Local Philanthropic Collaborative Announces Round 2 COVID-19 Funding

April 09, 2020

A local philanthropic collaborative announced today the second round of COVID-19 funding totaling $254,000. This brings the collaborative’s collective response to nearly $500,000 in support of area organizations affected by COVID-19.

Second round grant recipients include:

• Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health – $62,500 to pay for the professional cleaning of two locations, purchase cleaning supplies for all four locations, support operational expenses for staff working remotely and address other pressing needs
• Massillon Family YMCA – $25,000 to serve as a pandemic childcare site
• Pathway Caring for Children – $90,000 to help pay for food, rent and utilities of laid-off foster parents; support operational expenses for staff working remotely; and address other pressing needs
• Stark Community Support Network – $28,000 to provide essential supplies for clients and support operational expenses
• Stark County Diaper Bank – $3,500 to purchase diapers for families in need
• Stark Housing Network – $45,000 to pay for cleaning services on behalf of five local homeless shelters

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. Second round of funding was generously provided by the Paul and Carol David Foundation, Deuble Foundation, Gessner Family Foundation, William and Minnette Goldsmith Foundation, Health Foundation of Greater Massillon, Hoover Foundation, Massillon Rotary Foundation, Sisters of Charity Foundation of Canton, Stark Community Foundation and Timken Foundation of Canton. 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.

Third 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.