New Round of Grants Brings Local COVID Relief Fund Investment to Nearly $300K United Way Expands Matching Donation Opportunity
Terre Haute – United Way of the Wabash Valley and the Wabash Valley Community Foundation
completed a 5 th round of disbursements from the Wabash Valley COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund
created just over 4 weeks ago. The fund’s first priority is to assist organizations helping individuals and
families with immediate COVID-19 related needs, but funds are also used for support of non-profit
infrastructure impacted by the economic effects of the state's stay-at-home orders.
“Since the start, we have seen a steady flow of applicants for these grants,” said Beth Tevlin, Executive
Director for the Community Foundation. “This week, we funded a second grant to 8 organizations, which
is showing that the funds are being invested in the greatest need areas and that need is not slowing
down.” The Steering Committee has reviewed over 80 applications since the fund was created on
March 20. With Tuesday’s release of funding, 18 organizations were granted over $80,000 allowing for
some immediate financial assistance to help those impacted by the pandemic.
Organizations receiving their first award from the fund:
- $2,000 for Cayuga Christian Church – increased need for food pantry
- $5,000 for Clay County Council on Aged & Aging – increased need for food pantry
- $5,000 for Dawn’s Day Care – help with operational cost and cover disinfecting cleaning services
- $5000 for Hamilton Center – telehealth services; purchase minutes and/or cell phones for consumers who are in need of telehealth services
- $5,000 for Parke County Community Food Pantry – increased need for food pantry; purchase
food and personal hygiene items - $5,000 for Salvation Army Services Extension Sullivan County – increased need for utility, rent,
and food assistance to Sullivan County residents - $5,000 for Summer Lunch, Inc. – Food delivery to low income children in Marshall
- $5,000 for Tender Moments Play House & Preschool – cover the cost of an additional teacher
for school aged children as to provide quality childcare for those parents working during pandemic - $5,000 for Unified Anesthesia Services, LLC – telehealth equipment
- $5,000 for West Central Indiana Economic Development District – home delivery meals to those under 60 and disabled (not covered by other funding)
The following organizations received a second grant of between $1,000 and $5,000 for supply of food,
hygiene products or telehealth services: Billy Henry Ministries, Inc., Covered with Love Inc., FSA
Counseling Center, Mana from Seven, Inc., Parke County Resource Center, St. Joseph University Parish,
Samaritan Food Pantry, Wabash Activity Center and the West Side Christian Church.
Since March 24 th , the fund has now awarded more than $285,000 in emergency community support.
United Way announced last week they had received a $1.1 million COVID-19 Economic Relief Initiative
(ERI) grant form Indiana United Ways and the Lilly Endowment. Richard Payonk, Executive Director for
United Way explained that since the initial money raised for the local relief fund has nearly all been
used, an additional $300,000 from the Economic Relief Grant funds will be applied to continuing these
short-term grants.
“This week, in coordination with the Community Foundation, we began the initial steps on delivering a
second level of larger-scale, focused grants for the community using the ERI funds as a starting point.
We hope that in the next 3-4 months we can invest up to half a million more dollars in COVID Relief, but
to do that, we will continue to need community support.”
To help drive community donations, United Way announced that they are adding an additional $20,000
in matching funds to incentivize local donations. “Our board of directors is seeing the increased need in
the community and we remain dedicated to helping others get involved through donations,” said
Danielle Isbell, Resource Development Director for United Way. Isbell encouraged community members
interested in donating to the fund to please visit uwwv.org/covid or wvcf.org/covid. Corporate partners
and foundations seeking to be partners in the fund can reach out to Danielle Isbell at disbell@uwwv.org
or Beth Tevlin at beth@wvcf.org.
Those organizations wanting to apply can request up to a maximum of $5,000. Updated eligibility and
application guidelines for the grants are available at uwwv.org/covid. Organizations seeking funding are
encouraged to review these guidelines.
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United Way of the Wabash Valley is an organization looking to go beyond temporary fixes to create
lasting change in our communities throughout our six-county region. By bringing together volunteers,
companies, and organizations focused on innovative solutions, we impact thousands of lives every year
right here in the Wabash Valley. Our new bold goal is to move 10,000 local families out of financial
struggles. For more information, please visit, www.uwwv.org.
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The Wabash Valley Community Foundation is a tax-exempt public charity created by and for the people
in the Wabash Valley. The Community Foundation enables people with philanthropic interests to easily
and effectively support the organizations and issues they care about – immediately or through their
estate plans. Donors may give to existing funds or establish a charitable fund at the Community
Foundation by contributing a variety of assets. For more information on the Community Foundation,
please contact 812.232.2234 or visit www.wvcf.org.
