Honoring the legacy of Robert Nelson by contributing to great organizations that make a positive impact to communities and individuals.

Advocacy, Respect, and Choice- Long Beach is incredibly grateful to the Robert Nelson Foundation for the support they have given our organization. With their incredible support, we are able to continue providing the best possible services to the over 300 individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities we serve. On behalf of all the individuals we serve as well as the organization itself, AR&C Long Beach is extremely grateful to have an ally in the Robert Nelson Foundation.

Shea Matherly

Executive Director, Advocacy, Respect, and Choice - Long Beach

Scholarship funding from the Robert Nelson Foundation has made it possible to support the next generation of GVSU-educated broadcasters and journalists. In addition, the more recent creation of the Robert Nelson Fellowship will help us close the equity gap for students who wish to complete unpaid internships at worthy nonprofit organizations. We are deeply appreciative to the Foundation for its generous assistance.

Richard Besel

Director School of Communications, Grand Valley State University

The Robert Nelson Foundation’s generous support has made possible life-changing programs for men, women, and children here at the Los Angeles Mission. Thanks to their support, food, shelter, clothing, rehabilitation, education, and training have been made possible for the poor of LA. The cycle of poverty is being broken, and the poor are finding help, hope, and opportunity for a brighter future. Many thanks to The Robert Nelson Foundation!

Kyle Patterson

Major Gifts Officer, Los Angeles Mission

We are deeply grateful for the very generous donation from the Robert Nelson Foundation to feed food-insecure children, adults, families and seniors in Los Angeles County. Funds from the foundation will be a tremendous help to those who are struggling to make ends meet and may not know where their next meal is coming from. Thanks again for this impactful and generous gift.

Jeanne Cooper

President and CEO, Foodbank of Southern California

Thanks to the incredibly generous donation from the Robert Nelson Foundation, the young adults in the Region III Transition Program in Grandville, Michigan are going to shine! Because of this kind donation, we will be able to purchase necessary items to update and improve our program, enhance our community-based instruction lessons, provide greater social emotional support, and promote greater real-life independence. Thank you for a donation that will improve the lives of not only the students this year but for many, many years to come. We are so incredibly grateful to the Robert Nelson Foundation.

Region III Transition Program

Grandville Public Schools

On behalf of everyone at Food Forward, our hunger relief partners, and the communities they serve, thank you for the Robert Nelson Foundation’s generous grant of $20,000. We appreciate this new partnership that will help us be a dependable source of nutritious fruits and vegetables to our Southern California neighbors experiencing food insecurity

Rick Nahmias

Founder & CEO, Food Forward

As the Executive Director I am privileged to see the direct impacts of our program finding employment for individuals with disabilities. Employment changes lives! All lives whether disabled or not. Closing that barrier that holds them or their caregivers back is a big deal. We simply step in and help them find a job that fits them right where they are at.

The Robert Nelson Foundation gift means expansion for our organization. We can continue to expand our territory and help more people. West Michigan is our focus but this could reach many in our state as time goes on. Thanks again!

Dirk Bakhuyzen

Executive Director, Beyond26

In this time of unprecedented challenges, your generosity means a great deal to me and our entire Grand Valley community. The career exploration fund and the scholarship will provide tremendous support to students majoring in multimedia journalism, especially those interested in broadcasting. Because of your gift, these students will have access to experiential learning opportunities that they otherwise would not have had.

Philomena Mantella

President, Grand Valley State University

Every year we’re able to celebrate the artistic achievements of students of all abilities thanks to the support of our philanthropic partners like the Robert Nelson Foundation. Through our shared values and commitments to our communities, programs like The Very Special Arts Festival continue to remain accessible, relevant, and innovative.

Keith Wyffels

Associate Vice President of Education, The Music Center

This grant will provide assistance for many of our clients who are undocumented, disenfranchised and who face financial challenges due to HIV/AIDS infection.

