As 2021 begins, The Foundation for Delaware County is happy to announce its approaching its $1 million goal for the Delaware County COVID-19 Response Fund.

The Fund is now at $953,000 and climbing. There are still opportunities to donate.

“We have been overwhelmed by the tremendously generous response from the community, but it’s not too late to donate,” said Frances Sheehan, president.

The Response Fund was established March 13 to provide emergency funding for essential nonprofits serving Delaware County.

The Foundation has issued grants on a regular basis from the Fund to help nonprofits serve communities and individuals struggling with the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Foundation will continue providing COVID grants to the nonprofit community in the new year.

“We know Delaware County nonprofits need funding support now more than ever. We are still receiving requests for funding to address immediate needs in the community and we ask every person to dig deep and donate to the Delaware County COVID-19 Response Fund today.

The success of the Response Fund to date comes from the support of more than 500 individual, foundations and businesses, including a $100,000 anonymous gift received Thanksgiving Day.

The Response Fund has distributed 21 rounds of funding through 83 grants to nonprofits serving Delaware County.

More than 50% of that funding has gone to organizations fighting food insecurity and providing essential supplies to vulnerable residents. The food pantry network has seen an increase in demand for food in Delaware County throughout the pandemic.

The network continues to deliver food boxes to vulnerable seniors and people who are in quarantine while also providing onsite food box distribution throughout the county for community members.

According to Sheehan, “The nonprofits in Delaware County are a lifeline for so many of our residents and the Response Fund support has allowed many to continue operations, prepare for cold weather, and purchase PPE and cleaning supplies.

“We’ve been gratified to be able to provide resources for childcare to reopen, for testing events in Black neighborhoods, for upgraded technology to serve clients remotely and so much more.”

The complete list of grantees from the Delaware County COVID-19 Response Fund is available at https://delcofoundation.org/response-fund-grant-awards/.

For more information and updates, you can visit the foundation at www.delcofoundation.org or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram @delcofdn. 

About The Foundation for Delaware County

A public charity founded in 2016, The Foundation for Delaware County is the largest philanthropy serving Delaware County.

One of 780 community foundations across the U.S., the foundation focuses on encouraging philanthropy, convening across sectors to address challenging community issues, and making grants to strengthen Delaware County’s nonprofit community.

In March, the foundation distributed more than $1 million in grants to improve the well-being of the diverse residents in the county. Learn more here: https://delcofoundation.org/delaware-county-grant-awards-2020/

With headquarters in Media and service sites in Eddystone, Upper Darby and Springfield, The Foundation for Delaware County also operates the prestigious evidence-based programs: Healthy Start, the WIC nutrition program and Nurse-Family Partnership.

Other programs include: Drug Free Communities, El Centro (a Hispanic resource center) and a health resource center for students in the Chester Upland School District, which serves one of the region’s poorest communities.

To learn more, visit the foundation on the web at www.delcofoundation.org and follow them on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter at @DelcoFdn.