Program Funding

 

Mendiburu Magic Foundation

THE MENDIBURU MAGIC FUND

The foundation has established separate and distinct monetary assistance funds at Bakersfield Memorial Hospital (CHW facilities), Los Angeles Children's Hospital, and Central California Children's Hospital specifically for Kern County children and families. This fund has been made possible by the generosity and community support of The Mendiburu Magic Foundation (MMF), based in Bakersfield, California. The organization was founded in loving memory of Nancy Ann Mendiburu.  MMF will (1) help children and families affected by any catastrophic or life threatening illness; and directly contribute to worthy community need, (2) with an emphasis on positive youth development and (3) ongoing medical research for cancer.  MMF will strive to accomplish these worthy tasks while appreciating the purpose of human life as being to serve, and show compassion and the will to help others.

DETAILS OF THIS FUND

The non-profit foundation creates separate Mendiburu Magic Funds at various medical organizations/hospitals within our given service area; and these monies in this account can be used towards any service request related to our MMF mission and/or stated guidelines. The Mendiburu Magic Fund is only to be used for children (and families effected) ages 0-17 and residents of Kern County and approved/screened by social services staff employed by the partner agency.   Criteria for usage of the fund are as follows:

  • All client service requests must be signed/approved by an official from the partner agency and/or medical organization that will authorize expenditure from the mentioned fund

  • The medical condition of the child (ages 0-17) must be classified as "life-threatening" and/or "catastrophic," according to accredited medical personnel (accredited physician) employed by the partner agency and/or medical organization

  • The funded item/level of assistance cannot be something covered by normal medical insurance

  • The funded item/level of assistance must be classified as emergency and/or something that could potentially “fall thru the cracks” when the family is tending to the sick child and during the course of treatment, six months from the first day of diagnosis

  • Specially funded client requests that are not mentioned and/or clearly defined can be approved by majority vote of the Governing Board of Directors (with advice and consent from the Community Advisory Board) for Mendiburu Magic Foundation within 48 hours of the request.  The Office of the President must initiate this process.

With decreasing public support, increasing financial burdens due to these medical conditions, and the challenge of balancing all of these factors, our families are frequently stressed and overwhelmed. Our public-benefit organization tries to assist families by relieving these stressors and contributing towards healthy community strategy. We can help with small items (things that are immediate and may possibly fall thru the cracks during necessary treatment) like home utility bills, gasoline for treatments, medication, incidentals, lodging, etc..  During times of catastrophic or life threatening illness for children ages 0-17, MMF provides those families assistance in creating "Everlasting Memories" and improving "Quality of Life." 

Mendiburu Magic Foundation funds are generated through annual special events, corporate and individual contributions and are allocated regionally, at the discretion of the Board of Directors. Annual contributions reflect the success of our fund raising efforts for that fiscal year.

The following persons have access to Mendiburu Magic Funds at their hospital/medical organization and you can contact the following person directly with requests for funding, if your son/daughter is a current patient at any of the area hospitals listed below and resident of Kern County:

Anthony Yamamoto

Central California Children’s Hospital

559.353.3000

Debbie Braidic or Scott Ferguson

Children’s Hospital Los Angeles

323.669.5970

Nancy Hayes or Patricia Moreno

UCLA Medical Center

310.825.9590

Paul Chavarria or Janelle Capra

Bakersfield Memorial Hospital

Catholic Healthcare West

661.327.4647

 

 

MENDIBURU MAGIC MINI-GRANTS AND SCHOLARSHIPS FOR HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS

INDIVIDUAL FUNDING REQUESTS AND MINI-GRANTS:

Persons and organizations specializing in serving the educational, health/social needs of our mentioned beneficiaries are eligible for funding. Please include:

 

  • Itemized program budget
  • 501(c)(3) verification for your organization
  • Name of the organization, address, telephone, e-mail address, facsimile, listing of directors, contact person for this program
  • Cover letter (your first impression to sell us on the program)  that will include a brief explanation of specific funding needs, a history of services provided by the organization, indication of timelines for implementation, community partners, person(s) in charge of the activity, etc…(not to exceed 500 words)
  • Results from your program effectiveness and/or service statements (if hard data is not available)
  • At least two letters of support for your program from people not employed by the non-profit