Michael E. Jones

Director of Donations, Minority AIDS Project

Your kindness means so much to the men, women, and children, and families all across Los Angles County who have been devastated by homelessness.

Andy Bales

CEO, Union Rescue Mission

The Los Angeles Police Department Hollywood Division is thankful for the generous support of The Robert Nelson Foundation.  The donation helps provide critical safety equipment for police officers who are facing many challenges in today’s society.  It also helps contribute to our police officers’ wellness by supporting divisional activities and training. The funds provided have helped Hollywood police officers engage with the communities they serve to build stronger relationships with the local residents and businesses.  Thank you for supporting those who sacrifice so much to keep us all safe!

Sgt. Chad Costello

LAPD

The members of Los Angeles Fire Department, Fire Station 27, want to thank the Robert Nelson Foundation for their generosity, kindness, and support in helping make a direct impact on the Hollywood local community and its youth. The foundation’s support through funding to scholarship young men and women in their effort to rise above the challenges in seeking a career in the fire service, not only providing previously unreachable opportunities, but establishing a relationship between those who desire to be the best they can and those who believe that they can.

David Fabela

Captain, Fire Station 27

Meet Ernest Boykins, a tenant at Imagine Village an Abbey Road and Penny Lane Housing Project adjacent to Penny Lane’s Antelope Valley Family Center. A big thank you to the Robert Nelson Foundation for helping Ernest get to a place where he can thrive! He is so thankful for your support in helping him get his life back on track.

We are incredibly grateful to the Robert Nelson Foundation for this award. The grant we received will help further our mission in supporting precious seniors through the following: 

  • Birthday Cake Surprise! – We plan to surprise our seniors with a birthday cake on their birthdays. 
  • Emergency Funds for Seniors- This will provide small appliances such as a microwave to heat up the seniors’ meals and furniture to give comfort to our seniors.  
  • Talking Tech- This will provide tablets and Wi-Fi connection so our seniors can connect to loved one’s friends and even keep their doctors’ appointments through technology.  
Christine Calderon Caruso

Director of Development , St. Vincent Meals on Wheels, Los Angeles, CA

We are incredibly grateful to the Robert Nelson Foundation for this award. The grant we received will help further our mission in supporting active military, veterans, and their families through Housing Assistance, Hotel Vouchers, Car Repair and/or vehicle registration, a Homeless package, Gas/Food cards, Bus passes and Utility assistance.

Robert McClish

District Service Officer, American Legion HB Post 133, Orange County, CA

We are so honored to be chosen to share the philanthropy and kindness of the Robert Nelson Foundation with the families we serve. This donation will help us to provide support programs for children with cancer and their families. Due to the financial burden that often accompanies a pediatric cancer diagnosis, all of Okizu’s programs are offered free-of-charge to the families we serve, and this generous grant will help us to serve children with cancer both in-person and virtually next year

Suzanne Randall

Executive Director, Okizu

We are grateful to the Robert Nelson Foundation for partnering with us to celebrate high school seniors graduating from Special Olympics Southern California Unified Champion Schools across LA County.  Because of you, we can honor students with and without intellectual disabilities for their commitment to being part of the Unified Generation and for working together to create more inclusive schools.

From all of us at Guiding Light, thank you so much for helping us to live up to our God-given potential.

Guiding Light

On behalf of UCLA Health, I am writing to express my sincere appreciation for your wonderful donation to support the well being of our health care team and support staff serving patients during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Johnese Spisso

President, UCLA Health

We are so grateful for the support from the Robert Nelson Foundation. This donation allows us to support families with children experiencing homelessness. Thanks to this gift we can provide moms and kids with safe emergency shelter, provide basic needs and help families move home! It’s life changing work, and it’s amazing partners, like the Robert Nelson Foundation, that allow us to continue to do this important work. From all of us at Family Promise of Grand Rapids, thank you for ending homelessness, one family at a time!

