SANTA YNEZ, CA – The Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians Foundation has donated over $60,000 to five area schools that applied for grants through its Technology in Schools Program for the 2022-23 school year.
The program allows Santa Barbara County school administrators and faculty to apply for technology grant dollars to fund specific projects. These grants let schools purchase hardware, upgrade infrastructure, add high-tech resources and boost their curriculum. This year’s recipients are Delta High School in Santa Maria, College School District in Santa Ynez, Cuyama Elementary School, Santa Ynez Valley Union High School and Ballard Elementary School in the Santa Ynez Valley.
“It’s with great pride that we can offer grants through our Technology in Schools Program, equipping students and classrooms with the devices, infrastructure and software needed to set students up for success,” said Kenneth Kahn, Tribal Chairman for the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians.
This years grant recipients included:
- Delta High School, a continuation high school in Santa Maria that serves about 400 students, was awarded $9,122 and will use this funding to purchase robotics equipment and software for its robotics program.
- College School District was awarded $7,343, which will go toward purchasing a library software system and safety radio equipment that will help keep both campuses connected.
- Cuyama Elementary School was awarded $15,000 and will use this funding to purchase 24 computers, bolstering the computer lab, which is the primary location for school testing on campus.
- Santa Ynez Valley Union High School was awarded $15,000 and will use this funding to modernize its computer lab, replacing outdated equipment.
- Ballard Elementary School was awarded $15,000 and will use this funding to upgrade its cable infrastructure to improve internet access for students. This critical funding will support phase two of its multi-phase approach, with additional funding being sought through other sources.
In 2015, the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians donated the proceeds from its annual charity golf tournament to four local schools in the form of technology grants. Inspired by the success of those grants, the tribe’s leadership created the Technology in Schools Program through its foundation to help fulfill the high-tech needs of classrooms in Santa Barbara County. Since its inception, the program has issued more than $360,000 in grants to area schools.
The Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians has donated more than $25 million to hundreds of groups, organizations and schools in the community and across the nation as part of the tribe’s long-standing tradition of giving.
