York County COVID-19 Response Fund
In challenging times like these, collaboration, generosity and community are most needed. That’s why York County Community Foundation (YCCF) has established the York County COVID-19 Response Fund in partnership with the United Way of York County and other philanthropic partners. The Fund will provide financial support to nonprofit organizations rising to the challenge of meeting the increasing needs of our community during this crisis.
The fund is seeded by a $100,000 lead gift from YCCF’s Fund for York County, the foundation’s most flexible grantmaking fund designed to address the county’s greatest needs. Additional contributors are the W. Dale Brougher Foundation, Arthur J. & Lee R. Glatfelter Foundation, Kinsley Foundation, Powder Mill Foundation, and J William Warehime Foundation. Recognizing that community needs are growing and changing, this Fund will welcome additional contributions. 100% of the proceeds will to directly towards grants to nonprofit organizations.
“The Community Foundation knows that in times of need, York Countians step up to support each other,” said Jane M. Conover, MSW, President & CEO of YCCF. “By collaborating with the United Way of York County, philanthropic leaders and community partners throughout the County, we are able to strategically and rapidly deploy our collective resources to organizations with the greatest capacity to meet the immediate demands for basic services such as food and housing that have increased as a direct result of the novel coronavirus. As community needs evolve over the next months, we will adapt the grantmaking focus as well.”
Grant recipients will be identified by surveying and engaging in dialogue with nonprofit and government agencies responding to the impacts of the pandemic. A community advisory committee is being formed to provide input on priority needs and will include representatives from local agencies, health and human service sector experts, and representatives from the community. The York County COVID-19 Response Fund will initially focus on supporting nonprofit agencies with the greatest capacity to provide food and shelter to the most vulnerable residents. No grant applications are being accepted.
“In this unprecedented crisis, United Way of York County remains committed to serving our neighbors who are especially vulnerable in times of uncertainty,” said Anne Druck, President, United Way of York County. “The York County COVID-19 Response Fund is an opportunity to engage our community members who are able to give back, and work together to ensure our nonprofit partners have the critical resources necessary to continue to meet our community’s needs.”
There are many ways to support our community in this time of need. In addition to considering a gift to the York County COVID-19 Response Fund, residents are encouraged to continue to support the charities they care about who are struggling with diminished revenue.
Although many nonprofit organizations have paused their volunteer opportunities due to recommendations on social distancing, you can still help support urgent community needs created by the COVID-19 pandemic. If you are healthy and able, please visit United Way’s COVID-19 Resource page at https://www.unitedway-york.org/covid-19, which is updated regularly with volunteer opportunities as we receive them. Know of a volunteer opportunity that should be added? Reach out to Volunteer Engagement Coordinator Bryce Kruger at krugerb@unitedway-york.org.
The health and human services helpline 211 is also a powerful resource to be shared with individuals who may need additional resources for childcare, food, housing and other needs in this challenging time. Anyone can dial 211 or text your zip code to #898-211 to talk with a resource specialist for free.
For more information about the fund, please visit https://yccf.org/covid-19responsefund/.
To contribute to the York County COVID-19 Response Fund please visit www.yccf.org or www.unitedway-york.org.