16 Local Nonprofits Awarded Nearly $370,000 in First Round of Grants from the COVID-19 Regional Response Fund

Just 12 days after its creation, grants from the COVID-19 Regional Response Fund totaling nearly $370,000 were directed to 16 nonprofit organizations serving St. Louisans affected by the coronavirus, St. Louis Community Foundation officials announced today.

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Help nonprofits assist St. Louis' vulnerable citizens who are affected by coronavirus disruptions. Visit Stlgives.org/Covid19 for more details. (Graphic: Business Wire)

The COVID-19 Regional Response Fund was created and funded by a coalition of area foundations, businesses, and individual donors brought together by the St. Louis Community Foundation. An Advisory Council comprised of public health experts, foundation partners, and corporate and community representatives guided the initial grantmaking process and awarded funds to the following organizations:

Aging

• Aging Ahead: elder services and food delivery
• Cardinal Ritter Senior Services: basic needs, mental health, and isolation
• St. Louis Area Agency on Aging: nutrition, transportation and other services

Basic Needs

• Catholic Charities: coordinate agencies providing unmet and emerging needs
• Community Action Agency of St. Louis County: rent, mortgage, utility, and food assistance
• Connections to Success: access to technology, food, transportation, occurring because of a job loss
• Metro Trans Umbrella Group: food and toiletries, and address social isolation for transgendered
• Salvation Army: food, supplies, shelter
• St. Francis Community Services: therapy, legal aid and case management
• Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis: nutrition and isolation and low-income rent and utilities

Child Care

• United for Children: nutrition and childcare for emergency and essential personnel;

Disabilities Services

• Paraquad: emotional support and communication for families and caregivers

Food Insecurity

• Operation Food Search: food for children and families
• St. Louis Area Food Bank: provide food given network disruptions

Mental and Behavioral Health

• Alive & Well Communities: basic services, mental health, and isolation
• Behavioral Health Network: uninsured adults, homeless without phones

About the Advisory Council

Those serving on the Advisory Council are: Jama Dodson, St. Louis Mental Health Board; Jane Donahue, St. Louis Public Schools Foundation; Regina Greer, United Way of Greater St. Louis; LadyAshley Gregory, Forward Through Ferguson; Jacki Langum, ArchCity Defenders; Sal Martinez, Employment Connection; Rich McClure, UniGroup – retired; Jamie Opsal, St. Louis Seniors Fund; Jason Purnell, Washington University; Michael Renner, Missouri Foundation For Health; Pat Sly, Emerson – retired; Pat White, St. Louis Labor Council; Elizabeth George, St. Louis Community Foundation.

“With this initial round of grantmaking, we really wanted to support a broad array of organizations that are already working with affected people in the designated populations,” said Elizabeth George, director of Community Investment, for the St. Louis Community Foundation. “Given the magnitude of the events unfolding and their impacts, we knew we had to act fast.”

As funds continue to be raised and received, the Advisory Council will evaluate the impact of the grants already extended and make additional grant recommendations as contributions to the funds allow.

“We are continuing to work with our coalition members to broaden support and raise funds for the Regional Response Fund,” said Amelia Bond, president and CEO of the St. Louis Community Foundation. “The need in our community is great – and will likely grow larger – and we intend to help as many organizations as possible deliver services to those who need help.”

Regional Response Fund coalition members include: United Way of Greater St. Louis, Boniface Foundation, Catholic Charities, Clark-Fox Foundation, Episcopal Presbyterian Health Trust, Incarnate World Foundation, Gateway Center for Giving, Jewish Federation of St. Louis, Lutheran Foundation of St. Louis, Marillac Mission Fund, Missouri Foundation for Health, Regional Business Council and its affiliate Social Venture Partners, Saigh Foundation, St. Louis City Seniors Fund, St. Louis Mental Health Board, St. Louis Regional Chamber, City of St. Louis, St. Louis County, Trio Foundation of St. Louis, Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis, Washington University, Wells Fargo Advisors, and WestPort One.

Please Give! Here’s How

Individual, corporate and foundations contributions are being accepted and encouraged for both the COVID-19 Regional Response Fund and the Gateway Resilience Fund, which will assist employees and owners of restaurants, bars, shops and other venues affected by the coronavirus disruption. Visit stlgives.org/COVID19 for details.

Together, both funds have raised $1.4 million to date. Grants from each will be guided by advisory committees unique to the mission of each fund.

For additional information about Covid-19 relief efforts hosted at the St. Louis Community Foundation visit stlgives.org/Covid19.

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