April 22, 2021
Contact: Alicia Hazelwood
765-662-9811 | director@uwofgrantco.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Marion – United Way of Grant County is pleased to release a follow up regarding the funding invested in Grant County through the first wave Economic Relief Initiative. The Economic Relief Initiative, has been made possible through a partnership between Lilly Endowment, Inc. and Indiana United Ways. These special funds will be used to boost the efforts of human and social service nonprofits on the frontlines of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Economic Relief Initiative is designed to address relief from and transition to a routine after COIVD-19 pandemic. The United Way is driven by the mission to build stronger families by focusing support on Health, Education and Financial Stability to achieve measurable results by uniting community resources. COVID-19 has aggravated many of the root causes and circumstances of poverty and increased the challenges faced by Asset Limited Income Constrained Employed (ALICE) families in Grant County. The United Way of Grant County is focused on addressing root causes that are barriers to strengthening families in the community.
The United Way of Grant County has awarded the $380,000 available in funding for this special initiative. "Throughout this process we have seen community organizations develop creative programming with vision to support adults, children, and families in Grant County meet the challenges and gaps as a result of COVID-19 and the disruption the pandemic has caused all of our lives. At the United Way of Grant County, and with the support of the Lily Foundation,” said United Way Board President Jonathan Perez. “We are excited to step into the future with new opportunities to support and strengthen this community."
Awards were made to 18 different organizations beginning in May of 2020 through the final awards in April of 2021. The invested included $19,500 for the purchase of PPE, $34,000 for food assistance, $125,460 for childcare and afterschool programing, $4,282 for the purchase and expansion of technology, $172,758 for programs that will assist employment and student recovery, and $24,000 for transportation. Information on specific awards and programing can be requested from the United Way of Grant County.
The successful investments of the ERI Wave 1 funding made the United Way of Grant County eligible for a 2nd Wave of funding which should be available in May 2021. Applicants to the Economic Relief Initiative Grant processes are encouraged to be creative and collaborative in designing and/or transitioning programing related to the Social Determinates of Health as defined by the CDC.
Interested non-profit organizations should call the United Way of Grant County for more information. https://www.unitedwayofgrantcounty.org/covid-19-economic-relief-initiat…
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United Way of Grant County is focused on building stronger families in Grant County Indiana by supporting programming in Health, Education and Financials Stability to achieve measurable results by uniting community resources. For more information, contact Alicia Hazelwood, Executive Director at director@uwofgrantco,com
Lilly Endowment Inc., is a private philanthropic foundation supporting the causes of religion, education and community development focusing its work in Indianapolis and the State of Indiana. For more information, contact Judith Cebula, Communications Director at communications@lei.org.
Indiana United Ways is the state association for United Ways in Indiana that supports thriving United Ways through capacity building, shared services, and partnering. For more information, contact Maureen Noe, President & CEO at Maureen.noe@iuw.org.
