California Community Foundation President and CEO Miguel Santana joined Mayor Karen Bass to celebrate the reopening of Casa Gateway, a 100-unit complex for low- and fixed-income seniors and families in Pacific Palisades—made possible in part through CCF’s Wildfire Recovery Fund grants to several nonprofits, including The Change Reaction and CORE. The milestone brought dozens of displaced residents back home, underscoring CCF’s long-term commitment to recovery. “CCF has been around for 110 years, and we plan to be around as long as it takes until every single Angeleno is back at home,” Santana said.
The California Community Foundation made a powerful statement on behalf of Angelenos often left out of the political process, committing over $1 million to pass Proposition 50— with $850,000 directed specifically toward get-out-the-vote efforts in underserved LA communities. “We believe strongly that Angelenos in California should be engaged in the future of the community,” said Miguel Santana. “As Californians, it’s very clear that we are disproportionately impacted by the policies and strategies of this administration.” The investment was channeled through trusted grassroots organizations including California Calls Action Fund, CHIRLA Action Fund, and California Black Power Network—groups with deep roots in the communities CCF serves.
A story about the decline in homelessness in Los Angeles mentioned that Miguel Santana has been appointed to the newly-created housing board and deserves credit for the lower numbers.
The California Community Foundation commissioned a statewide survey of 800 voters revealing strong public support for immigrants across party lines — with nearly 70% supporting access to affordable healthcare for undocumented residents and nearly 90% of both Democrats and Republicans backing a pathway to citizenship. CCF President and CEO Miguel Santana joined FOX 11 to discuss the findings, noting that Californians overwhelmingly see immigrants as a net positive to the economy: “Who’s going to build if there aren’t immigrants in LA?”
Sunset Magazine’s “Saving California” issue featured Miguel Santana among a group of thought leaders offering a vision for the state’s future. In a section titled “Rebuild for All,” Santana called for recovery that goes beyond rebuilding homes: “Recovery isn’t just about rebuilding homes—it’s about restoring stability, dignity, and opportunity for all Angelenos.” He highlighted CCF’s commitment of more than $30 million in grants to over 200 local organizations, and advocated for a trust-based model of philanthropy that puts those closest to the challenges in the lead. (Page 63)