A new collaboration between the Community Foundation of Broward and The Humana Foundation will deliver more coronavirus relief where it’s needed most in Broward.
Ever since this crisis began, the Community Foundation’s philanthropy experts have been reaching out, researching and assessing to identify the hardest hit areas and the most significant challenges in Broward. They have been connecting with nonprofits on the front lines and community leaders to identify the best ways for local philanthropy to help struggling Broward residents.
So, when The Humana Foundation needed a Broward expert to help them make the greatest impact with their local coronavirus relief, they knew the Community Foundation was the perfect partner. Now The Humana Foundation has entrusted the Community Foundation’s deep community knowledge and philanthropic expertise to help them figure out where their $250,000 gift can make the biggest difference in Broward.
Thanks to this new commitment from The Humana Foundation, the Community Foundation is honored to announce 12 new emergency grants as well as support for seven ongoing efforts to help some of Broward’s most vulnerable residents face this pandemic.
This includes more food, emergency financial support and other much-needed help for low-income families, isolated seniors, the recently unemployed and others at risk of missing out on aid. And this new support will also produce plastic face shields for front-line workers as well as masks and hand sanitizer for low-income students to use when they return to school.
“The ripple effects from the pandemic represent urgent issues that need immediate attention,” said Sandra Muvdi, President/CEO of Jessica June Children’s Cancer Foundation, Inc., which received an $18,000 grant to provide financial help to the families of children with cancer. “We appreciate the Community Foundation of Broward’s coronavirus grant and the support of The Humana Foundation to serve the needs of the most vulnerable in our community.”
The Humana Foundation’s gift is part of its historic April 30 announcement to commit $50 million to coronavirus relief and recovery efforts to a select group of organizations supporting essential workers, food security, behavioral health and local communities.
“The Humana Foundation understands the far-reaching strain the pandemic has placed on many organizations working on the front lines to provide health care, food and employment for those disproportionality affected by the COVID-19 health crisis, and our aim is to remove barriers and help them respond, recover and rebuild,” said Walter D. Woods, Chief Executive Officer of The Humana Foundation. “Our intention with this commitment is to not only help provide immediate crisis relief, but also serve as a catalyst in building sustainable achievement and long-term community resilience.”
The Community Foundation’s collaboration with The Humana Foundation is the latest example of how local philanthropy continues to tackle this unprecedented health and economic crisis. It adds to the more than $2 million in immediate coronavirus response the Community Foundation has already provided, through new grants as well as easing restrictions on existing grants so local nonprofits can pivot to tackle residents’ greatest challenges. This crucial immediate support has been made possible by our Fundholders who have established endowed charitable Funds at the Community Foundation.
And this is just the start.
The long-term effects of this crisis continue to unfold and will be with us for years to come. Innovative collaborations and increased local philanthropy are needed now more than ever.
Because of the power of endowment, the Community Foundation will be there every step of the way to fuel the solutions Broward needs – during this crisis and beyond.
Community Foundation coronavirus response grants made possible by The Humana Foundation gift include:
- Sunshine Circle: $15,000 to help 50-75 homebound seniors through the purchase of additional PPE, hygiene items, gas cards and food.
- ChildNet: $20,000 to support biological and relative families of children involved in the foster care system with financial assistance for utilities and food.
- Jessica June Children's Cancer Foundation, Inc.: $18,000 to provide emergency financial support to 15 families with children undergoing cancer treatments.
- The Pantry of Broward, Inc.: $18,000 to distribute food to 55 low-income families who have no other source for food.
- Poverello Center, Inc.: $23,633 to provide food to seniors and residents in need.
- South Florida Community Land Trust: $15,000 for financial support to help up to 100 residents who have lost their jobs or are experiencing financial hardship due to the coronavirus.
- United Community Options of Broward, Palm Beach & Mid-Coast Counties, Inc.: $23,000 to support for PPE and transportation costs to deliver food, academic supplies, and critical care for adults and children with disabilities.
- Harvest Drive, Inc.: $18,000 to pack 264 bags of non-perishable foods. Each bag contains 11 meals and will help up to 800 families.
- Florida Atlantic University Foundation: $19,367 to produce 5,000 face shields for agencies/frontline workers.
- Children's Diagnostic & Treatment Center: $20,000 to support the Emergency Assistance Fund for staff to work with and help up to 80 struggling families with food stability, medication, utility bills and basic necessities.
- Children's Services Council of Broward County: $10,000 to support back to school backpacks for low-income students that will included PPE items such as masks and sanitizers and to purchase new shoes.
- Mount Olive Development Corporation: $10,000 to provide food to HIV positive residents.
- Additional support: The Humana Foundation gift also supported existing Community Foundation coronavirus response grants for: Habitat for Humanity of Broward, 2-1-1 Broward, PIRC (Parent’s Information & Resource Center), Women In Distress of Broward County, Neighborhood Housing Services of South Florida, Community Based Connections, Inc., and H.O.M.E.S., Inc.
For more information about how you can help respond to the coronavirus crisis in Broward, contact Vice President of Philanthropic Services Nancy Thies at nthies@cfbroward.org or 954-761-9503.
