Genesis Bank (“Genesis” or the “Bank”) announced today that the Genesis for Good Foundation (“GFG”), the Bank’s 501(c)(3) public nonprofit philanthropic affiliate, has been awarded a $300,000 collaborative grant from the Samueli Foundation and the Sun Family Foundation – $150,000 from each foundation – over a two-year period in support of its Catalyst Empowerment Grant Program and Catalyst Procurement Program, both of which are focused on advancing workforce development and entrepreneurship.

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The Catalyst Empowerment Grant Program supports small business owners and entrepreneurs located in low- to moderate-income communities across Southern California by providing access to essential resources, capacity building, business networking opportunities, education, and capital, including financial grants to eligible small businesses. The Catalyst Procurement Program creates pathways for historically underutilized small businesses to access high-value procurement and supplier opportunities, with a focus on business certification, procurement and contract acquisition, and gap funding support. Both programs are delivered through Catalyst 360, GFG’s integrated platform that combines engagement, education, and empowerment to help entrepreneurs and small businesses grow, scale, and create jobs.

Among grant recipients to date, 83% increased their customer base, 70% expanded their product or service offerings, and 55% created new jobs. Additionally, GFG has received generous support from prominent organizations, including Fiserv, Inc. (NASDAQ: FISV), the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco, and CVB Financial Corporation (NASDAQ:CVBF). This collaborative grant, specifically targeted toward workforce development and small business growth in Orange County, will enable GFG to further scale both programs over the two-year grant period and deepen its impact.

Stephen H. Gordon, Chairman, CEO, and President of Genesis Bank and Chairman of the Genesis for Good Foundation, stated, “On behalf of the Genesis for Good Foundation, we are honored to receive this collaborative grant in support of the Catalyst Empowerment Grant Program and Catalyst Procurement Program. For nearly three decades, the Samueli Foundation and the Sun Family Foundation have built extensive track records of giving back to positively impact the communities we collectively serve across Southern California, and Orange County in particular. Through their work, they have become two of the most prominent philanthropic organizations in Orange County, and we are proud to have the opportunity to partner with them in the areas of entrepreneurship, workforce development, and economic mobility. With their support, we intend to further scale our Catalyst 360 programming, while making a lasting impact on entrepreneurs and small businesses that serve low- to moderate-income communities across Orange County.”

Amilcar Aaron, President and Executive Director of the Genesis for Good Foundation, stated, “We are deeply grateful to the Samueli Foundation and the Sun Family Foundation for their generous investment and for their confidence in our work. There is no shortage of talented, driven entrepreneurs who are ready to grow, but far too many lack access to the funding, relationships, and business resources they need to reach their potential. This partnership will help us equip more Orange County entrepreneurs with the capital, connections, and support to grow their businesses, create new jobs, and strengthen the communities they serve.”

Lindsey Spindle, President of the Samueli Foundation, stated, “Orange County is home to entrepreneurs with the ideas, talent, and determination to build businesses that strengthen our communities. Too often, what stands in the way is not a lack of potential, but access to the capital, relationships, and opportunities that help businesses grow. Through this partnership with Genesis for Good and the Sun Family Foundation, we are investing in the conditions that allow more local businesses to succeed, create jobs, and contribute to the economic well-being of Orange County.”

Joanna Kong, Executive Director of the Sun Family Foundation, stated, “Small businesses represent 96% of all businesses in Orange County, driving the local economy and sustaining our community. Real progress happens when we walk alongside these small business leaders, ensuring they have the tools, networks, and opportunities to build enduring success. We are proud to support the Genesis for Good Foundation in expanding access for underrepresented small businesses and creating lasting economic growth across Orange County.”

Applications for the GFG Catalyst Empowerment Grant Program are accepted on a rolling basis. Small businesses interested in learning more can visit https://genesisforgood.org/catalystgrant. Additionally, organizations interested in partnering with the Genesis for Good Foundation can reach us using the contact information below.

About Genesis for Good Foundation

The Genesis For Good Foundation (GFG) is a mission-driven 501(c)(3) public nonprofit, and philanthropic affiliate of Genesis Bank, committed to building thriving, inclusive, vibrant communities by advancing economic opportunity and delivering positive community impact. GFG mobilizes capital, relationships, and strategic resources to expand pathways to prosperity – especially for historically under-resourced and low-to-moderate income communities throughout Southern California. Priority areas of focus include entrepreneurship, economic mobility and opportunity, financial empowerment, education, economic and workforce development, affordable housing, nonprofit capacity building, and digital connectivity. Through its flagship Catalyst 360 initiative, GFG equips entrepreneurs and small businesses with the tools, capital, and connections needed to grow, scale, and succeed. Visit www.genesisforgood.org to learn more about the Genesis for Good Foundation.

About Samueli Foundation

The Samueli Foundation’s mission is to make Orange County, California, a vibrant mosaic of community well-being. The Foundation supports and unites catalytic forces whose innovations yield a high quality of life for everyone. The Foundation works closely with the constellation of Samueli Family-backed for-profit and nonprofit organizations to ensure that giving back to the community is central to everything they do.

These include the Anaheim Ducks Foundation, the San Diego Gulls Foundation, the Irvine Ice Foundation, The Rinks Foundation, and OC Sports & Entertainment, which oversees the family’s sports and entertainment assets, including the Anaheim Ducks, the San Diego Gulls and Honda Center.

Over the last 25 years, the Samueli Family, through its various entities, has contributed more than $1 billion in charitable grants.

About Sun Family Foundation

The Sun Family Foundation invests in the people, places, and ideas that contribute to a thriving Orange County. Grounded in a deep sense of gratitude and longstanding ties to the region, the Foundation supports local leadership, strengthens community connections, and expands opportunities for future generations. The Foundation’s place-based strategy focuses on Anaheim, Santa Ana, Garden Grove, and Westminster, building on the distinct heritage and aspirations of these communities. Its philanthropy also honors local teachers, elders, and Asian American and Pacific Islander communities, while creating opportunities for organizations across Orange County to bring shared values to life. Through trusted partnerships and long-term commitments, the Sun Family Foundation helps build a brighter future for Orange County where joy and opportunities flourish for all.

About Genesis Bank

Genesis Bank is a California state chartered commercial bank, organized by a group of highly experienced and successful bankers, investors, and business professionals. The Bank focuses on serving the financial needs of small to mid-sized businesses and owners, and investors in income-producing multifamily and commercial real estate located in the Bank’s Target Markets of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino Counties, California. The Bank is built upon a combination of best-in-class technologies, which are tightly integrated to give clients a seamless, digital first, and transparent experience on par with money-center bank capabilities. The Bank’s products, services, and solutions primarily include traditional commercial business, Small Business Administration (SBA), income property, and owner-occupied commercial real estate loan and deposit products, as well as treasury management, escrow, and Section 1031 exchange services and solutions. Genesis Bank is headquartered in Orange County, California, and can be found online at www.mygenesisbank.com. Genesis is an Equal Housing Lender and Member FDIC.

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