Walking Shield Receives Grant from The Prebys Foundation to Enhance Health Services for Native American Tribes in San Diego County

Native-Managed Non-Profit will use $100,000 grant to Develop Improvement Plans for up to six Native American Tribes 

Walking Shield, a Native-managed nonprofit organization in California, has been awarded a one-year, $100,000 grant to enhance the health and well-being of Native American Tribes in San Diego County. With this funding, Walking Shield will develop Community Improvement Plans for up to six tribes, focusing on priority health projects and programs. The organization will provide technical assistance and support to identify and plan for new community facilities, including health education centers and infrastructure projects for clean water, housing, and fire prevention access roads. Since its founding in 1983, Walking Shield has been dedicated to improving the quality of life for American Indian families through programs that offer shelter, healthcare, community development, technical assistance, and humanitarian aid.

“We are very pleased to partner with the Prebys Foundation to implement our new program in San Diego County and to work with our tribal partners to bring new investments to the region”, said Dr. John Castillo, Executive Director, Walking Shield.

“We are thrilled to support Walking Shield in their mission to improve the health and well-being of Native American Tribes in San Diego County,” said Grant Oliphant, Prebys Foundation CEO. “Their dedication to developing comprehensive community improvement plans and providing essential technical assistance aligns perfectly with our commitment to fostering healthier communities. By investing in Walking Shield, we are confident that we can make a significant impact on the quality of life for tribal members, ensuring they have access to vital health services, clean water, and safe housing.”

Walking Shield will work with local Tribes over the period of June 2024 to May 2025 to carry out their work. For updates on progress, you are invited to visit walkingshield.org.

About Walking Shield

Walking Shield was founded by Mr. Phil Stevens, a Lakota Sioux, in 1986, and for over 30 years we have worked closely with both urban Indian and tribal leaders to provide a variety of services to American Indian families throughout the United States.

We are a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization that partners with tribal governments, urban Indian service organizations, state and federal government funding agencies, non-profit grantees, corporate businesses, and foundations to bring our services to our nation’s American Indian communities most in need.

About Prebys Foundation  

Prebys Foundation is the largest independent private foundation in San Diego County, a unique tri-national area encompassing communities from San Diego, Tijuana, and the Kumeyaay Nation. The foundation works to create an inclusive, equitable, and dynamic future for all San Diegans. Prebys advances excellence and shared opportunity through investments in groundbreaking institutions, ideas, and people to ensure more people in the region are financially secure, healthy, empowered, and connected. For more information about the Prebys Foundation, visit prebysfdn.org.