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November 20, 2020

$4 Million in CARES Act Funds Awarded to 39 Mecklenburg Nonprofits Impacted by the Coronavirus Pandemic in Special Round of COVID-19 Response Fund Grants

Nearly $22 million has been awarded to nonprofits in six rounds of grants

 

United Way of Central Carolinas, in partnership with Foundation For The Carolinas, has awarded $4 million from the COVID-19 Response Fund to 39 Mecklenburg County nonprofits in a special sixth round of grants.

 

This round of funding differs from previous rounds in that the CARES Act guidelines and the priorities set by the city and county determined eligibility requirements and shaped the applicant pool. The City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County each contributed $2 million in Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding. Funds will be used to support operating needs for nonprofits, such as salaries, rent and utilities.

 

“We are pleased to fund seven new agencies that have not previously received COVID-19 Response Fund grants and provide additional funding to organizations that are most critical to the nonprofit infrastructure,” said United Way of Central Carolinas president and CEO Laura Yates Clark.

 

Nearly $22 million has been awarded in 364 grants since March to Mecklenburg nonprofit organizations helping those affected by the pandemic. Grants have been awarded to nonprofits that focus on a variety of needs including childcare, education, housing, food, emergency financial assistance, legal advocacy, health and mental health and workforce development.

 

“Throughout this pandemic, local nonprofits have served our community tirelessly, so we are pleased that these grants are going to assist those very nonprofits and their employees,” said Michael Marsicano, Foundation For The Carolinas president and CEO.

 

The combined $4 million was awarded through a competitive grant application process to 501 (c) 3 nonprofit organizations in Mecklenburg County that have been negatively impacted by the pandemic due to revenue losses and increases in expenses. “I want to thank the City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County for their commitment to the nonprofit sector and our COVID-19 Response Fund. Time and time again, local government responds when we need it the most,” Marsicano added.

 

The funding expands the capacity of the local community to respond to the social, health and economic conditions resulting from the coronavirus, and helps organizations remain financially solvent so that they can continue to support individuals and families in need throughout Mecklenburg County.

 

“Demand for the services and programs that nonprofits offer remains high, and these funds provide critical operating support during the ongoing crisis,” Yates Clark said.

 

The following organizations received grants:

 

  • $35,000 to Angels and Sparrows Soup Kitchen Inc.
  • $175,000 to Apparo Solutions, Inc.
  • $130,000 to Autism Charlotte
  • $22,900 to Care Ring
  • $47,500 to Catawba Lands Conservancy
  • $170,000 to Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation
  • $100,000 to Changed Choices, Inc.
  • $95,000 to Charlotte Community ToolBank
  • $100,000 to Child Care Resources Inc.
  • $25,000 to Community Building Initiative
  • $225,000 to Council for Children’s Rights
  • $60,000 to Crisis Assistance Ministry
  • $17,500 to Digi-Bridge
  • $200,000 to Florence Crittenton Services
  • $200,000 to Friendship Community Development Corporation
  • $40,000 to GenerationNation
  • $87,300 to Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont
  • $130,000 to Habitat for Humanity of the Charlotte Region, Inc.
  • $20,000 to Hope Haven
  • $10,000 to International House of Metrolina, Inc.
  • $225,000 to Latin American Coalition
  • $100,000 to Make-A-Wish Central & Western North Carolina
  • $35,000 to Mecklenburg Ministries
  • $25,000 to Nevins Inc.
  • $120,000 to Pat’s Place Child Advocacy Center
  • $200,000 to RAIN, Inc.
  • $200,000 to Renaissance West Community Initiative
  • $107,300 to Safe Alliance, Inc.
  • $200,000 to Sandra and Leon Levine Jewish Community Center, Inc.
  • $55,000 to She Built This City
  • $60,000 to Southside Rides Foundation
  • $25,000 to Supportive Housing Communities
  • $200,000 to Sustain Charlotte Inc.
  • $25,000 to Teen Health Connection, Inc.
  • $177,500 to The Center for Community Transitions
  • $80,000 to The Hope House Foundation
  • $200,000 to Time Out Youth
  • $50,000 to Wing Haven Foundation
  • $25,000 to Young Women’s Christian Association of the Central Carolinas, Inc.

 

A COVID-19 Response Fund Grants Committee reviews applications and distributes grants from the fund. The committee is made up of 19 local leaders representing a diversity of business sectors, backgrounds and Mecklenburg County geographic locations. Visit uwcentralcarolinas.org/grants/COVID or fftc.org/COVID19grants for a full list of grants awarded to date.

 

The grants committee is co-chaired by Tanya Blackmon of Novant Health and Edwin Peacock of Pomfret Financial. Other members include: Charles Bowman, Bank of America; Jordan Boyd, Rockwell AME Zion Church; Heath Campbell, Truist Financial; Alexis Coleman, Davidson United Methodist Church; Betsy Conway, Lowe’s; Dena Diorio, Mecklenburg County; Malcolm Graham, City of Charlotte; Mark Jerrell, Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners; Cliff Matthews, St. Luke Missionary Baptist Church; Brian Middleton, Atrium; Michaela Miller, Humana; Dee O’Dell, U.S. Bank; Jill Olmstead, LendingTree; Susan Patterson, community volunteer; Federico Rios, City of Charlotte; Mike Rizer, Ally Financial; and Lisa Saunders, Christ Church Charlotte.

 

Donations to the COVID-19 Response Fund have ranged from a two-dollar commitment from an anonymous online donor to $2 million each from Mecklenburg County and the City of Charlotte. Other major gifts include $100,000 each from the Charlotte Hornets Foundation, the Springsteen Foundation, the Philip L. Van Every Foundation, Kim and Johnny Belk, and Alfred and Amy Levine Dawson; $150,000 each from Wells Fargo, Wells Fargo Championship and Sean & Andrea Smith; $200,000 each from Allstate Insurance and Vanguard; $250,000 each from the Charlotte Mecklenburg Community Foundation, the Weisiger Fleming Family Fund, EY, PwC/The PwC Charitable Foundation, and The Hearst Foundations; $270,000 from BlackArch Partners/The Regions Foundation; $500,000 each from Ally Financial, the Duke Energy Foundation, The Humana Foundation and the John S. & James L. Knight Foundation; and $1 million each from LendingTree, the City of Charlotte, the Howard R. Levine Foundation, Truist Financial Corporation, Bank of America, the David A. Tepper Charitable Foundation, Lowe’s, the C.D. Spangler Foundation/National Gypsum, Coca-Cola Consolidated, the John M. Belk Endowment and Pamlico Capital.

 

To contribute to the COVID-19 Response Fund, visit HelpCharMeck.org. Corporations and foundations that wish to make a donation may contact either Catherine Warfield, Senior Vice President of Philanthropic Advancement at FFTC, at 704.973.4515 or cwarfield@fftc.org; or Clint Hill, Chief Development Officer at United Way of Central Carolinas, at 704.371.6359 or chill@uwcentralcarolinas.org.

Source: UWCC News
Date: November 20, 2020