The Lincoln COVID-19 Response Fund has secured more than $1 million in contributions. That means the $500,000 contributed from the strategic partners has now been matched. Mayor Leirion Gaylor Barid said donations continue to be needed to meet current and ongoing needs.
The Mayor also announced that $73,500 has been awarded to seven nonprofits in the fifth round of grants from the Fund. A total of $668,500 has been granted to 49 local nonprofit organizations so far.
The Response Fund, hosted by the Lincoln Community Foundation (LCF), was created to provide emergency grants to nonprofits that are supporting people disproportionately impacted by the pandemic. The grants support the basic needs of vulnerable and newly vulnerable Lincoln residents, including access to food, housing, medical information, childcare, and other support.
“We know that the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic will be felt in our community for a long time to come,” said Mayor Gaylor Baird. “Residents most affected will continue to turn to our nonprofits for basic assistance and support. Addressing these needs will be a marathon, not a sprint, and I urge those who are able to contribute to Lincoln’s COVID-19 Response Fund to do so.”
The fifth round of grant recipients are:
- The Arc of Lincoln
- The Bridge Behavioral Health
- Lincoln Council, Society of St. Vincent de Paul
- The Lincoln Tree of Hope
- National Center for Families Learning – Lincoln
- St. Monica’s Life Changing Recovery for Women
- Transformations Thrift Store
Grant recipients are identified by a committee including the City, LCF, the United Way of Lincoln and Lancaster County, the Lincoln Partnership for Economic Development (LPED), the Community Health Endowment (CHE), and other philanthropic and business partners. The committee is led by a committee chaired by Bryan Seck, Director of Workforce Development for LPED. Meagan Liesveld, Executive Director of the United Way serves as Vice Chair.
The Fund is designed to complement the work of public health officials and expand local capacity to address all aspects of the pandemic as efficiently as possible. To make it possible to move resources quickly and adapt to evolving needs, the Fund will continue to award operating grants on a rolling basis as fundraising continues.
“Lincoln is fortunate to be such a compassionate and caring community,” said Barbara Bartle, LCF President. “We’ve seen tremendous acts of generosity throughout this campaign, and I cannot thank enough all who have given.”
Individual donors, institutions, companies, and other funders are encouraged to contribute to the Fund at LCF.org. More information, including details for nonprofits on requesting resources, is also available at the website or by calling 402-474-2345.
Strategic Partners include Abel Foundation; Acklie Charitable Foundation; ALLO; Ameritas; CHE; Cooper Foundation; Greater Lincoln Chamber Foundation; Harbor of Dreams; LCF; Nelnet; Rhonda Seacrest; The Sherwood Foundation; Susan Sehnert Stuart; Union Bank & Trust Company, Inc.; and J.A. Woollam Foundation.
More information on the City’s response to COVID-19 is available at COVID19.lincoln.ne.gov.