 

Please mail program proposals here by August 1 of each year:

Mendiburu Magic Foundation

C/O Program Review Committee

8502 Rockport Drive

Bakersfield, California 93312

Requests will receive a preliminary staff/rep review to determine if the request falls within our guidelines and/or scope of funding. The Mendiburu Magic Program Review sub-committee (comprised of community volunteers from varied sectors of the community) will review eligible applications.  Within 90 business days from the deadline for submission, organizations will be notified ONLY IF THEY ARE GRANTED FUNDS.

INELIGIBLE REQUESTS

Funding will not be considered for items of investment that are NOT related to at least one of the following:

  • Youth Development Programs (emphasis on character building & social enrichment)
  • Those affected by catastrophic and/or life threatening illness (ages 0-17) living in Kern County
  • Community Asset Building and/or Cancer Research

In addition, tickets, advertising or sponsorship for other fundraising events are not eligible to receive funds. The MMF Governing Board of Directors reserves all rights regarding funding allocation.

MINI-GRANT FUNDING GUIDELINES

Mendiburu Magic Foundation funds are generated through annual special events, corporate and individual contributions and are allocated regionally, at the discretion of the Board of Directors. Annual contributions reflect the success of our fund raising efforts for that fiscal year.  Mini-Grant submissions are due by August 1 each year and are eligible for up to $3,000.00 per grant.

 

CONTACT PERSON

Mr. Brian Mendiburu, President

Mendiburu Magic Foundation

(661) 319-3081

bmendiburu@bak.rr.com

 

2007 Mini-Grants ANNOUNCED:

  1. Painted Turtles Camp for Terminal Ill Children
  2. Muscular Dystrophy
  3. EBCC Thanksgiving Baskets and Food Baskets
  4. BCSD Ed Foundation (science grants)
  5. Boys & Girls Clubs of Kern County
  6. JDRF

 

 

CANCER RESEARCH

The Mendiburu Magic Foundation affirms the importance of scientific research and investigations of new approaches to cancer and any sort of life threatening illness detection, treatment, and prevention.  Our foundation will strive to make annual contributions to credible research organizations (some are listed below):

 

NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE

More than ever before, biomedical science is dependent on the use of advanced technologies to maximize scientific discovery and the delivery of cancer interventions. Working together across communities of scientists and technology experts is a new paradigm for cancer research and development. It increasingly requires new kinds of collaborations and a melding of cultures to achieve an environment friendly to the development, validation, and practical application of promising technologies in cancer discovery, development, and delivery of care.

 

NCI engages in a number of ongoing planning and priority setting activities to ensure that we are responsive to new discoveries and opportunities and maximize use of our resources. NCI staff work with researchers and other representatives from the scientific, medical, and advocacy communities to determine what is needed and how best to move the science forward. We keep our research portfolio balanced and our support structure strong through ongoing program assessment and response to recommendations arising from those assessments. We convene scientists from diverse settings to work with NCI staff in developing new initiatives and redesigning programs. We track implementation and report regularly on our progress.

 

AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY

As the nation's largest private, not-for-profit source of funds for scientists studying cancer, the American Cancer Society (ACS) focuses its funding on investigator-initiated, peer-reviewed proposals. This process ensures that scientists propose projects that they believe are ready to be tackled with the available knowledge and techniques, rather than working on projects designed by administrators who are far removed from the front lines of research. This intellectual freedom encourages discovery in areas that scientists believe are most likely to solve the problems of cancer.

 

 

Picture (Ama/Aita)


PICTURE:   Nancy and her husband Juanito Mendiburu. This 1996 photograph was taken aboard a return flight from Europe to the United States.  Juan and Nancy owned the Juan Mendiburu Sheep Company from 1981-2005; and Mr. Mendiburu is the current Senior Vice President & Honorary Chairman for the Board.  The two were married in 1970.

Please call our team at (661) 587-9940 for Federal Tax Identification Number or service questions related to the foundation