NEWS

PHL COVID-19 Fund Deploys Additional Community Aid As It Transitions Focus To Long-Term Regional Recovery Efforts  

For Immediate Release:

Contacts:
Philadelphia Foundation:
 Melissa Fordyce, 856-430-4661, mfordyce@philafound.org
United Way: Erika Joy Erb, 215-655-2648, eerb@unitedforimpact.org

PHILADELPHIA, PA – (May 13, 2021) The PHL COVID-19 Fund announced today its final $499,900 in grants.

Launched on March 19, 2020, and led by the Philadelphia Foundation and United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey (UWGPSNJ), the PHL COVID-19 Fund was established to rapidly deploy aid to nonprofits serving on the frontlines of the coronavirus. Over the course of one year, the Fund awarded close to 600 grants totaling $18.43 million.

As of May 17, 2021, Philadelphia Foundation and UWGPSNJ will turn their organizational efforts to long-term recovery. The PHL COVID-19 Fund will pivot from its initial focus on immediate relief to long-term regional recovery as Greater Philadelphia navigates the ongoing challenges generated by COVID-19 and its economic fallout. The PHL COVID-19 Recovery Fund will be operated solely by Philadelphia Foundation and will continue to support nonprofits that are providing ongoing delivery of food, housing, health, childcare and education services for marginalized populations that have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic.

“The PHL COVID-19 Fund was an extraordinary collaborative effort among philanthropy, business, government and community leaders. The fund worked to meet some of the immediate and most fundamental needs of our community,” said Pedro A. Ramos, President & CEO, Philadelphia Foundation. “The individual and collective impact of the pandemic on this region will be felt for years to come, it is important that we acknowledge and continue to support nonprofits through the PHL COVID-19 Recovery Fund, so that our communities can move forward with confidence.”

Through its Impact Fund, United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey will continue to invest in the social and economic drivers that mitigate poverty—and that will help the region recover—including workforce development, financial empowerment, high-quality childcare, and basic needs, such as food and shelter. Its rapid response work has shifted to focus on equitable distribution of vaccinations, including a partnership with Lyft to provide free rides to appointments. Its capacity-building efforts are focused on technical assistance to help nonprofit leaders rebuild, including financial management and trauma-informed care for staff.

“When it mattered most, our community came together to meet the moment,” said Bill Golderer, President & CEO of UWGPSNJ. “Because of the generosity of our community, the PHL COVID-19 Fund was able to quickly deploy critical resources to aid nonprofits at the frontline of this crisis. As we look towards long-term recovery efforts, we’ll continue to respond to the needs of our neighbors and support those most impacted by the pandemic.”

Grantees included in the final round of funding from the PHL COVID-19 Fund are projects supporting seniors and vaccination education. The organizations receiving funding are:

  • African Family Health Organization (AFAHO): $25,000
  • Asian American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Philadelphia Foundation: $45,000
  • Cambodian Association of Greater Philadelphia: $25,000
  • Cape Regional Medical Center: $20,000
  • Center in the Park: $25,000
  • Congreso de Latinos Unidos: $50,000
  • Delaware Valley Community Health – Maria de los santos Health Center: $50,000
  • Esperanza Health Center: $50,000
  • It Takes Philly (Black Doctors COVID-19 Consortium): $50,000
  • La Comunidad Hispana: $25,000
  • Penn Asian Senior Services: $25,000
  • Philanthropy Network Greater Philadelphia: $24,900
  • Public Health Management Corporation: $17,500
  • Puentes de Salud: $25,000
  • SeniorLAW Center: $25,000
  • WHYY, Inc.: $17,500

Over the course of the last year, the PHL COVID-19 Fund prioritized supporting people who were hardest hit by the coronavirus crisis, such as seniors, people experiencing homelessness, those with disabilities, underinsured residents, people with substance abuse disorder and survivors of abuse.

A comprehensive final report on the impact of the PHL COVID-19 Fund will be published and distributed by the Philadelphia Foundation in early June and will be available at www.philafound.org.

About Philadelphia Foundation
Founded in 1918, Philadelphia Foundation strengthens the economic, social and civic vitality of Greater Philadelphia. Philadelphia Foundation grows effective philanthropic investment, connects individuals and institutions across sectors and geography, and advances civic initiatives through partnerships and collaboration. A publicly supported foundation, the Philadelphia Foundation manages more than 1,000 charitable funds established by its donors and makes over 1,000 grants and scholarship awards each year. To learn more, visit philafound.org.

About United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey
United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey, serving communities in Pennsylvania’s Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties, and New Jersey’s Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May and Cumberland counties, is part of a national network of more than 1,300 locally governed organizations that work to create lasting positive changes in communities and in people’s lives. United Way fights for the health, education and financial stability of every person in every community. In Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey, United Way fights for youth success and family stability because we LIVE UNITED against intergenerational poverty. For more information about United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey visit www.UnitedForImpact.org.