Cal Coast Cares Foundation awarded $75,000 in grants to local educators to support innovative Science, Technology, Reading, Engineering, Arts, and Math projects in San Diego and Riverside counties. This year's awards support 66 projects at local schools, including 40 at Tile 1 schools and six schools with the City of San Diego's Promise Zone, supporting students in disadvantaged communities. Since 2015, the Cal Coast Cares Foundation has awarded more than $1 million in student scholarships and teacher grants.

"Our mission at the foundation is to help local high school seniors, foster students, and college students achieve their dream of attaining a college degree, and to help educators provide additional innovative, inspiring learning experiences for their students," said Penney Newell, Cal Coast Cares Foundation manager and board member in a press release.

"Receiving this grant made it possible for me to offer my students the opportunity to learn principles of mechanical, electrical, software, and systems engineering in a fun, hands-on manner," said Carrie Northum, teacher at San Ysidro High School.

Recipients include:

Gina Arias, $1,500, San Ysidro High School

Carrie Northum, $2,000, San Ysidro High School

Briana Palacio, $550, Discovery Charter Elementary School

Karen Quiros, $2,000, Chula Vista Elementary School

Jennifer Bennet, $750, Grossmont College

Katei Pipes, $750, Helix Charter High School

Kasey Viani, $500, Los Coches Creek Middle School