Community Foundation of Elkhart County and United Way collaborate to create COVID-19 Community Response Fund
Community Foundation of Elkhart County and United
Way collaborate to create COVID-19 Community
Response Fund
PRESS RELEASE
ELKHART, INDIANA, March 20, 2020 —United Way and the Community Foundation of
Elkhart County have agreed to establish a new joint fund in response to the developing
emergency situation The two organizations came together Thursday to create the COVID-19
Community Response Fund to support local nonprofits and families. The Community
Foundation and United Way will work together to orchestrate a community-wide response
to the potential health and economic crises affecting Elkhart County because of the viral
pandemic.
The fund was seeded with money from both the Community Foundation’s Disaster Relief
Fund and United Way’s Emergency Response Fund and has already begun to receive
generous individual and corporate support. The two organizations are encouraging
individual and corporation donations to the fund via either organization’s website or checks
delivered to either organization.
The Community Foundation and United Way are working with local leaders to identify the
most pressing challenges facing Elkhart County residents and to mobilize and coordinate
services within those focus areas. Areas identified so far are childcare for healthcare
workers and first responders, food security, support for those most at-risk and community
advocacy. The response will evolve to respond to needs.
Keith Sarber, VP of Community Impact at United Way, said, “We are prioritizing two things:
the health and well-being of the families in our community and constructively supporting
our local organizations as they work to mitigate, contain, and serve those in need. Many of
our families will struggle with accurate information, testing, childcare, food, utilities, rent
and mortgage.”
Candy Yoder, Chief Program Officer for the Community Foundation, added, “Our community
has faced crises before and as we face this one. Joining together with United Way to
respond to this one will help us more efficiently and effectively identify and meet needs to
best serve our community.”
To donate to the fund or to learn more, please visit unitedwayec.org/covid-19 or
inspiringgood.org/covid-19. Elkhart County nonprofits that are serving those affected by this
emergency are encouraged to apply for funding.
Contact info:
Matt Puro
United Way of Elkhart & LaGrange Counties
[email protected]
574.538.1050 (cell)
Marshall King
Community Foundation of Elkhart County
[email protected]
574.238.3307 (cell)
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