On Monday, April 6, The Foundation for Delaware County announced the first round of grants awarded from the Delaware County COVID-19 Response Fund.

The Fund, now at the $300,000 fundraising mark, was created last month by the community foundation in response to the current pandemic crisis. The foundation provided the initial grant of $100,000.

The fund helps Delaware County nonprofits at the front lines supporting vulnerable residents who are bearing the greatest impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The first wave of grants, totaling $73,655, was distributed to 11 nonprofits, who will use the money to address emergency needs.

Grants are being awarded on a rolling basis during the coronavirus crisis, as donations come in.

To date, the Response Fund has received more than 50 requests for funding; eligible nonprofits need only apply once.

“The Delaware County COVID-19 Response Fund is a rapid response solution to provide resources to frontline organizations that are delivering emergency assistance, such as food security, healthcare, and childcare for the most vulnerable residents in this unprecedented crises,” said Mike Magnavita, chairman of the Delaware County COVID-19 Response Fund and President of the Franklin Mint Federal Credit Union.

Joanne Craig, vice president for Programs at the foundation, adds, “The needs in the community are great and growing much larger than the total amount of the Response Fund now.

The first grantees from the COVID-19 Response Fund include:

Boys and Girls Club of Chester $10,155 for grocery store gift cards to food-insecure families served by the club affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Domestic Abuse Project of Delaware County: $10,000 to continue services, including including telephone crisis counseling, to survivors of domestic violence.

Drexel Neumann Academy: $10,000 for grocery store gift cards to food-insecure families in Chester affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Greater Philadelphia YMCA: $5,000 to aid the Rocky Run and Haverford YMCA Early Learning Centers, providing childcare and school age programming to healthcare professionals’ children while they are at work.

Individuals Aiding in Emergency Foundation: $5,000 to partner with the Delaware County Emergency Services and collect essential products like face masks (N95), gloves, disinfectant cleaning supplies, and CARE Kits that include basic hygiene supplies.

Mitzvah Circle: $4,500 for diapers, wipes and soap for families living at or below the poverty level and families struggling with serious medical conditions.

Nationalities Service Center: $5,000 in financial assistance to immigrants who have lost their homes, income, and/or employment due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Philabundance: $5,000 to prepare pre-assembled meal boxes, providing up to four meals for a family of four, distributed with minimal contact to more than a dozen member agencies in Delaware County.

Salvation Army: $10,000 to distribute food boxes and essential supplies such as sanitizers, utensils, masks, and more to community members.

Valley Youth House: $4,000 to purchase essential items for necessities including food, clothing, cleaning supplies, and other household items for youth in the juvenile justice and foster care systems, and youth experiencing homelessness.

Women’s Resource Center of the Delaware Valley: $5,000 to sustain WRC’s Resource Coordination Counseling Services and support an Emergency Assistance Fund to address immediate needs such as food and household supplies not available through local pantries and health-related needs.

Donations to the Response Fund are encouraged, including monthly recurring donations. Visit www.delcofoundation.org to find out more and make your gift.

The foundation is grateful to all of the donors to the Delaware County COVID-19 Response Fund, including these donors who each gave at the $5,000 level or more:

Bank of America, Barra Foundation, Boggs Family Fund, Crozer Keystone Health System, Carol and Daniel DuPont, DO, Ed and Ellen Hanway, Franklin Mint Federal Credit Union, Gallagher, Mike and Sofia Magnavita, PECO, PFM, Joan Richards, Scholler Foundation, Nathan Speare Foundation.