Beaming, Inc., the Neenah-based provider of equine therapy for individuals with physical and cognitive disabilities and emotional/behavioral health needs will use a grant from the COVID-19 Community Response Fund.

Thanks to gifts generously donated to the COVID-19 Community Response Fund established by the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region and United Way Fox Cities, 12 more nonprofits have been awarded $153,000 in grants to assist their efforts as they respond to the unfolding public health emergency. That brings the total awarded to 59 nonprofit organizations so far from the fund to $707,500.

Grants from the fund support nonprofit organizations engaging in immediate basic needs relief, short-term response and longer-term recovery of many types of nonprofits in Outagamie, Calumet, Shawano, Waupaca and the Neenah-Menasha area of Winnebago counties. Grants will continue to be awarded on an ongoing basis and listed on our COVID -19 Grants page.

The current phase one of granting is focusing on the Fox Valley region’s most vulnerable populations and the nonprofit organizations providing urgent basic needs support such as safe shelter, food, childcare, health and financial assistance. Here are the latest grants awarded in each of those categories:

SHELTER
Pillars – An additional $20,000 grant will help extend the temporary hotel arrangement through May for its homeless clients to ensure COVID-19 safety and social distance guidelines.

CHILD CARE
BABES, Inc. – The Appleton-based organization, which focuses on prevention of child abuse and neglect by providing safe, no-cost respite care, educational services and counseling to young families, will use a $5,000 grant to remain connected to and support families in Outagamie, Calumet and Neenah and Menasha areas of Winnebago counties who are experiencing high stress during the COVID-19 crisis.

Community Child Care Center – A $3,000 grant will help ensure a quality and safe environment for children attending this Kimberly-based center serving families in Outagamie, Calumet and the Neenah and Menasha area of Winnebago counties.

Boys & Girls Clubs of the Fox Valley – A $25,000 grant will support young child- and school-age care at its Appleton and Menasha locations for children of essential workers and those in the child welfare system. The clubs will continue providing about 550 free meals to kids each weeknight via a drive-thru service, in addition to free breakfast and lunch each weekday to the 350 children in the youth development program.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
Calumet County Salvation Army – A $5,000 grant will provide financial assistance to families in Calumet County who are struggling during the COVID-19 crisis.

Options for Independent Living – A $10,000 grant will help people with disabilities and older adults in Outagamie, Calumet, Waupaca, Shawano and the Neenah and Menasha area of Winnebago counties meet their basic needs related to housing, food and equipment that will enable them to live safely at home.

HEALTH
Beaming, Inc. – The Neenah-based provider of equine therapy for individuals with physical and cognitive disabilities and emotional/behavioral health needs will use a $5,000 grant to continue to provide therapy when reopening for in-person sessions.

Family Services of Northeast Wisconsin – A $10,000 grant will enable the organization to more effectively move its in-home Parent Connection education and early learning programs and first-time parent programs to a virtual environment to continue supporting and strengthening Fox Cities families.

VULNERABLE POPULATIONS
CP Fox Cities – A $5,000 grant will provide technology equipment to adults with varying developmental and cognitive disabilities and enable them and their caregivers to participate in the organization’s virtual programming and tele-support.

Diverse & Resilient – Due to severe revenue shortages during the closure of its retails stores during the first months of the Covid-19 crisis, Goodwill Industries of North Central Wisconsin stopped supporting the LGBT Partnership program, which offers a support group and leadership development for LGBT youth ages 14-18. A $10,000 grant will help the critically needed program transition and restart to become part of Diverse & Resilient’ s Room to Be Safe program.

Goodwill Industries of North Central Wisconsin – A $50,000 grant supports the organization’s employment and work skills training programs in Calumet, Outagamie, Waupaca and Neenah and Menasha of Winnebago counties that help people with barriers enter or return to a workforce that could look different following the COVID-19 crisis.

SOAR Fox Cities – With a mission of empowering people of differing abilities, the organization will use a $5,000 grant to provide technology equipment for its clients who are most in need, based on isolation and financial need.

Donors to the COVID-19 Community Response Fund:

Since the Community Foundation and United Way established the fund March 17 with $50,000 each, many individuals, funders and businesses have stepped up very generously to contribute more than $756,900. Updated donor recognition is listed on our COVID-19 Donor Page.

The needs of local nonprofit organizations are and will continue to be significant during the public health crisis and beyond. Ongoing donations to the fund, as well as direct donations to nonprofit organizations from individuals with a passion for specific organizations and causes, are critical now and during the weeks and months to come.

How to donate to the COVID-19 Community Response Fund:

The Community Foundation is waiving all credit card and administrative fees for this fund. Every dollar donated into the fund will be put into action in the community.  To donate online, please visit our COVID-How to Help page.

Checks can be made payable to the Community Foundation/COVID-19 and mailed to Community Foundation, 4455 W. Lawrence St., Appleton, WI 54914.

About the COVID-19 Community Response Fund Granting Approach:

The fund supports local nonprofit and other community organizations engaging in response and recovery efforts in Outagamie, Calumet, Shawano, Waupaca and the Neenah-Menasha area of Winnebago counties impacted by the COVID-19 public health emergency.

Currently the fund is in “Phase One” of granting, addressing immediate basic needs for people who are disproportionately affected by the crisis. This phase includes proactively identifying potential grant recipients and using input, guidance and research from organizations and others in the community to make grant decisions.

In order to move resources quickly and not further burden nonprofit organizations, during Phase One there will not be a formal application process. Nonprofits providing immediate basic needs relief can email United Way to share their needs so they can be considered during the granting process.

As the crisis and long-term impacts continue to unfold, the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region and United Way Fox Cities will continue to assess and consider evolving the granting approach into subsequent phases for many types of nonprofit organizations. The grants committee meets on a weekly basis to understand needs and make decisions.

We invite you to donate now to the COVID-19 Community Response Fund. You can also learn about who has given to the fund, the fund’s grant recipients, and check out our latest news and updates.