Anderson Children's Foundation

Irene W. Anderson, who cared deeply for children yet had none of her own, established this foundation in 1970 in memory of her husband Guy L. Anderson. The purpose of the Anderson Children’s Foundation is to provide for unmet needs of children of every race, culture, and creed. Our goal is to nurture and inspire young people in areas including health, education, recreation, and the arts. We welcome your involvement in caring for children by applying for funding of worthy nonprofit programs.

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Artists Council

As a major community-impact outreach, the Artists Council (AC) held its first Young Artists Exhibition in 2022. This now annual event is based on themes selected by art teachers from 17 public/private High Schools located throughout the Coachella Valley, from Palm Springs to Thermal. The AC coordinates with the teachers to encourage student artists to create and submit artworks that express their interpretation of the annual theme.

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Friends of the Children Coachella Valley

Friends of the Children-Coachella Valley’s innovative program empowers children who face the greatest obstacles through caring, consistent, one-to-one relationships with paid, professional mentors (called “Friends”), lasting over 12 years. Flipping the script on traditional mentoring programs, each 4- to 6-year-old child invited to enroll in our program is paired with a dedicated, full-time (not volunteer) Friend, who spends 4 hours per week with them across all the places that shape them, including at school, at home, and in the community – all the way through high school graduation.

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Gerald Ford Elementary School

For years, 5th Graders at Gerald Ford Elementary School have attended Science Camp at Pathfinder Ranch in Mountain Center, California. This program provides critical outdoor learning—including survival skills, astronomy, and ecology—and fosters independence, especially for students who have never traveled away from home. We have partnered with the Anderson Foundation to make this trip accessible to all students. With the help of this grant, we are able to close the financial inequality gap, guaranteeing every 5th grader the opportunity to attend this transformative experience.

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Hidden Harvest

With support from the Anderson Children's Foundation, Hidden Harvest's "Free Fresh Produce for Our Neighbors in Need" project provides fresh, nutritious fruits and vegetables at no cost to children, families, seniors, and individuals experiencing food insecurity throughout the Coachella Valley. By rescuing surplus produce and partnering with local farmers and community organizations, Hidden Harvest increases access to healthy food, reduces food waste, and improves the health and well-being of vulnerable neighbors while strengthening the local food system.

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Pony Box Theatre

Pony Box Dance Theatre proposes a series of free, community-centered dance classes for children, youth, and families designed to provide equitable access to high-quality arts education. Led by the company's professional dancers and teaching artists, the classes will introduce participants to a variety of dance styles while encouraging creativity, confidence, collaboration, and self-expression in a welcoming environment for all experience levels.

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Read With Me

Read With Me Volunteer Program (RWM) is very grateful for the Anderson Children’s Foundation’s continued support of our early-intervention literacy programs for underserved children in the Coachella Valley.

Literacy is essential for young children because it builds the foundation for academic success, language development, confidence, and long term opportunity.

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