Cheryl Schuch

CEO, Family Promise of Grand Rapids

Thank you for this amazing donation. Our clients are so fortunate to have you in their corner.

Stephanie Talavera

Children's Law Center of California

Everyone at The Midnight Mission would like to express our deepest gratitude for the generous gift from the Robert Nelson Foundation. Your support is invaluable to us and plays a crucial role in enabling us to continue our lifesaving and life-changing services at The Midnight Mission.

 Your donation directly contributes to our mission of providing hot, nutritious meals to those in need, regardless of their circumstances. For many individuals who walk through our doors, a hot meal represents more than just sustenance; it symbolizes hope, dignity, and the first step towards a brighter future. It is through the kindness and generosity of donors like you that we are able to offer this vital support to our community. Thank you!”

Karen Vallecillo

The Midnight Mission

The generosity of the Robert Nelson Foundation’s is helping us to improve outcomes for students with disabilities in West MichiganOur new parent resource center will give families the guidance, tools, and resources to support their child with a disability in the school and community setting from birth to adulthoodWe so appreciate the passion and partnership in this important workThank you, Robert Nelson Foundation!

Kirsten Meyers

Director of Special Education, Kent ISD

The Robert Nelson Foundation’s support will positively impact individuals as we use the funds to recognize and celebrate our program graduates and community partners.

Maria Ortiz

Vice President, Project SEARCH

On behalf of Child Life Services at Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital we thank you for the generous donation. With your help we are able to provide children with the education and understanding of their hospitalization.  Through meaningful gifts we can increase a child’s positive coping and help decrease their pain and anxiety through their medical experience.  We are grateful for The Robert Nelson Foundation.

Amy Davis

Manager, Child Life Services, Helen DeVos Children's Hospital Foundation

Hollywood PAL is extremely grateful to The Robert Nelson Foundation for their generous donation, which directly impacts the lives of at-risk children and police officers in the Hollywood community, by helping us create opportunities and a better future for them. With the foundation’s support we can provide a safe community in which children can build positive relationships with local police officers as. These programs provide our youth and officers with opportunities to create a culture of positive change while they learn life skills and become motivated to achieve personal goals.

Kitty Gordillo

Executive Director, Hollywood Police Activities League

By reaching out to our small part of the world when we needed it most gave our staff the hope and strength to meet each day. We thank you for joining us in this partnership with your foundation during this journey.

Cathy Rahmeyer

Director of Operations, Plumas Crisis Intervention & Resource Center (PCIRC)

What you have done for our riders is INCREDIBLE, and in a year of uncertainty, you have made 286 lessons CERTAIN for them. On their behalf, thank you from the bottom of 603 little hearts.

Tina Calanchini

Executive Director, Project R.I.D.E.

Robert Nelson Disability Support Center

I fully support the establishment of a first-of-its-kind resource center housed in our public library facility targeting the unique needs of those persons and families in the community facing disability challenges. …  This investment will allow us to fully serve and support such a Center and to provide the environment for it to grow, prosper and serve as a model for other libraries.

Steve Maas

Mayor, City of Grandville

We are so grateful for the support from the Robert Nelson Foundation. This donation allows us to support families with children experiencing homelessness. Thanks to this gift we can provide moms and kids with safe emergency shelter, provide basic needs and help families move home!

Cheryl Schuch

CEO, Safehaven Ministries

We are so grateful to be able to honor the legacy of Robert Nelson by ensuring that every child that walks through our doors develops the literacy skills and self-confidence to succeed, not only academically, but throughout their lives.

Patrick Placzkowski

Director, Boys & Girls Club of Grand Rapids

Thanks to our incredible partners, like the Robert Nelson Foundation, Happy Trails for Kids is able to provide year-round supportive services and create meaningful opportunities for children to participate in new experiences, adventures and mentorships.

Lindsey Elliot

Executive Director, Happy Trails for Kids