Through scholarships, volunteer initiatives, grants, and community investments, we create opportunities that have a lasting impact where we live and work.
Scholarships
We expand access to education through direct scholarships and long-term student support.
COLLEGE TRACK
Each year, one College Track student is selected to receive a $60,000 scholarship ($15,000 per year for four years) to help cover tuition and other university costs.
Valerya Zarate – University of California, Berkeley
GAREE LEE SMITH SCHOLARSHIP AWARD
The Heffernan Foundation awards up to ten $10,000 scholarships annually to
deserving students, honoring Garee Lee Smith—one of Heffernan’s first employees and a champion of family-first culture.
- Brandi Waschlau – McGeorge School of Law, University of the Pacific
- Sophia Culver – California State University Sacramento
- Emily Hammond – Loyola University Chicago
- Mary Martyn – Slippery Rock University
- Isabella Castaneda – University of California, Berkeley
- Eliza Goodwin – Southern Oregon University
- Kellie Guggiana – Vanguard University
- Gwendolyn Francis – University of Missouri, Columbia
- Izabell Mosley – Saint Mary’s College of California
- Colleen Owsley – Pima Medical Institute
- Rosie Delgado-Canales – California State University Sacramento
LENORE & FRANK HEFFERNAN SCHOLARSHIP AWARD
Each year, five Cristo Rey students are selected to receive a one-time $20,000 scholarship to help support tuition and higher education expenses.
Five awarded recipients were selected from Cristo Rey San Jose, Cristo Rey ICA Academy in San Francisco, and Cristo Rey De La Salle in Oakland and are planning to attend:
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USC
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UCLA
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UC Merced
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California Lutheran University
Grant Donations
The Heffernan Foundation supports nonprofits that provide education, shelter, and food security in local communities. Grants are awarded annually by invitation and typically range from $2,500 to $25,000.
- 10,000 Degrees
- 5 Buckets 4 Shovels Foundation
- Alameda County Community Food Bank
- Aldar Academy
- Arc of the East Bay
- Aspire Education
- Bayview Hunters Point Center for Arts and Technology
- Behavioral Health Response, Inc. (BHR)
- Bi-Bett Corporation
- Bishop O’Dowd
- Black Thistle Street Aid
- Boys & Girls Clubs of Contra Costa DB SJ
- Bravemaker
- Building Opportunities for Self-Sufficiency (BOSS)
- California Family Foundation Beechwood School
- Cambridge School District
- Catholic Charities
- Cedars of Marin
- Center for Domestic Peace
- Ceres Community Project
- Child & Family Center
- Child Advocates of Silicon Valley
- Choice In Aging
- Christ Episcopal Church/Homeless Shower & Laundry Program
- Clatsop Community Action
- Community Action Partnership of San Bernardino
- Community Action Partnership of Sonoma County
- Community Forward SF
- Connected Horse
- Contra Costa Interfaith Coalition
- Counseling Options and Parent Education Support Center, Inc. (COPE)
- Crayon Initiative
- Curry Senior Center
- Dawn’s Place
- Domestic Abuse Project of Delaware County
- ECE Step
- Family and Child Empowerment Services SF (FACES)
- Family Bridges
- Family Promise of Tualatin Valley
- Foster Care Coalition of Greater St. Louis
- Germantown Avenue Crisis Ministry
- Grateful Gatherings
- HavenHouse St. Louis
- Haynes Family of Programs
- HealthRight 360
- Hollygrove Pillar Programs – Pacific Clinics
- Homes First (Portland)
- Hope Academy for Dyslexics
- Hospice of San Joaquin
- Humanity Heroes
- ICA Cristo Rey Academy
- InAlliance
- Independence Mission Schools
- Japanese Community Youth Council
- Jesuit Volunteer Corps Northwest
- Jewish Family & Community Services East Bay
- JW House
- Kalamazoo College – Margarita Campos Scholarship Fund
- La Raza Community Resource Center
- Lincoln Families
- Little Miracles
- Loaves and Fishes Contra Costa
- Marin Foster Care Association
- Mary’s Shelter dba Mary’s Path
- Mission Housing Development Corporation
- Mission St. Louis
- MORE THAN ENOUGH MINISTRIES
- Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego
- Neighborhood House Association
- Northbay Children’s Center
- On The Move
- Open Heart Kitchen
- Our Lady’s Inn
- Our Village Closet – Sonoma
- Pathways of Hope
- Porterville Sheltered Workshop (PSW)
- Project Open Hand
- Raising Shasta
- Rancho Cielo, Inc.
- REAP Climate Center
- Ritter Center
- Rubicon
- Samaritan House
- Sheffield Place
- Slow Food USA, Inc. dba Slow Food Lake
- Spread the Word Nevada
- St. Anthony Foundation
- St. Anthony School
- St. Elizabeth Elementary School (Mother Pia Program)
- St. Mary’s College
- STAND! For Families Free of Violence
- Support for Families of Children with Disabilities
- Tahoe School of Music
- The Gathering Inn
- The Matthew 19:14 Project
- Thrive Central Oregon
- Tracy Interfaith Ministries
- Tri-Valley Haven
- Unity Care
- Uplift All Foundation
- Vivalon
- Washington Women in Need
- White Pony Express
- Womanhaven dba Center for Family Solutions
- Wonderfully Made
- Youth Emerging Stronger
- Youth Homes
- YWCA of Greater Portland
Employee Contributions
We support teammates who give back to the communities.
Employee Matching
Employees are offered the opportunity to donate to 501(c)(3) charities of their choice each year, and Heffernan provides a dollar-for-dollar match.
Employee Volunteer Time
All employees receive up to four paid volunteer days each year to support local nonprofits. Heffernan also participates in the Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation’s Annual Month of Giving.
Dollars for Doers
Employees who volunteer 50 hours or 25 hours at a nonprofit can direct a $500 or $250 grant, respectively, to that organization.
Join Our Mission
Help create change by joining us!
Make a one-time or monthly gift
Join an upcoming service event
Sponsor a student or scholarship
Create meaningful impact