Assistance Fund Award Recommendations on the Pasadena Human Services Commission For Review

A presentation on the 2025 Pasadena Assistance Fund (PAF) Notice of Funding Availability is on the agenda for the Pasadena Human Services Commission’s upcoming meeting on Wednesday, with Program Coordinator Randy Mabson set to deliver details on the city’s recommendations for public service grants.

The PAF is a local initiative managed in partnership with the Pasadena Community Foundation. It offers targeted financial support to nonprofit organizations based in Pasadena that provide critical services to low- and moderate-income residents. This year, three awards of $50,000 each – disbursed over two years – are available to support selected programs.

The process began with the release of the Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) on March 27. Following an optional applicant workshop and a competitive application process, six organizations submitted proposals. These ranged from youth college access initiatives and trauma-informed mental health care to environmental expeditions and neurodiversity-inclusive dance classes.

The city’s Department of Housing ranked the applicants based on criteria including service impact, program design, and community need. The highest-scoring project – “Stars Strong Trauma Recovery Groups” by Stars: Illuminate, Education, Advocate – received a score of 95.5 for its plan to deliver mental health support to Pasadena Unified School District students affected by the Eaton fire and other stressors.

Other top recommendations include the Families Forward Learning Center’s bilingual mental health program for families with young children, and Outward Bound Adventures’ youth-led environmental expeditions for Black and Native American teens in Northwest Pasadena.

The Human Services Commission will review and make final recommendations on May 14, with City Council approval expected by May 19.

Funding disbursements are scheduled for July 1 this year and July 1, 2026.