The Los Altos Mountain View Community Foundation (LAMVCF) and Santa Clara County Supervisor Margaret Abe-Koga have partnered to make passports more accessible in the local community with the launch of a Passport Equity Fund.
The fund covers passport applications, renewal fees and passport workshops put on monthly by local nonprofit organizations. The workshops help families navigate the passport application process, according to a press release.
“This is one way we can remove a barrier that can hold people back,” said Abe-Koga. “The Passport Equity Fund is a tangible way to expand opportunity while helping families feel supported, safe and connected to their community.”
Passport applications and renewal fees are covered regardless of immigration status or family income, but youth and families who need help navigating the process or would otherwise be unable to afford passport application fees are prioritized.
“Access to a passport can be the first step in opening the world and strengthening a young person’s sense of belonging and citizenship,” said Eileen Eng, LAMVCF board chair. “At a time when many immigrant and mixed-status families feel uncertainty or fear about interacting with institutions, the Passport Equity Fund is designed to provide a welcoming, trusted and supportive pathway for families to access a basic document many take for granted.”
To donate to the fund, visit tinyurl.com/passportequityfund.
