OWENSBORO, Ky. — The United Way of the Ohio Valley and the Green River Area Community Foundation have joined forces to launch the Green River Area COVID-19 Response Fund with the goal to quickly raise and deploy resources to local organizations.
The Green River Area COVID-19 Response Fund is a coalition of philanthropic, governmental, and business partners who united to attract and provide financial resources to community-based organizations at the front lines of the Green River area’s COVID-19 pandemic. Led by a partnership between UWOV and GRACF, the fund will provide resources to charitable organizations in our joint service region, but not restricted to previously funded organizations. The fund is designed to complement the work of local public health, nonprofit, faith-based organizations, and government entities to expand local capacity to support the influx of individuals and families experiencing hardships as a result of the COVID-19 virus and related economic disruptions.
“The United Way is proud to partner with the Community Foundation and appreciates the outpouring of support received so far. It is humbling to see how our community comes together when there is need,” said David Ross, President and CEO of United Way of the Ohio Valley.
“The United Way board is keenly focused on providing all the resources possible to assist those in our community that are being affected by this crisis. We believe in our communities’ ability to rise and shine,” added UWOV Board Chair Jo Shake.
Grants will be administered by the Green River Area COVID-19 Response Council consisting of representatives of United Way of Ohio Valley, Green River Area Community Foundation and representatives from additional Response Fund sustaining partners. Grants will be distributed on a rolling basis, as fundraising continues throughout the outbreak and recovery phases, making it possible to move resources quickly and adapt to evolving needs. Disbursements will complement the work of public health officials and will be distributed in the most equitable and transparent manner, considering relevant and emerging data on our community’s needs.
There will be no administrative fees assessed by any of the partnering groups. Every single dollar donated will be directed back out to charitable organizations in the community.
Other initial Sustaining Partners are The Marilyn and William Young Charitable Foundation, the Public Life Foundation of Owensboro, and the Lawrence and Augusta Hager Educational Foundation. Even before the launch, Owensboro Health, Independence Bank, and the Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce have committed to supporting the effort.
“I have always been proud of my community for many reasons, but the compassion and generosity we have seen before this effort has even left the gate is so encouraging,” Amy Silvert, Executive Director of the Green River Area Community Foundation stated. “As David and I were still working out the details for this launch, I was receiving messages and calls asking how to direct donations. Individuals and organizations were looking for a way to help, and were relieved to find we were creating a fund where they could combine their donation with others to make an even greater impact.”
Additional partners from the business community, philanthropic community, people and surrounding governmental agencies are invited and encouraged to join the effort. This fund will support nonprofits in Daviess, Hancock, McLean, Ohio, Union and Webster counties.
Donations to the Green River Area COVID-19 Response Fund can be made online at https://uwov.org/covid-19-relief-fund/ or checks can be made to “Green River Area COVID-19 Response Fund” and mailed to P.O. Box 705, Owensboro, KY 42302.
Grant applications for nonprofits are currently being developed. The process for charitable organizations to request funds will be made available and announced by Friday, March 27.
The Green River Area Community Foundation is an affiliate foundation of the Community Foundation of Louisville.