eBay Foundation awards a Champion A Charity grant to library

By Paula Clarke eBay Foundation recently awarded a Champion A Charity grant of $2,500 to Blanchard Community Library. The grant was made possible as a result of the efforts of Susan Geis, an eBay employee, who “championed” funding for our organization. Funds will support the library’s after school Homework Center.The Homework Center provides free access to homework assistance to students in Santa Paula. Seventy percent of the students served come form homes where only Spanish is spoken. The parents of these children understand the value of an education and the importance of reading for their child’s success in school. They bring their children on a daily basis. The children come prepared with their school assignments and materials and sit down with a homework helper. The students then complete their homework assignment, which includes reading aloud for 20 minutes. This past year, Blanchard’s Homework Center helpers assisted with over 2,500 assignments.eBay Foundation’s Champion A Charity program encourages employees to become involved with an advocate funding for nonprofit organizations that work to improve the quality of life for all. A competitive program through which grant decisions are made by an employee, eBay Foundation Champion A Charity grants are only made to organizations recommended for funding by eBay employees.Susan Geis was born and raised in Santa Paula. She attended Mupu School and Santa Paula High School, where she was a head cheerleader. Ed Geis, Susan’s father, is a board member of the Blanchard Library. He mentioned to Susan that the Homework Center is always in need of funding. When Susan heard of this need in her hometown, she decided to become a cheerleader for the community she remembers so fondly.