In 1990 the State of California, via Cal-Trans purchased a piece of the property owned by St. Edward’s Episcopal Church for the construction of Highway 85.  The purchase price was $1,025,000.  The congregation of St. Edwards took this quite seriously and organized a series of meetings to decide what to do with the funds.

It was decided to perform some deferred maintenance items like a new roof on the parish hall, repave the parking lot, etc.   It was also decided to re-extend the property by purchase of an adjoining house and lot.    $150,000 was given to the Diocese of El Camino Real for teh purchase of property for a new church.  These funds were ultimately used to buy property for St. Benedict's Episcopal Church in Los Osos. There was strong feeling that the remainder should be used as a source of funds for outreach and never used for operation of the Church.  This gave birth to the idea of the CrossRoads 90 Fund.  

From these invested funds, 5% is made available each year for outreach projects that members of the congregation support.    This is typically between $25,000 and $30,000 for grants each year.    Using the smaller number this means that St. Edward’s Episcopal Church has granted about $450,000 to needy organizations in the Valley since 1990.   

A committee of 3 persons evaluates the proposals and recommends to the Vestry how to allocate the funds.   The Vestry elects a second year Vestry Person to be on the committee for three years.   So the committee consists of a second year Vestry Person, a third year Vestry Person and is chaired by a graduate of the Vestry.

In past year grants have been made to the following groups:

• Antioch Ian Orthodox Church of the Redeemer
• Live Oak Day Care
• Episcopal Canterbury Club, at San Jose State University
• Hospice of the Valley
• Santa Maria Urban Mission
• Sakamoto School
• Church of San Pablo
• Trans Access
• St. Patrick's, Haiti Scholarships
• Holy Child Episcopal Church