The Palo Alto-based Skoll Foundation announced March 17 it has awarded nearly $9.5 million to 22 organizations that support social entrepreneurs using innovative approaches to address social issues in communities around the world.

In addition, the foundation is renewing its support of the Bayview Hunters Point Center for Arts and Technology, San Francisco, in the amount of $400,000.

The Skoll Foundation was created in 1999 by Los Altos Hills resident Jeff Skoll, the first employee and first president of eBay. Its mission is to advance change by investing in social entrepreneurs dedicated to pioneering new solutions that result in lasting improvements to complex social problems.

For a complete list of winners of the Skoll awards, log on to www.skollfoundation.org/grantees/index.asp.