The Community Foundation Awards Over $4.7 million to 82 Nonprofits Supporting the Region’s Most Vulnerable Communities

Aug 14, 2020

NEW BEDFORD — The SouthCoast Community Foundation launched the SouthCoast Emergency Response Fund in March 2020 to support nonprofit organizations on the front lines of the COVID-19 outbreak. To date, the fund has raised over $5.5 million and granted over $4.7 million to 82 nonprofits providing emergency support for vulnerable populations, including the homeless, immigrant families, and those facing food insecurity in our region.

The Community Foundation selected 34 local nonprofit organizations to receive a total of $1.26 million for the final round of grants made possible through the Community Foundation’s partnership with the Massachusetts COVID-19 Relief Fund. The Massachusetts COVID-19 Relief Fund supports those across the state most impacted by the COVID-19 health crisis, focusing on essential frontline workers and vulnerable populations including the homeless, immigrant populations, people with disabilities and those facing food insecurity. The Fund works in concert with regional community foundations and non-profit leaders who partner with local leaders to understand the response and relief landscape, strategically filling in where gaps are pronounced. For more information, visit MACovid19ReliefFund.org.

“The challenges to the health and well-being of our community during this time has been ever shifting. Thanks to the generosity of so many in our community, we have been able to put food on people’s tables, keep people in their homes, protect our frontline workers, support those struggling with mental health issues, get kids into safe and engaging summer programs, and help our most vulnerable neighbors during this uncertain time.” said John Vasconcellos, President of the SouthCoast Community Foundation.

To date, the Fund has raised over $5.5 million from a wide range of corporate donors, foundations, and individuals, in response to the Community Foundation’s call to come together on behalf of our community. The SouthCoast Emergency Response Fund will continue to make grants to support the region’s nonprofits on the frontlines of the pandemic. Please consider making a donation on our website www.southcoastcf.org.

Details of each grantee’s work can be found listed below. Grants ranging from $5,000 to $79,000 were distributed to the following organizations:

Grantees:

Early July: ($600,000)

Late July: ($660,000)

How to give
You can help those most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic by supporting our region’s nonprofits on the front lines. Donations to the SouthCoast Emergency Response Fund may be made online at on our website www.southcoastcf.org.

For general questions and inquiries about the Fund, please direct your inquiry to emergencyfund@southcoastcf.org. For any questions regarding making a donation, please contact the Community Foundation’s Development Manager, Tricia Grime at pgrime@southcoastcf.org. Lastly, for media inquiries and interview requests, please contact Jasmyn Baird at jbaird@southcoastcf.org.

The SouthCoast Community Foundation is a public charity serving thousands of people who share a common goal of improving the quality of life through philanthropy throughout the region. More information about the Foundation can be found at https://southcoastcf.org/

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