The Steering Committee that reviews the applications reports seeing an increase in second requests. Mark Johnson, Community Impact Director for the United Way stated, “We have now awarded 15 organizations for a second time. This may be for a new or continuing need, but what this shows our committee is that these organizations are still needing assistance to serve those in the Wabash Valley.”  With Tuesday’s release of funding, 9 organizations were granted over $36,000; four of these organizations are receiving a second grant.

Organizations receiving their first award from the fund:

• $1,019 for Awesome Kidz II Daycare and Preschool – cleaning and disinfecting supplies and PPE
• $3,840 for Development Services, Inc. – providing and creating free reusable PPE to clients and local NFPs and their clients and volunteers who are serving the community
• $5,000 for Greater Terre Haute Chamber of Commerce Foundations, Inc. – purchase 10,000 disposable, surgical masks to be distributed, free of charge, to small businesses throughout the West Central Indiana six-county region
• $5,000 for Kiddie Cove Day Care & Preschool – cleaning and disinfecting supplies and PPE
• $2,500 for Loving Ways Day Care – purchase air purifier, sanitation wands, and thermometers

The following organizations received a second grant of between $4,000 and $5,000 for supply of food, meal packaging products, cleaning supplies, hygiene products, and operations: Mental Health America, Salvaged Loves Life Center, St. Benedict Soup Kitchen, and Team of Mercy.

The fund’s first priority is to assist organizations helping individuals and families with immediate COVID-19 related needs, but funds are also used for support of non-profit infrastructure impacted by the economic effects of the state’s stay-at-home orders.

Since March 24^th, the fund has now awarded more than $365,000 to over 66 organizations. Officials stated that funds remain for further disbursements and applications are reviewed weekly.  Those organizations wanting to apply can request up to a maximum of $5,000. Updated eligibility and application guidelines for the grants are available at uwwv.org/covid.  Organizations seeking funding are encouraged to review these guidelines.

• Vigo County’s local Emergency Food & Shelter Board Program has received an award for $40,980 for Phase 37 and a separate award of $58,425 from the CARES Act.
• Sullivan County’s local Emergency Food & Shelter Board Program has received an award for $7,251 for Phase 37 and a separate award of $10,338 from the CARES Act.
• Clay County’s totals have not yet been announced.

Not-for-profit agencies and governmental agencies currently providing these services may apply for the funds to supplement and expand current services. Agencies may apply for one or both of the award funds. Two separate applications are required if submitting requests from both funds. Local organizations chosen to receive funds must: 1) be private voluntary nonprofits (with a voluntary board) or units of government, 2) be eligible to receive Federal funds, 3) have an accounting system, 4) practice non-discrimination, 5) have demonstrated the capability to deliver emergency food and/or shelter programs.

The deadline for funding applications is 12:00 PM May 29, 2020.  For more information and to receive an application; contact United Way of the Wabash Valley; 100 South 7th Street; Terre Haute, IN 47807 or Phone: 812-235-6287; E-mail: info@uwwv.org.

Organizations receiving an award from the fund in this 6^th round:

• $5,000 for Chances and Services for Youth – help hire and employ camp counselors due to the loss of partner funding surrounding COVID-19. Loss of volunteers and college students.
• $5,000 for Meals on Wheels – increased administration cost due to not allowing volunteers in the kitchen for health safety. Additional hire to help with increased demand.
• $4,400 for Reading Boot Camp – provide 23 students with an HD Tablet and internet access cards to attend virtual Reading Boot Camp.
• $5,000 for Saint Patrick’s Soup Kitchen – increased need for food pantry; purchase food, to-go supplies and meal-prep protective ware.
• $4,000 for St. Mary Community Kitchen Outreach (Sullivan)– increased need for food pantry; purchase food and supplies.
• $5,000 for Swope Art Museum, Inc. – to help cover cost of PPE and cleaning supplies to be used when the Swope reopens.
• $5,000 for Terre Haute Children’s Museum – to create 1,000 STEM Play Packs for children PreK-6th grade to be distributed (one pack per family) through the summer lunch distributions sites and/or community centers.
• $5,000 for Valley Professionals Community Health Center – supplement expenses to enable “reduced costs” for mental health services to our local first responders
• $5,000 for Vigo County Mutual Aid – provide $50 of groceries to 100 families in critical need of food and food delivery due to COVID-19.
• $5,000 for Vigo County School Corporation – expand food distribution for weekend consumption.

