April 21, 2020 – Lexington, KY - United Way of the Bluegrass and Blue Grass Community Foundation today announced a fundraising goal of $1 Million for the Coronavirus Response Fund. The two organizations joined forces last month to launch the Coronavirus Response Fund to provide critical support to vulnerable populations across their joint service area adversely affected by the Coronavirus outbreak. The Fund is supporting local and regional organizations on the frontlines of the pandemic to ensure that more people experiencing hardships can access basic needs like food, healthcare, childcare and transportation.
The Fund announced raising over $630,000 thanks to corporate donations, grants, community donors, local businesses, and BGCF fundholders. Over the last five weeks, it has awarded over $370,000 to local and regional organizations on the frontlines of the crisis.
“We know that to support our communities during the crisis and response phase of this pandemic, we will need to raise additional dollars,” said Timothy Johnson, president and CEO of United Way of the Bluegrass. “Setting a $1 million goal is bold, but I believe that our community will rise to the challenge and help meet the needs of our most vulnerable residents and neighbors.”
Officials estimate that the $1 million goal must be accomplished to ensure adequate funding and support is available through the response phase of the relief effort, projected to continue through the end of May or longer.
“We are thankful for every gift and the many donors whose generosity has made so much good possible,” said Blue Grass Community Foundation president and CEO, Lisa Adkins. “But there is still important work to be done and critical needs that must continue to be met. Our hope is that everyone who can, will join us in supporting the Coronavirus Response Fund.”
Donations received by the Fund to support response efforts include awards of $100,000 from Toyota and $100,000 from the Truist Financial Corporation, among other generous corporate and foundation gifts. Support from leading partners, individuals and local businesses has helped the Fund quickly deploy critical resources to organizations providing essential services during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Lead coalition partners include: Toyota, Truist Financial Corporation, the Fund for Greater Lexington, the Jenna and Matthew Mitchell Foundation, Valvoline, Coca-Cola Consolidated, LG&E and KU Energy, the CVS Foundation, Southland Christian Church, Kentucky for Kentucky, Alltech Foundation, Immanuel Baptist Church, the Council of State Governments, Keystone Financial Group, Dupree Mutual Funds, Kentucky Bank, Papa John’s Bluegrass, iHeartMedia Lexington, WKYT, FOX-56 and Smiley Pete Publishing.
The Fund has awarded $370,000 in rapid response grants to 28 partners across 13 counties, including:
God’s Pantry – Region wide
Community Action Council – Fayette, Bourbon, Harrison, Nicholas, Scott & Madison
FoodChain – Fayette
Urban League of Lexington – Fayette
Childcare Council of Kentucky - Region wide
Mission Lexington – Fayette
ITN Bluegrass – Fayette & Jessamine
Greenhouse17 – Region wide
Harrison Memorial Hospital – Harrison
RadioLex – Fayette
Bluegrass Families First – Fayette
Amen House – Scott
Red Cross, Wheels – Fayette
Kentucky Refuge Ministries – Fayette
The Lee Initiative- Fayette
The Nest – Fayette
Clark County Community Services – Clark
First Baptist Winchester – Clark
Lexington Leadership Foundation – Fayette
Gateway Helping Hands – Rowan
The Share Center – Fayette
Packin’ the Pantry – Jessamine & Fayette
Frankfort Food Pantry – Franklin
Sterling Food Coalition – Montgomery
God’s Outreach Food Pantry – Madison
Open Hands Food Pantry – Anderson
River of Life Food Pantry – Bourbon
Food Pantry for Woodford County
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.
To donate online, or to learn more about the Coronavirus Response Fund, please visit www.uwbg.org or www.bgcf.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. Funding helps 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.
Media Contact:
Katie Williams
Vice President, Marketing & Communications
United Way of the Bluegrass
Mobile: 859 351 8567