MAYOR WALSH AND FUND STEERING COMMITTEE AWARD $1.4 MILLION IN GRANTS THROUGH BOSTON RESILIENCY FUND
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BOSTON - Wednesday, April 29, 2020 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh and the Boston Resiliency Fund Steering Committee today announced the distribution of an additional $1.4 million in funds to support 18 organizations that provide critical services and support to residents, vulnerable populations, and Boston families whose wellbeing is most immediately impacted by the COVID-19 public health emergency.
This round of funding is aimed at providing continued support for community health centers to allow them to increase their capacity for testing, organizations working to ensure food access for residents, support for home-bound elders and community-based organizations in Dorchester, Roxbury, and Mattapan. To date, including this most recent funding award, the Boston Resiliency Fund has distributed $15.2 million in 96 emergency grants to 165 organizations.
"During these hard times, we're working to ensure that every person in Boston has access to the care and support they need," said Mayor Walsh. "Through the Boston Resiliency Fund, we are supporting local efforts of all scales - from large citywide operations to our community-based organizations, all of which are providing critical services to residents. With this funding, we are allocating resources that will allow organizations to bolster their operations and keep residents working, moving our city forward for everyone."
Since its creation in March, the Boston Resiliency Fund has raised over $27 million from over 4,945 individual donors. The Fund will continue accepting donations from individuals, organizations and philanthropic partners who wish to contribute and offer their support, and 100 percent of donations will be awarded to local organizations, with the majority of future grants to be made through the end of May. Organizations are encouraged to complete a statement of interest to be considered for future grants.
Today, 18 organizations will receive grants to expand their capacity or adjust their service model to meet the immediate needs of Boston residents during this public health emergency. 37 percent of the organizations receiving grants today are led by a person of color and 47 percent are women-led organizations. To date, 39 percent of all organizations receiving grants are led by a person of color and 64 percent are women-led organizations.
"The South Boston Association of Nonprofits (SBANP) is grateful to Mayor Walsh and for donations through the Boston Resiliency Fund. Our grant will make sure the residents of South Boston have access to food during this crisis," said Anna White, co-president of the South Boston Association of Nonprofits. "Through the leadership of the Association, member organizations will collaborate to ensure that food access is available at locations throughout the community. Food requests to our member organizations increase daily and this funding ensures the food needs in our neighborhood will be met."
"In the midst of current events, our staff here at Fathers' Uplift have seen critical needs emerging in our community firsthand. While we have engaged in efforts to provide direct assistance to families hit hardest by the economic, emotional, mental, and physical impact of COVID-19, the need is significant," said Charles Daniels and Samantha Fils-Daniels, co-founders of Fathers' Uplift. "From delivery of supplies, to emergency cash assistance, to the provision of mental health services in the fact of a massive spike in anxiety and distress, our resources have been stretched thin. We are grateful and excited to have the partnership of the City of Boston through the Boston Resiliency Fund to ensure the needs of our constituents in at-risk neighborhoods of Boston are cared for."
The grants range in size and will be awarded to the following organizations:
Continued support to community health centers and healthcare systems: Boston Resiliency Fund has now dedicated $1,000,000 to expand COVID-19 testing and conduct culturally appropriate outreach and education at 13 community health centers across City of Boston neighborhoods.
Ensuring Boston's children and families have access to food and basic needs:
Support for organizations doing work in Dorchester, Roxbury, Hyde Park, Mattapan and Roslindale, neighborhoods experiencing higher rates of COVID-19:
Support for food delivery to older Bostonians who are unable to leave their homes:
Support for Boston's vulnerable populations including immigrants, homeless individuals and domestic violence survivors:
As the effects of the coronavirus pandemic are quickly evolving and potentially long-lasting, the City and the Steering Committee will work closely with non-profit partners and service providers to understand how their needs will change. As a result, the priorities of the fund may change as the needs of Boston residents evolve.
The Boston Resiliency Fund exists within the Boston Charitable Trust, an existing 501(c)(3) designated trust fund managed by the City of Boston's Treasury Department. For more information on how to make a donation, please visit: boston.gov/resiliency-fund. For general inquiries, please email brf@boston.gov.
To learn more about other funds serving Boston nonprofits, please visit Philanthropy Massachusetts' resource page. In addition, the COVID-19 Response Fund at The Boston Foundation and the COVID-19 Family Support Fund at the United Way are working to rapidly distribute resources to organizations and individuals in Greater Boston that are disproportionately affected by the coronavirus outbreak.
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