Grants

The Rob Benzon/Dan Ferbal Foundation approved a grant request for Ruth Hendricks with Special Delivery to support their meal program. This worthwhile program improves the nutritional status and quality of life for members of the LGBTQ community living with life-threatening illnesses in San Diego. Special Delivery provides nutritious, medically approved meals for those in need. This grant specifically funded the food pantry at Special Delivery San Diego and provided the needed groceries for 3 meals per day for two weeks, supporting destitute clients with AIDS, heart disease, cancer, kidney disease, and other life-threatening illnesses.

Grant awarded in May of 2023

The Rob Benzon / Dan Ferbal Foundation (RBDFF) is proud to have awarded two scholarships through the annual PFLAG Scholarship Awards to two deserving LGBTQ students pursuing higher education.

The Rob Benzon Memorial Scholarship: Awarded to Alexis L.

Next fall Alexis plans to attend the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). As a mental health advocate and LGBTQ+ activist, Alexis hopes to collaborate with important on-campus organizations Active Minds and Complete Cognitive Care, who have large chapters at UCLA.

Active Minds is a nonprofit organization that offers counseling support and strives to end the stigma surrounding mental health struggles, while Complete Cognitive Care provides mental health resources to underserved communities at UCLA.

Alexis’ goal is to connect the low-income communities, the Latinx community, and the LGBTQ+ community to accessible mental health resources. Knowing these communities are more prone to suicide, depression, anxiety, and substance abuse, he wants to become properly educated and equipped to be the support these communities need.

Alexis aspires to receive a doctorate level education, become a psychologist, and make a difference working with these marginalized groups.

Grant awarded in March 2023

Daniel J. Ferbal Memorial Scholarship: Awarded to Diego P

Diego is a graduating senior from Montgomery High School in San Diego, California. He is the Montgomery High School GSA President, and the first generation of his family to attend college. He has been accepted to Yale University and plans on attending in the fall.

His academic and career aspirations include his continued support of his community. Diego’s leadership translates into his activism. As a queer, Latin activist, his knows his participation in GSA has been the inspiration to continue to develop his voice and further his goal to create safe LGBTQIA+ spaces and to champion the issues and talents of queer folks.

Diego stated in his grant application: “My goal is to continue to embrace and nurture the vibrant communal culture of queer spaces in my hometown, university, and worldwide–building safe spaces for LGBTQIA+ people to express their thoughts, opinions, and issues openly.”

Grant awarded in March 2023

RBDFF approved a grant to purchase and deliver toys to the children of the Wounded Warrior Project, which were delivered through a collaboration with Luis Fitch of the Warm Smiles Project. Johan Engman, owner of the Breakfast Republic and Fig Tree Café and his team provided a meal to the families, and the Warm Smiles Project and the Rob Benzon/ Dan Ferbal Foundation hand-delivered toys to the children on Christmas Day.

Hundreds of children in need were thrilled to get a free toy. Some children said that this was the only toy they received this year.

Grant awarded in December 2022

Children of Holiday Magic Project annually produces thousands of 12-page activity/coloring and interactive CD books that are distributed during the holiday season to sick, hospital-bound children at Rady’s Children’s Hospital of San Diego. RBDFF was proud to approve this grant to pay for the printing costs of these much-anticipated “Care Deer Pack” children’s books for hospitalized children.

Grant awarded in December 2022

RBDFF has again answered the call to assist with the costs of the annual Scott Carlson/ Dan Ferbal Community Thanksgiving Dinner. The dinner was held at Gossip Girl restaurant on Thanksgiving Day.

This tradition began in 1988 when Scott Carlson hosted a Thanksgiving Celebration for HIV/AIDS patients. In 2020, In remembrance, Dan Ferbal’s name was added to the title of this annual event, and the tradition of giving continues to provide a hot Thanksgiving meal for those in need in our community.

The dinner now includes people with cancer and other ailments, homeless people, and anyone needing a safe and inviting place to come together as a community on this holiday. More than 500 individuals benefited from the 2022 Thanksgiving feast.

Grant awarded in November 2022

Daniel M.

In September 2022, Daniel and his wife Danielle awoke to find flames and smoke filling their apartment. They barely escaped with their lives and sadly, all their possessions were lost in the fire and their apartment was declared a total loss. They unfortunately did not have insurance and found themselves homeless. RBDFF approved a grant to provide funds to help secure a new apartment and a gift card to buy essentials for the couple.

Grant awarded in September 2022

RBDFF was proud to support Camp Spero in partnership with the Center for Compassionate Care of the Elizabeth Hospice. This important charity is part of a network of free bereavement camps for children and teens ages 6 to 17 years of age who have experienced the death of someone close to them.

Camp Spero’s counselors run specially designed activities to assist these children with the bereavement process. Our grant provided funds to supply all of the kids and volunteers attending the camp with much needed event-themed T-shirts. A second grant provided “Remembrance Teddy Bears” to all of the children attending the camp.

Grant awarded in April 2022

The Rob Benzon / Dan Ferbal Foundation (RBDFF) is proud to have awarded two scholarships through the annual PFLAG Scholarship Awards to two deserving LGBTQ students pursuing higher education.

The Rob Benzon Memorial Scholarship:

Awarded to Erik W.

A freshman at UCSD, Erik plans to work proactively with his activism to help those who question their sexuality. He is confident that through his activism, volunteering, and being his true authentic self, he can help the next generation.  He appreciates how far the LGBTQ+ community has evolved, and he hopes to be part of the change and help continue to progress toward greater equity.

Grant awarded in March 2022

Daniel J. Ferbal Memorial Scholarship:

Awarded to:  Jason C.

Jason is excited to have the opportunity to continue his education through the Keck School of Medicine, Master of Public Health Program. His admission to The University of Southern California, Master of Public Health program would offer him access to a cutting-edge, world class program that would empower and provide him with the tools, resources, skills, and opportunities for hands-on, engaging, impactful and relevant research and applications for the ever-evolving field of public health.  This scholarship will help achieve these goals.

Jason currently serves as the Senior Services Case Manager at The San Diego LGBTQ+ Community Center. Prior to this role, Jason worked as a Medical Case Manager with the Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation. Jason received a BA in Dramatic Arts and Health Education from the University of Arizona.

Originally from Tucson, Arizona, Jason has called San Diego home since graduating from the University of Arizona. Jason and his husband of 25 years met in San Diego, and they are the proud parents of 19-year-old twins, who were adopted at birth in San Diego County. Jason developed a strong devotion to the nonprofit sector, having worked for and volunteered with various community organizations throughout California and Arizona during the course of his career.

Grant awarded in March 2022

Children of Holiday Magic Project annually produces thousands of 12-page activity/coloring and interactive CD books that are distributed during the holiday season to sick hospital-bound children at Rady’s Children’s Hospital of San Diego. The Rob Benzon Foundation once again approved a grant to pay for the printing costs of these much-anticipated “Care Deer Pack” children’s books for hospitalized children.

Grant made December 2021

The Rob Benzon Foundation has again answered the call to assist with the costs of the annual Scott Carlson/ Dan Ferbal Community Thanksgiving Dinner held at the San Diego LGBTQ Community Center on Thanksgiving Day. This tradition began in 1988 by Scott Carlson as a dinner for HIV/AIDS patients. In 2020, Dan Ferbal was added to the name and the tradition of giving continues to provide a hot Thanksgiving meal for those in need in our community on the day we earmark to give thanks. The dinner now includes people with cancer and other ailments, homeless people, and anyone needing a safe and inviting place to come together as a community on this holiday. More than 500 individuals benefited from this year’s dinner.

Grant made in November 2021