever lived or worked in Chula Vista and wants to give back, to consider becoming a member,” Farwell said.
Membership begins with a $1,000 annual donation, half of which goes to current grant-making and operations, while the other half contributes to a growing endowment.
“Our endowment is nearing $1 million, and we’d welcome any size donation to help us reach that milestone,” he said. Members are invited to join committees and participate in the entire grant cycle, making philanthropy a hands-on, personal experience.”
As part of the San Diego Foundation’s Regional Affiliate Program, CVCF also benefits from a broader network of support and shared expertise. Farwell said, “We can take advantage of various tools and resources, along with the expertise of the San Diego Foundation’s staff, to manage our grant-making process and the stewardship of our endowment fund.”
With more than $9 million granted through this regional network, Chula Vista brings strong local leadership, community cohesion, and a clear sense of identity to the table, he said.
For Farwell, this year’s grant cycle is especially close to home. “My family and I have almost always had pets, and they are a big part of our family,” he said. “It warms my heart that we were able to provide funding that we know will go a long way toward improving the lives of local animals and their families here in Chula Vista.”
Looking ahead, the Foundation is focused on deepening its local impact through strategic grantmaking and expanded community leadership.
