United Way awards $28K in grants from COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- In this time of crisis, our United Way in Central Oregon continues to demonstrate its leadership in rapid fundraising and quick turnaround, dispersing emergency funding locally to where it has the greatest impact on the most need.

With a deep and longstanding familiarity of local agencies serving Central Oregon’s most vulnerable, our United Way has emerged as best-equipped to meet new community needs formed by COVID-19. Having served our community for 67 years, meeting needs through the ups and downs, United Way is committed to helping nurture the resilient community that is Central Oregon.

As a community leader with longstanding donor confidence, United Way has raised nearly $125,000 through its local Central Oregon COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund.

Thus far, United Way has awarded $78,000 in grants to regional nonprofits. And this is only the beginning. The nonprofit is reviewing funding requests from regional nonprofits daily and awarding grants weekly.

The most recent 8 recipients of funding from United Way’s COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund were awarded $28,000 in grants. They are: Every Child Central Oregon ($3,500), Thrive Central Oregon ($5,000), Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Oregon ($2,000), Beulah's Place (Deschutes County) ($2,500), Madras Community Food Pantry ($4,000), Boys & Girls Clubs of Bend ($3,000), DAWNS House (Bend) ($5,000), and Reach Out NP (Bend) ($3,000).

The COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund was recently infused with a $10,000 donation from the Ford Family Foundation. It was originally seeded with $50,000 from PacificSource Health Plans, augmented by $30,000 from Oregon Community Foundation, and increased with another $30,000 from United Way in Central Oregon.

The Fund continues to grow through donations from community members who want to help in the face of overwhelming need, and know that United Way is the relevant agency with reliable ability to access our most marginalized friends, families, and neighbors.

At the end of March, United Way granted $50,000 from this local COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund to 11 other Central Oregon agencies: Council on Aging of Central Oregon (Meals on Wheels) ($5,000) and Latino Community Association ($5,000) serving all 3 Central Oregon counties, as well as St. Vincent de Paul of Crook County ($5,000), L.I.N.C. Madras (Jefferson County) ($5,000), Warm Springs Community Action Team ($5,000), and serving Deschutes County: St. Vincent de Paul in La Pine Food Bank ($2,500), La Pine Senior Activity Center ($2,500), Jericho Road of Redmond ($5,000), Sisters Family Access Network (FAN) ($5,000), UPCAP in Three Rivers ($5,000), and the Giving Plate in Bend ($5,000)

From this local COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund, our local United Way continues awarding grants to qualifying nonprofits that are meeting emergency needs of our community’s most vulnerable, deducting no administrative fees. Nonprofits across our region (Warm Springs, and Crook, Deschutes, and Jefferson Counties) are invited to apply. The grant application process is streamlined to expedite funding and can be found here: https://www.deschutesunitedway.org/central-oregon-covid-19-response-fund/.

About United Way:

United Way in Central Oregon is feeding people who need to be fed. The local nonprofit knows regional agencies, knows how each serves this community, can quickly access funds, rapidly directs resources where they can be best used by those who need them most, and can be trusted to do the job right. In this time of need, United Way knows how to help.

Make a Donation:

The COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund delivers help to those in our community who need it right now. 100% of donations are being distributed to community agencies; United Way deducts no administrative fees. Give now: www.deschutesunitedway.org.

Apply for a Grant:

For more information or to learn more about the United Way Central Oregon COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund grant application for regional nonprofits visit: https://www.deschutesunitedway.org/central-oregon-covid-19-response-fund/ or contact Kati Hannigan, Community Impact Associate at 541-389-6507 or kati@deschutesunitedway.org.

United Way of Deschutes County is a "21 Cares for Kids" partner.