VORTEX OWF

 

Thanks to all who voted and extra thanks to those who came out to the Rancho. We had a clear top five but we had to do some deliberating to break a three-way tie for the last spot.

 

VORTEX OWF
2026 votes

Eleven Ojai Valley nonprofits applied. Six were chosen, ranked here. The top spot was unanimous: HELP of Ojai.

  1. 1

    HELP of Ojai

    Homeless Client Assistance Program

    Rapid, flexible cash aid (car repair, weather shelter, documents, gear) for 70 unhoused clients after a 20% rise in local homelessness.

    $20,000
  2. 2

    Food Share Ventura County

    Ojai Valley food assistance

    Distributed 330,000 pounds of food to more than 4,200 Ojai Valley residents in 2025 through HELP of Ojai, St. Thomas Aquinas, Oak View, and others.

    $20,000
  3. 3

    Long Term Care Services

    Ventura County Ombudsman Program

    Staff to start Resident and Family Councils and train employees at the nine Ojai Valley elder-care facilities, home to 474 residents.

    $15,000
  4. 4

    O-Higher Ed

    Math tutoring

    Free college-access support and math tutoring for 98 students, 63% of them first-generation. Every graduate so far has enrolled in college.

    $15,000
  5. 5

    Autism Society of Ventura County

    Ojai Valley Family Expansion

    Three inclusive park days at Sarzotti Park and two sensory-friendly movies at the Ojai Playhouse, all free, for 50 to 100 people.

    $12,500
  6. 6

    Ventura Land Trust

    Ojai Youth Access to Nature-Based Education

    Four free bilingual field trips to beach, wetland, and river sites for 120 kids, most of them from Topa Topa Elementary.

    $10,000
Total awarded$92,500
Basic needs Families and seniors Education Nature

I will submit our votes and we’ll see how all the groups vote at the Grantee Celebration in November.

FINAL EVENT: Grants Awardee Celebration
November 5, 2026
OWF definitely appreciates attendance at this event.

Full OWF calendar: ojaiwomensfund.org/calendar

 

Our 2026 VORTEX OWF Giving Circle: