International Community Foundation to celebrate children and families in
Baja California by granting over $50,000 to Nonprofits

SAN DIEGO, CA | May 8, 2001 - The International Community Foundation (ICF) will celebrate children and families by granting over $50,000 to non-profit organizations in Baja California that provide services to children. The grants will be presented during a ceremony at Ecoparque in Tijuana, México on Tuesday May 8, 2001 at 9:00 am.

Sempra Energy, San Diego's Fortune 500 energy services company, offered a challenge grant of $25,000 to help boost ICF's fundraising efforts. Sempra Energy promised to match dollar per dollar contributions received from individuals, business and other corporations. "Sempra Energy's ongoing commitment to improve the lives of impoverished children and families in Baja California is evident from their invaluable contribution to the International Children's Fund Fund at ICF," said Jacinto Astiazarán Rosas, Chairman, ICF Board.

Among other donors were First National Bank and Waitt Family Foundation. "Every year I am amazed at the outpouring of support for this worthy program," said Yolanda Walther-Meade, Co-Chair of the International Children's Fund Committee and ICF Board Secretary, "It is wonderful to know that businesses like First National Bank and foundations like Waitt Family Foundation are concerned with issues that affect children on both sides of the border."

A great deal of financial support was generated from individual donors who have funds at ICF as well. Donations from The Alison Neeley and Hector Perez Fund, The Growing Green Fund, and The Loch and Clare Crane Family International Fund were among the generous support ICF received. When asked about his involvement in International Children's Fund, Loch Crane quoted a short poem by Moustakas, "Sometimes it is necessary for one person to help another in his lonely struggle, to allow that needy individual the strength and courage to succeed on his own."

The 13 projects being funded this year vary widely, from a dental program for low-income children to support of arts and cultural activities for Baja California Tribal communities, to equipment for schools geared towards helping children with special needs. The following organizations will receive funding this year: Casa de la Comunidad Cañon K, Instituto de Culturas Nativas, Casa YMCA de Menores Migrantes, Centro de Servicios Comunitarios Universidad Iberoamericana, Centro Promoción de Salud Esperanza, Fundación de Apoyo para Niños Especiales, Instituto Panamericano, Centro de Atención Múltiple Benito Juárez García, Asociación Tijuana en Apoyo al Sordo, Asociación Pro Autismo, Fronteras Unidas Pro Salud, Orfanatorio Emmanuel, Community Development Projects--Project Mercy.

The International Community Foundation fosters lasting philanthropy benefiting people living in Pacific Rim countries with an emphasis on Mexico. ICF seeks to build partnerships, mobilize resources and strengthen communication among community and regional leaders across international borders.

For more information about the International Community Foundation and/or the International Children's Fund Awards and Celebration, please contact Marisol López at (619) 235-2300, Ext. 312

WHAT?: International Children's Fund Awards Ceremony
WHERE and WHEN?: Ecoparque in Tijuana, México on May 8, 2001 at 9:00 am