Delaware County, May 4, 2020 – The Foundation for Delaware County continued its efforts to support area nonprofits at the forefront of the region’s COVID-19 assistance efforts, announcing eight more grants from the Delaware County COVID-19 Response Fund. This news comes as the fund crosses the $600,000 mark thanks to the generosity of many individuals, businesses and foundations.
According to Joanne Craig, VP for Programs at the foundation, “Our Advisory Committee is making every effort to get funds to the community as quickly as possible with grants awarded weekly since the fund launched. This week’s grants bring the total amount distributed to $289,755 for 42 frontline organizations. We will continue to do everything we can to support nonprofits providing emergency aid on behalf of those in need. We are grateful to the countless nonprofit organizations that have stepped up to provide services for our at-risk neighbors who have been disproportionately affected by this crisis.”
Announced in this week’s grants are three organizations that will provide emergency financial counseling for families. The foundation understands that it is critical for families to have this counseling as many residents are experiencing tremendous hardship. This counseling will help clients develop emergency financial plans, coach them through difficult conversations with landlords and creditors, navigate available resources, and prevent foreclosures or evictions during and after the crisis.
“Having moved to Delaware County ten years ago, I’ve always been amazed by this community’s resiliency, says Chelsea Barrish, Vice President of Program Impact for Clarifi. “That’s why we are grateful for this grant, so that Clarifi can work with Delaware County families to help them weather this storm. Clarifies financial counseling gives folks a hand up so that they won’t just survive this difficult time but will learn new financial skills to help them for the rest of their lives. Together we are truly DelCo strong.”
The following organizations are new recipients of grants awarded from the Delaware County COVID-19 Response Fund:
Centro de Apoyo Comunitario: $3,000 to purchase and distribute food familiar to the immigrant population to Upper Darby/ Darby/ Lansdowne Area.
Chester Community Improvement Project: $10,000 to provide emergency financial counseling to families experiencing financial hardship as a result of COVID-19.
Clarifi: $10,000 to provide emergency financial counseling to families experiencing financial hardship as a result of COVID-19.
Media Fellowship House: $10,000 to provide emergency financial counseling to families experiencing financial hardship as a result of COVID-19.
The Communities of Don Guanella and Divine Providence: $10,000 to purchase Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to continue to serve individuals with intellectual disabilities.
Making a Change Group: $10,000 to deliver food and essential supplies to food-insecure families in Chester.
Mental Health Partnerships: 10,000 to purchase personal protective equipment (PPE) for staff at their Upper Darby emergency shelter which supports people who have mental illness, are homeless or at risk for homelessness.
Neighbor to Neighbor Comm. Dev. Corp.: $5,000 for essential supplies to deliver food to low-income residents in the Sharon Hill and Darby Township area.
The foundation extends its deepest gratitude to the community as many dig deep during these emotionally and financially stressful times including these donors each of whom gave at the $5,000 level or more:
25th Century Foundation, Bank of America, Barra Foundation, Boggs Family Fund, Dietrich W. Botstiber Foundation, Crozer Keystone Health System, Chris Cullen, Carol and Daniel DuPont, DO, Ed and Ellen Hanway, Ethel Sergeant Clark Smith Memorial Fund, Franklin Mint Federal Credit Union, Gallagher, JMC Fund – Northern Trust Charitable Giving Program at the Chicago Community Foundation, Mike and Sofia Magnavita, Park Power, PECO, PFM, Joan Richards, SAP Foundation, Scholler Foundation, Nathan Speare Foundation, Lynne Steuerle Fund, Kate and Brian Zidek.
Please contact Ellen Grill at 610-744-1015 or egrill@delcofoundation.org to inquire about how you too can support the Delaware County COVID-19 Response Fund.
