Achievements of Representative Grantees
At The Becky Valentine Foundation, we take pride in partnering with organizations and individuals who share our commitment to education, environmental stewardship, and lasting community impact. Each of our grantees is carefully selected through a rigorous due diligence process to ensure transparency, accountability, and alignment with our mission. The achievements highlighted here reflect not only their dedication but also the trust we place in those we support to make a measurable difference.
Southeast Ventura County YMCA
Since 2017, The Becky Valentine Foundation has maintained a close partnership with the Southeast Ventura County YMCA—an organization deeply rooted in our local community, serving thousands of families throughout the region with programs that uplift and empower.
Our collaboration spans both landmark infrastructure projects and vital community programming. The Foundation was proud to be one of the largest contributors to the construction of the Yarrow Family YMCA in Westlake Village. Expanding on this commitment to local families, in 2025 we pledged $500,000 toward the renovation and expansion of the Simi Valley YMCA.
Aside from these capital developments, the Foundation has been an integral supporter of the Y’s signature community initiatives:
Find My Genius: This signature program now supports over 700 children each year, providing academic enrichment and personal development opportunities to under-resourced youth during the summer months.
Safety Around Water: This initiative equips children with essential swimming skills and water safety knowledge—helping to prevent drownings and ensure every child can enjoy the water with confidence.
Through these capital advancements, programmatic support, and a shared vision, the Y continues to be a vital force for equity, safety, and education in our community.
Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS)
Since 2018, The Becky Valentine Foundation has been a proud partner of the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), providing nearly $2 million toward their vital efforts to reduce poaching, protect nature’s strongholds, and preserve the natural beauty of our planet’s ecosystems across both land and sea.
Founded in 1895 as the New York Zoological Society, WCS is driven by a bold vision to safeguard the Earth’s most critical wilderness areas. With a diverse global staff of more than 3,700, WCS recognizes that wild places are essential to life—a conviction that anchors our foundation’s long-term investment in their mission.
Our funding helps support their targeted global strategies to protect these essential environments:
Intact Forests: Safeguarding areas that are home to 80 percent of all land-based plant and animal species, support the livelihoods of 1.6 billion people, and serve as powerful carbon sinks that help mitigate climate change.
The Ocean: Preserving marine ecosystems that feed over a billion people and produce half of the planet’s oxygen.
Through expansive fieldwork and world-class science, WCS identifies the needs of wildlife, develops effective conservation solutions, and rigorously measures the impact of its efforts. At the same time, its zoos and aquarium help build a global constituency for nature by inspiring people to care about and take action for the natural world.
University of Miami's Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric & Earth Science
The Rosenstiel School at the University of Miami stands as a premier subtropical research institution. Since its founding in 1943, it has grown into one of the world’s leading centers for oceanographic and atmospheric research.
Since 2019, The Becky Valentine Foundation has partnered with the Rosenstiel School to accelerate critical global conservation and research. Our multifaceted support empowers scientists and students through essential infrastructure, advanced research funding, and immersive educational programs:
The Valentine Research Vessel: This dedicated vessel enables scientists at the school to conduct critical fieldwork, including vital coral restoration efforts that have already resulted in the planting of over 5,000 new corals.
The Valentine Fellowship: This initiative is enabling cutting-edge conservation science to protect our land, sea, and air by supporting the school’s top research minds.
The UGalapagos Program: The Foundation proudly funds this signature program, enhancing hands-on field research and education in one of the planet’s most unique and fragile ecosystems.
Through this cutting-edge research, interdisciplinary education, and evidence-based environmental policy, the Rosenstiel School is not only advancing scientific understanding but also preparing the next generation of environmental leaders while improving the quality of life for communities around the world.
Kettering University
Kettering University, originally founded in 1919 as The School of Automobile Trades, has a rich history of innovation in education. Evolving into the Flint Institute of Technology in 1923, and later the General Motors Institute (GMI) in 1926, the university played a pivotal role in developing top-tier engineers and managers for the automotive industry. In 1998, the institution was renamed Kettering University in honor of inventor Charles Kettering, reflecting its continued commitment to excellence in engineering, science, mathematics, and business.
Today, Kettering stands as one of the world’s premier institutions for STEM and business education, known for producing visionary leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators.
Since 2018, The Becky Valentine Foundation has proudly supported this mission through The Valentine Scholarship, helping to foster the next generation of problem-solvers and changemakers. Our partnership focuses on expanding opportunities through Kettering’s distinct educational framework:
Tuition Assistance: The Foundation provides scholarships to 20 students each year, opening doors for over 160 under-resourced scholars to date who otherwise might not have the means to attend.
The Co-Op Learning Model: This critical funding enables scholars to fully participate in Kettering’s unique cooperative education model, which seamlessly pairs rigorous classroom instruction with real-world, hands-on, paid professional experience.
By bridging the gap between financial need and academic potential, the Foundation is proud to help fuel the talent pipeline for tomorrow’s premier scientific and industrial leaders.
Scripps Institution of Oceanography
Founded in 1903, Scripps Institution of Oceanography is a premier global research center dedicated to ocean, earth, and atmospheric sciences. Its scientists tackle major environmental challenges through groundbreaking research in fields ranging from climate change to marine biodiversity.
A vital part of this mission is the preservation of Southern California’s kelp forests. While these ecosystems are crucial for supporting marine habitats and absorbing carbon dioxide, they face severe threats from warming oceans, overfishing, and sea urchin overpopulation. To combat this decline, Dr. Jennifer Smith and Smith Lab researchers—supported by the Becky Valentine Foundation—are studying kelp heat-sensitivity and pioneering science-backed restoration techniques to strengthen coastal resilience and protect these essential ecosystems for future generations.
Our grantees are creating real change and brighter futures.
Your support helps ensure their important work continues to thrive.