Donor pledges $1M in matching funds to Hope Initiative – The Mercury News

The field at Homestead High School is one of 12 athletic fields in the Fremont Union High School District due to be replaced with either artificial turf or natural grass. Community for Natural Play Surfaces is hosting a Feb. 4 presentation at the Cupertino Library about the differences between the two ground coverings.

Basic needs initiative

An anonymous benefactor has pledged $1 million in matching funds to the Foothill-De Anza Foundation’s Hope Initiative. The initiative addresses basic needs for students at De Anza and Foothill community colleges.

Launched in fall 2021, the initiative aims to raise a total of $3 million by the end of the year. More than $1 million has been raised to date, providing students with access to food vouchers, emergency grants and round-the-clock mental health support.

To make a donation or learn more about the initiative, visit https://foundation.fhda.edu.

Artificial turf vs. grass

The Fremont Union High School District is planning to replace 12 athletic fields throughout the district with either artificial turf or natural grass. Community for Natural Play Surfaces is hosting a Feb. 4 presentation about the differences between the two ground coverings at 3 p.m. at the Cupertino Library, 10800 Torre Ave. Susan Hinton from the Loma Prieta chapter of the Sierra Club will be the presenter.

This program is not sponsored by the school district, and opinions are not necessarily those of the district or school personnel. For more information, email [email protected].

Earthquake grants

Cupertino residents can find out if they’re eligible for up to $3,000 in earthquake brace and bolt (EBB) seismic retrofit grants to help strengthen their homes. Applications are open through Wednesday, Feb. 21. Additional funds are available for income-eligible homeowners through Supplemental Grants.

To be eligible for a grant, residents must own and live in the house to be retrofitted and live in a EBB program area, which is designated by ZIP Code. Eligible homes must have been built before 1980, have a raised foundation or crawl space underneath and by built on level ground or a slight slope. Visit EarthquakeBraceBolt.com for more information.