Since March 24^th, the fund has awarded more than $328,000 in emergency community support services related to the COVID-19 pandemic.  Officials stated that funds remain for further disbursements and applications are reviewed weekly.  Those organizations wanting to apply can request up to a maximum of $5,000. Updated eligibility and application guidelines for the grants are available at uwwv.org/covid.  Organizations seeking funding are encouraged to review these guidelines.

“Since the start, we have seen a steady flow of applicants for these grants,” said Beth Tevlin, Executive Director for the Community Foundation. “This week, we funded a second grant to 8 organizations, which is showing that the funds are being invested in the greatest need areas and that need is not slowing down.”  The Steering Committee has reviewed over 80 applications since the fund was created on March 20.  With Tuesday’s release of funding, 18 organizations were granted over $80,000 allowing for some immediate financial assistance to help those impacted by the pandemic.

Organizations receiving their first award from the fund:

• $1,000 for Billy Henry Ministries, Inc. – for utility, rent and food assistance
• $2,000 for Cayuga Christian Church – increased need for food pantry
• $5,000 for Clay County Council on Aged & Aging – increased need for food pantry
• $5000 for Hamilton Center – telehealth services; purchase minutes and/or cell phones for consumers who are in need of telehealth services
• $5,000 for Parke County Community Food Pantry – increased need for food pantry; purchase food and personal hygiene items
• $5,000 for Salvation Army Services Extension Sullivan County – increased need for utility, rent, and food assistance to Sullivan County residents
• $5,000 for Summer Lunch, Inc. – Food delivery to low income children in Marshall
• $5,000 for Tender Moments Play House & Preschool – cover the cost of an additional teacher for school aged children as to provide quality childcare for those parents working during pandemic
• $5,000 for Unified Anesthesia Services, LLC – telehealth equipment
• $5,000 for West Central Indiana Economic Development District – home delivery meals to those under 60 and disabled (not covered by other funding)

The following organizations received a second grant of between $1,000 and $5,000 for supply of food, hygiene products or telehealth services:  Covered with Love Inc., FSA Counseling Center, Mana from Seven, Inc., Parke County Resource Center, St. Joseph University Parish, Samaritan Food Pantry, Wabash Activity Center and the West Side Christian Church.

Since March 24^th, the fund has now awarded more than $285,000 in emergency community support.  United Way announced last week they had received a $1.1 million COVID-19 Economic Relief Initiative (ERI) grant form Indiana United Ways and the Lilly Endowment.  Richard Payonk, Executive Director for United Way explained that since the initial money raised for the local relief fund has nearly all been used, an additional $300,000 from the Economic Relief Grant funds will be applied to continuing these short-term grants.

“This week, in coordination with the Community Foundation, we began the initial steps on delivering a second level of larger-scale, focused grants for the community using the ERI funds as a starting point.  We hope that in the next 3-4 months we can invest up to half a million more dollars in COVID Relief, but to do that, we will continue to need community support.”

To help drive community donations, United Way announced that they are adding an additional $20,000 in matching funds to incentivize local donations. “Our board of directors is seeing the increased need in the community and we remain dedicated to helping others get involved through donations,” said Danielle Isbell, Resource Development Director for United Way. Isbell encouraged community members interested in donating to the fund to please visit uwwv.org/covid or wvcf.org/covid.  Corporate partners and foundations seeking to be partners in the fund can reach out to Danielle Isbell at disbell@uwwv.org or Beth Tevlin at beth@wvcf.org.

Those organizations wanting to apply can request up to a maximum of $5,000. Updated eligibility and application guidelines for the grants are available at uwwv.org/covid.  Organizations seeking funding are encouraged to review these guidelines.

