April 30, 2020 (Lexington, Ky.) -- United Way of the Bluegrass (UWBG) and Blue Grass Community Foundation (BGCF) are joining the GivingTuesdayNow global day of giving on Tuesday, May 5, to encourage gifts to the Coronavirus Response Fund, a collaborative effort to support local nonprofit organizations providing critical services to the most vulnerable residents of the regional UWBG/BGCF joint service area.
Gifts made to the Coronavirus Response Fund on Tuesday, May 5 will be doubled thanks to $50,000 in dollar-for-dollar matching opportunities provided by two generous donors. The Jenna and Matthew Mitchell Family Foundation at Blue Grass Community Foundation leads the effort with a $35,000 matching opportunity, further amplified by a $15,000 gift from United Way of the Bluegrass.
“During this incredibly unsettling time, our focus as a community must remain on supporting each other in every way we possibly can,” said Matthew Mitchell. “Jenna and I are extremely grateful for the support we’ve received over the past 15 years from this incredible community. It is time for us and all who are able to support our community with actions that create certainty where uncertainty exists.”
To date, the Coronavirus Response Fund has raised more than $680,000 in cash and commitments, but officials estimate that the fund will require $1 million to ensure adequate support during the recovery phase of the relief effort, projected to last through the end of May.
“Our region’s business community and many generous individuals have already contributed to the Fund to ensure that we have the immediate resources in place to support our most vulnerable neighbors,” said United Way of the Bluegrass president and CEO, Timothy Johnson. “But there is still important work to be done and I hope you will join us on GivingTuesdayNow to help make a difference in our community.”
The fund has awarded grants totaling more than $420,000 to organizations across 13 counties providing access to food, health care, transportation, information and other basic needs. The Fund awards grants on a weekly basis based on the available Fund balance. Grants are issued from the Coronavirus Response Fund, housed at BGCF, and managed in partnership with UWBG.
More information about the Coronavirus Response Fund, a full list of grant recipients and donation instructions can be found at bgcf.org/coronavirus.
“We know that these are challenging times for all of us, which is why we encourage everyone to start where you are, use what you have and do what you can,” said Blue Grass Community Foundation President/CEO Lisa Adkins. “If you’re able, join us on Tuesday, May 5 and make a gift to the Coronavirus Response Fund, because every dollar matters.”
Created by Giving Tuesday in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, GivingTuesdayNow is a global day of generosity and unity, a day to come together and give back in response to the unprecedented need caused the current public health crisis. More information about GivingTuesdayNow can be found at now.givingtuesday.org.
About United Way of the Bluegrass:
United Way of the Bluegrass fights for the Basic Needs, Education and Financial Stability of every person in Central Kentucky. Investments support programming in Anderson, Bourbon, Clark, Fayette, Jessamine, Madison, Montgomery, Scott, and Woodford counties. For more information, visit www.uwbg.org or follow us on Facebook or Twitter.
About Blue Grass Community Foundation:
Blue Grass Community Foundation creates more generous, vibrant and engaged communities, growing charitable giving throughout the Bluegrass and Appalachia Kentucky. To learn more about the Community Foundation, visit www.bgcf.org or contact President/CEO Lisa Adkins at 859.225.3343.