Sobrato Philanthropies’ Impact
BSP’s Digital Literacy program graduates in the Bay Area
Sobrato Philanthropies has been a vital partner in supporting BSP’s growth in the Silicon Valley region since 2014. Their partnership has shaped BSP’s strategic direction and enabled us to expand our programs in Digital Literacy, Financial Capabilities, Immigrant Inclusion, Policy & Advocacy, and Workforce Development.
Thanks to Sobrato Philanthropies, many property service workers in the Bay Area have graduated from BSP’s Digital Literacy program. For example, Service by Medallion porters, who are frontline workers at Oracle, learned how to use technology to simplify their daily tasks and enhance their quality of life. They also gained skills in using their company’s online digital systems for reporting, as well as accessing online products and services, such as online banking and healthcare.
BSP Digital Navigator, Juan Rivas (left)
Sobrato Philanthropies has also supported BSP participant Juan Rivas, who transformed and advanced his career through BSP’s upskilling programs. Juan is a BSP Digital Navigator and a former property service worker. He recently represented BSP at a Digital Equity conference in New Orleans. Juan is now the Special Projects Supervisor for C&W Services at Google.
Moreover, Sobrato Philanthropies has invested in BSP’s Financial Capabilities programs, which serve property service workers and their families across California. These programs help low-wage industry families develop positive financial habits, access the financial mainstream, and achieve financial security. With Sobrato Philanthropies’ generosity, BSP was able to hire and onboard a San Jose Financial Capabilities Coordinator to deliver a financial literacy curriculum tailored to the needs of the communities served.
Through its VITA and Financial Coaching Program, BSP meets the growing needs of the immigrant communities by providing high-quality tax preparation and personalized coaching at no cost.
Ana, a small business owner in Mountain View
A successful example of this program’s impact is Ana; an immigrant from Mexico and small business owner in Mountain View. Ana was thrilled to learn about BSP’s Financial Capability services and received individual coaching in addition to free tax-filing services.
“Tax season has been stressful for me,” Ana said. “I have had to plan ahead to figure out how to pay the taxes that I owe. The instruction from BSP’s Financial Capabilities Coordinator prepared me in ways I never imagined.”
Through the support of Sobrato Philanthropies’ Pathways strategy, BSP is proud to provide access to financial resources and services for Silicon Valley’s immigrant workforce to help advance in their careers and personal lives.
Finally, Sobrato Philanthropies has contributed to BSP’s policy advocacy efforts for deserving communities. BSP’s policy framework integrates workforce development, immigrant inclusion, and community advancement to promote comprehensive solutions for prosperity, belonging, and wellbeing for California’s property service workers and their families. BSP’s policy advocacy platform urges decision-makers and legislators to use the COVID-19 pandemic and the country’s racial reckoning as an opportunity to advance policies and investments that dismantle systemic barriers and reflect values of inclusion, equity, and shared prosperity.
In recognition of their significant impact, BSP presented Sobrato Philanthropies with the Impact Award at the Mike Garcia Scholarship gala BSP’s policy framework in the fall of 2023. The award honors recipients who have made a difference for deserving communities.