Fourth Round recipients include:

• $5,000 for Brazil First United Methodist Church, Food Pantry – increase in need for food
• $5,000 for Camp Navigate – offset operational cost during closing
• $5,000 for Youth for Christ of the Wabash Valley – help cover operational cost while aiding in food distribution
• $3,900 for Friendship House – cover rent for residents who cannot afford due to current employment status; cleaning and household supplies for residents
• $5,000 for Clay County Humane Society – increase demand to care for animals
• $5,000 for Team of Mercy – increased mental health needs and volume of clients
• $5,000 for West Vigo Community Center – offset operational cost while they are prepping and serving meals to the community without income from sport/center related activity income

The fund has now issued more than $204,000 to 45 organizations in the last four weeks.  In an effort to maintain transparency with the public, information on donations and every grant awarded can be found at www.uwwv.org/covid.  Both organizations report that grants will continue to be awarded on a weekly basis.

Earlier this week, United Way announced it has received a $1.1 million grant that will continue to support this fund and these short-term grants, but will also allow for a second tier of larger targeted grants.  The organization will be announcing more information on these opportunities within the next two weeks.

If community members are interested in donating to the fund, please visit uwwv.org/covid or wvcf.org/covid.  All money that is donated will remain in the Wabash Valley and can be designated to county-specific use.  No administrative fees will be charged, so 100% of the donations will flow into our local communities in the form of future grant disbursements.  Corporate partners and foundations seeking to be partners in the fund can reach out to Danielle Isbell at disbell@uwwv.org or Beth Tevlin at beth@wvcf.org.

Those organizations wanting to apply can request up to a maximum of $5,000 through a simple process available at uwwv.org/covid.  The application should be less than one page and should demonstrate how the COVID-19 pandemic has created the financial need for which they are seeking this relief funding.  Applications should be emailed to covid19fund@uwwv.org upon completion.

“For the last few years, United Way of the Wabash Valley has been focused on convening and coordinating efforts to assist struggling working families.  Even before this crisis, we knew that 44% of households in our community were not able to make ends meet,” said Jameel Ahmed, Board President for UWWV.  “Our local relief fund has already demonstrated how we can achieve more by all working together. Now, thanks to this generous support from the Lilly Endowment, our fund is strongly positioned to use all of our collective strengths to aid our recovery from the impacts of COVID-19.”

The COVID-19 Economic Relief Initiative Grant calls for United Ways who receive funding to leverage partnerships and relationships to better meet COVID-related essential and basic needs and to address other COVID-19 critical issues as they emerge.

Richard Payonk, United Way Executive Director, explained how UWWV plans to invest the grant funds using a three-tiered approach. “This tremendous gift does not just belong to United Way; these are community funds and we will work collaboratively with the community to make wise investments.  The first tier of this funding will allow us to continue the Wabash Valley COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund short term grants, which have already provided assistance totaling nearly $175,000 to 39 local organizations.”

“Because of this generous grant, we can now also launch a second tier of investments. We will continue working with our partners at the Wabash Valley Community Foundation, and also select a Guide Team of key stakeholders who will help us identify the best grant investments for our community over the next 3-6 months.” Payonk says they envision this second tier of investments to be targeted grants from the local fund on the order of $75K to $100K per initiative. These larger investments may be by invite-only to pre-identified organizations with the demonstrated capacity to complete the work needed.  A third tier of investment of the $1.1MM Economic Relief Initiative Grant will be held for long-term future needs created by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Danielle Isbell, Resource Development Director for UWWV hopes this new grant inspires more businesses and individuals to contribute to the local relief fund. “We’ve been given a fantastic gift, and we are very grateful.  Still, it is important to keep in perspective the need that exists.  Before this pandemic, more than 34,000 households in our 6 counties lived paycheck to paycheck, and for many, those paychecks have stopped.  $1.1 million sounds like enough, but if you do the math, it would provide only about $32 to each struggling family.  The Lilly Endowment has made our work more impactful, but even with them, we are not yet out of the woods, and we still need our community’s support.”

UWWV will provide more details on the expanded investments from the Wabash Valley COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund in the weeks ahead.  Initial short-term grants remain available through the local fund. Those organizations wanting to apply can request up to a maximum of $5,000.  Details on how to apply are available at uwwv.org/covid.

If community members are interested in donating to the fund, please visit uwwv.org/covid or wvcf.org/covid.  Corporate partners and foundations seeking to be partners in the fund can reach out to Danielle Isbell at disbell@uwwv.org or Beth Tevlin at beth@wvcf.org.