United Way of Deschutes County awards grants for COVID-19 response

Will give out grants to nonprofits every week for their help

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- On Tuesday, United Way of Deschutes County, a 21 Cares for Kids partner, said it's given $97,000 to nonprofit agencies helping out people hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Last week, United Way said it granted $19,000 to four more agencies, including $5,000 to Family Access Network, $4,000 to KIDS Center and $5,000 to Fr1ends of the Children, also a 21 Cares for Kids partner. Habitat for Humanity of La Pine-Sunriver also received $5,000 from United Way.

Diana Fischetti, director of development and marketing with United Way of Deschutes County, told NewsChannel 21 Tuesday the COVID-19 emergency response fund was established in mid-March with the help of a starting $50,000 donation from PacificSource Health Plans.

Other donations followed, including $30,000 from the Oregon Community Foundation and $10,000 from the Ford Family Foundation.

Fischetti said some people have even donated some, if not all, of their stimulus checks.

“When somebody is like, 'I have my stimulus check, who should I give it to?' the amount of research they would have to do to figure out exactly how that check will be used in the way they want it to be used is a lot of research -- and that’s the burden we take off folks," Fischetti said.

The four newly funded agencies join 19 others, for a total of 23 COVID-19 Partners. Prior local United Way COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund recipients are: Council on Aging of Central Oregon (Meals on Wheels) ($5,000), Latino Community Association (Central Oregon) ($5,000), Every Child Central Oregon ($3,500), Thrive Central Oregon ($5,000), St. Vincent de Paul of Crook County ($5,000), Madras Community Food Pantry (Jefferson County and Warm Springs) ($4,000), L.I.N.C. Madras (Jefferson County) ($5,000), Warm Springs Community Action Team ($5,000), Beulah's Place (Deschutes County) ($2,500), St. Vincent de Paul in La Pine Food Bank ($2,500), La Pine Senior Activity Center ($2,500), UPCAP in Three Rivers ($5,000), Jericho Road of Redmond ($5,000), Sisters Family Access Network (FAN) ($5,000), Boys & Girls Clubs of Bend ($3,000), DAWNS House (Bend) ($5,000), Ronald McDonald House of Bend ($2,000), Reach Out NP (Bend) ($3,000), and the Giving Plate (Bend) ($5,000)

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."