The Fresno State Humanics Students4Giving Project announced it will be awarding $26,100 in grants to support community initiatives across the Central Valley.
The grant celebration will be held at 6 p.m. Wednesday, May 13, at Gazebo Gardens (3204 N. Van Ness Blvd.) in Fresno. Doors open at 5:40 p.m., and light refreshments will be served. RSVP at bit.ly/HumanicsS4G2026RSVP.
Since the inception of Students4Giving in 2007, the Humanics Program at Fresno State has engaged over 450 students in a philanthropic grantmaking process, awarding a total of $335,000 to more than 55 community benefit organizations, underscoring the university’s commitment to the region.
“I’m honored to help announce this year’s grant recipients and celebrate the work these community organizations are doing across the Central Valley,” said Alexandra Arnett, board chair for the public health access funding area. “The Fresno State Humanics Students4Giving Project creates a meaningful opportunity for students to engage in philanthropy while supporting organizations making a real difference, and I’m grateful to have been part of that process this year.”
This year’s Humanics Student Boards of Trustees selected three funding areas: wraparound services, public health access and services to migrant farmworkers and their families.
Care Fresno will receive an $8,700 grant to expand its wraparound services model delivered through six underserved neighborhood learning centers. The centers serve more than 250 youth ages 6 through 17 and their families, including afterschool tutoring, arts and culture activities, co-curricular educational enrichment activities, GED classes and mentoring, and parent and community leadership nights.
Brain Wise Solutions will receive an $8,700 grant to launch Living Whole, Healing Whole – a two-week pilot wellness program for 25 LGBTQ+ adults in Fresno designed to reduce isolation and strengthen emotional well-being through trauma-informed, affirming support, including yoga and nervous system regulation, guided meditation, cognitive-behavioral skill-building and facilitated group reflection and storytelling.
Education and Leadership Foundation will receive an $8,700 grant to provide supportive services to low-income farmworkers and their families who need assistance navigating the legal immigration application process, including covering the cost of required medical and psychological exams, fingerprints, document translation and postage/shipping.
Adrian Gomez, who serves as the instructor for the Sociology 183S course, “Philanthropy and Grantmaking,” said, “The Fresno State Humanics Students4Giving Project provides students with hands-on experience in service learning, allowing them to assess community needs and make impactful decisions about grant allocation.”
Dr. Matthew Jendian, founding director of Humanics@FresnoState, said, “Through our Humanics Program, Fresno State students seeking leadership development have an opportunity to make a difference in their community through curricular and co-curricular experiences that support and strengthen the work of local community benefit organizations.”
The Humanics Program is an applied offering of the Sociology Department within the College of Social Sciences, providing students and community members the opportunity to earn a minor degree in philanthropic and community-based leadership or a certificate in administration and leadership for community benefit organizations.
For more information, contact Lucas Washam at 559.308.0930 or lucaswasham@mail.fresnostate.edu.
