Cannabis Tax Funds Help Support Essential Workers, Families During Coronavirus Pandemic In Santa Cruz

Press release from the City of Santa Cruz:

November 23, 2020

Santa Cruz – Cannabis Tax Funds traditionally used to support summer camps and enrichment through City of Santa Cruz Parks and Recreation programming has taken on a new life in 2020. This year, the scholarship and support will subsidize access to childcare for essential workers.

Currently, scholarships support distance learning childcare programs for essential workers at the Louden Nelson Community Center, which operates Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. So far in this fiscal year, FOPAR has awarded 30 scholarships totaling $13,445, which included a second round of summer scholarships and fall scholarships to help cover essential worker childcare. The group plans to disperse an additional $20,000 to support essential childcare services.

“Santa Cruz City Schools plan to go to a hybrid model this school year, so we are planning to adapt our essential childcare services to accommodate needs related to the new schedules,” Tony Elliot, director of Parks and Recreation, said.

Funded by 12.5% of the cannabis tax revenues received by the City, The Children’s Fund is split equally between the County of Education to Thrive By Three program and Friends of Santa Cruz Parks and Recreation (FOPAR), the 501c3 philanthropic supporter of the City Parks and Recreation Department, to serve youth ages 5-18.

FOPAR offers partial scholarships to youth who reside within the City of Santa Cruz and meet the income eligibility of less than $78,041 annual income, the average median income for Santa Cruz County. Priority is given to applicants who can show proof of current enrollment in MediCal. If families do not qualify for a scholarship due to annual income requirements, they can list any extenuating circumstances that their family has experienced. This year we have issued scholarships due to the impact of COVID-19 and the recent CZU Fires.

“The City of Santa Cruz Friends of Parks and Recreation (FOPAR) is proud to support families by granting scholarships made possible by the Children’s Fund. The opportunity to provide financial support has improved affordability and equitable access to programs and classes provided by the Parks and Recreation Department. The Board is excited to see the Children’s Fund continue to grow so that more youth and families have access to essential supports and recreation opportunities,” Friends of Parks and Recreation President Cristina Lupano said.

Scholarships are issued year-round to City of Santa Cruz residents. In traditional years, programs include the in-demand summer camp and Junior Guards and a wide range of class offerings for youth and teens. Popular classes include Skatedogs Skate Camp, Beach Baseball Camp, specialty art camps, Lego camps, kayak and SUP camps, and STEAM camps. Many parents use Parks and Recreation camps and classes as affordable childcare during the summer months.

Based on the revenues generated in the fiscal year 2020, the City anticipates more than $85,000 for the FOPAR scholarships, available to the City in early 2021. This is a significant increase in revenue over what was generated in fiscal years 2018 and 2019, which netted approximately $15,000 and $35,000, respectively.

Scholarships will be available for in-person and virtual classes offered this winter and spring. The Winter-Spring Activity guide will be posted online at santacruzparksandrec.com, with registration opening on Jan. 4.

This press release was produced by the City of Santa Cruz. The views expressed here are the author’s own.