Philanthropic Partners Distribute Fifth and Sixth Rounds of COVID-19 Emergency Grants

May 01, 2020

A local philanthropic collaborative recently awarded its fifth and sixth rounds of COVID-19 emergency grants totaling more than $100,000. To date, more than $1.2 million has been mobilized to area organizations affected by the pandemic.

Fifth and sixth round grant recipients include:

• Epworth Nursery School – $10,000 to pay for utilities, food, disinfecting supplies and salaries for employees providing childcare to essential workers
• ICAN Housing – $37,000 to cover operational expenses for staff working remotely, provide additional security at one housing project and offset unpaid tenant rents for three months
• Project REBUILD – $6,000 to purchase tablets and keyboards to support online learning for students
• Stark County Catholic Schools – $11,000 to purchase laptops to support online learning for students without computer access and technology to allow the schools to monitor security and resolve technical issues
• TWi – $25,000 to provide staffing and materials for virtual day services; educational and entertainment items and emergency aid for in-home clients; and gas gift cards for staff to allow for activity materials to be delivered to worksites
• YWCA of Canton – $15,000 to provide rental assistance to participants in its Rapid Rehousing program whose income has been directly affected by COVID-19

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. Fifth and sixth rounds of funding were generously provided by the Austin-Bailey Health and Wellness Foundation, Deuble Foundation, Gessner Family 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. Funding was also 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. Many individuals, families and businesses have donated to this fund.

The seventh round of funding and additional contributors to this community-wide effort will be announced at a later date.

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
• 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