Local Philanthropic Collaborative Awards Over $240,000 in Round 1 COVID-19 Funding

April 02, 2020

A local philanthropic collaborative announced today the first round of funding totaling over $240,000 to organizations on the frontline of the COVID-19 response.

First round grant recipients include:

• ABCD – $8,000 to purchase cleaning supplies for its transportation services to protect staff and clients from the spread of COVID-19
• Access Health Stark County – $7,300 to purchase and prepare 206 bags of home and personal sanitation supplies for high-risk clients in addition to pay for increased mileage expenses to deliver the supplies to clients
• Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank – $107,500 to purchase and distribute food to many hunger-relief partners across Stark County
• Domestic Violence Project – $7,500 to purchase items for victims that usually are donated such as food, diapers, formula, baby wipes and cleaning supplies in addition to help cover the increased utility costs expected in the shelters as workplaces close and people stay indoors more
• Faith in Action of Western Stark County – $7,500 to go toward the purchase of gas cards for volunteers who take homebound seniors to emergency medical appointments, grocery stores and other essential locations in addition to help cover rent for three months and payroll expenses
• Siffrin – $40,000 to help cover lease payments for buses and a facility
• VANTAGE Aging – $33,129 for its Meals on Wheels of Northeast Ohio program to provide shelf-stable food for seniors
• YMCA of Central Stark County – $50,000 to prepare three sites (Alliance, Jackson and North Canton) to serve as temporary pandemic childcare centers for first-responders

The local philanthropic collaborative, led by Sisters of Charity Foundation of Canton and Stark Community Foundation, works together to review grant applications and makes funding decisions. First round of funding was generously provided by Paul and Carol David Foundation, Deuble Foundation, Health Foundation of Greater Massillon, Hoover Foundation, North Canton Medical Foundation, Sisters of Charity Foundation of Canton and Stark Community Foundation. In addition, funding was provided by Stark Community Foundation’s Immediate Impact Alert Fund, a flexible funding source that mobilizes resources quickly to organizations affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Second round of funding is currently underway and will be announced next week along with additional contributors to this community-wide effort.

Apply for help
Local 501(c)(3) organizations, schools, churches and government entities affected by COVID-19 are eligible to apply for future rounds of emergency funding. Currently, priority is given to programs that provide:

• assistance to homebound seniors
• pandemic childcare
• mental health services
• shelter and homeless services
• other documented emerging needs

The local philanthropic collaborative has responded to the increased need for food through a partnership with the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank to serve Stark County partner sites. In addition, individuals seeking emergency financial assistance with rent and mortgage payments should contact United Way of Greater Stark County.

The COVID-19 funding opportunity is intended to fill needs that are currently not being addressed through federal, state and local governmental resources. For application instructions, contact Anne Savastano, grants and operations manager at the Sisters of Charity Foundation of Canton, at asavastano@scfcanton.org or (330) 454-5800, ext. 304.

Support your community
While local foundations are funding these emergency grants from their own endowments, Stark Community Foundation is currently accepting donations of any size to its Immediate Impact Alert Fund. Donations to this fund will continue to support organizations affected by COVID-19.

Here’s how people can support their community during the COVID-19 crisis:

• Make a gift online with your credit or debit card at www.starkcf.org
• Write a check to Stark Community Foundation with Immediate Impact Alert: COVID-19 Response written on the memo line. Checks can be mailed to Stark Community Foundation, 400 Market Avenue North, Suite 200, Canton, Ohio 44702.
• Donate stock by calling the Foundation at 330-454-7992.
• Current Stark Community Foundation fundholders may make grant recommendations to the Immediate Impact Alert Fund from their charitable funds through the Donor Portal, mail or email to donorservices@starkcf.org.