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COVID-19 Relief Fund

The COVID-19 Relief Fund helped northern Nevadan medical professionals and nonprofits that adapted to offer services during the pandemic to strengthen our community or serve our most vulnerable residents.

Initial grants were intended to help front-line healthcare workers and their families in our area as they deal with stress, anxiety, and exhaustion. The subsequent grant rounds focused on supporting nonprofits serving those who are most vulnerable in our community. Grants have been made to organizations responding to community needs directly attributed to the pandemic and to nonprofits adapting to continue offering their programs in modified ways.

COVID-19 Grants through September 10, 2020

$5,077.80

to Holland Project

for K-12 programs including after-school opportunities for teens, in-home art and activity kits (geared towards three different age groups and focused on students from Title 1 schools), and virtual and in-person workshops.

$33,110.90

to Willow Springs Center 

for educational materials needed to comply with the State of Nevada’s educational mandates on distance learning.

$2,500

to Boys & Girls Club of Western Nevada 

to support the Club as they provide in-house childcare, remote programming, and food programs.

$2,500

to Child Assault Prevention (CAP)

to help increase staff and budget to reach the children that missed the required CAP workshop during the 2019-2020 school year, as well as teach the new workshops for the 2020-2021 school year.

Education Alliance of Washoe County Proud Partner in Education

$12,500

to Education Alliance of Washoe County

to provide high-need students with technology for distance learning to help close the gap of 11,000 computers needed by WCSD.

$5,000

to Girl Scouts of the Sierra Nevada 

to support the “Girl Scout at Home” virtual troop, virtual badge programs, and to conduct wellness checks-delivering food, toiletries, computers, and technical assistance.

$1,000

to Girls on the Run - Sierras 

to support their community-based modified Fall program for girls in grades 3-5.

$2,500

to Northern Nevada Math Club

to cover the costs of going online, creating online support programs, and fund teachers who want their students to participate in Northern Nevada math contests.

$2,500

to Sage Ridge School 

to provide laptops and internet access to lower-income families.

$1,300

to Sierra Nevada Journeys

for scholarship funding for weekend-based Family Camps this Fall for families in need.

$1,000

to Tahoe’s Connection for Families

to continue to provide parenting classes and toddler circle times through Zoom.

$2,500

to Alzheimer’s Association Northern Nevada Chapter

for Care, support, and education for N. NV, including the respite voucher program.

$1,000

to New Frontier Treatment Center

for produce/food for seniors and families.

$2,500

to Compassion Community Clinic

for general operating.

$2,500

to Immunize Nevada

for operational support.

$5,000

to Note-able Music Therapy Services

for PPE and instruments.

$1,000

to Veterans Guest House

for operational support.

$15,000

to English Language Learners In-Home Program

Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, ELL In-Home Program’s English teaching community volunteer tutors are now assisting their learners via online programs and/or by telephone. ELL In-Home will use the grant to purchase laptops for learners who do not have the equipment to continue their lessons.

$6,000

to Feeding Pets of the Homeless

It has been a struggle for staff to find hospitals for clients with ill or injured pets. Feeding Pets of the Homeless is receiving $6,000 to cover approximately 15 emergency veterinary cases in Northern NV and to help cover the costs of sponsoring Wellness Clinic in Northern NV.

$5,000

to Great Basin National Park Foundation

The Great Basin Observatory is operated remotely from desktop computers, and students can continue research during school closures. GBO needs to raise $55,000 in 2020 to support the Reach for the Stars Education at Outreach program, including the development of a GBO web-based learning platform, Junior Ranger books and badges, 2 summer Park astronomy interns, and partial support of GBO’s Program Manager. This $5,000 grant supports the Reach for the Stars Education and Outreach program.

$5,000

to Keep Truckee Meadows Beautiful

KTMB postponed all cleanup events through April and May to help prevent the spread of the virus, including KTMB’s Great Community Cleanup which typically engages 800+ volunteers. KTMB is now coordinating small cleanups with updated safety protocols. Due to increased incidents of illegal dumping during the COVID shutdown, there is an increased need for cleanup coordination and blight removal. $30,000 is needed for site logistics including volunteer recruitment and coordination, trash removal, and dumpster rentals. KTMB received $5,000 for this purpose.

$5,000

to Nevada Outdoor School

Nevada Outdoor School will still be offering a series of summer camp programs for K-10th grades in rural northern Nevada. Because many funding requests and grant applications are either on hold or have been denied due to COVID -19 concerns or restrictions, Nevada Outdoor School is currently working to secure $50,000 in financial resources to support summer camp expenses such as additional personal protective equipment, cleaning supplies, and sanitizing supplies to keep staff and campers safe and healthy, prepackaged snack foods, travel expenses, and staff and AmeriCorps Members time. Nevada Outdoor School received $5,000 for summer camp needs.

$15,000

to Northern Nevada Literacy Council

Northern Nevada Literacy Council (NNLC ) continues to provide Adult Basic Education classes both remotely and in-person at 50% capacity for those challenged with a lack of technology or computer skills to access classes remotely.  NNLC was granted $15,000 for a technology scholarship fund that will award tablets and laptops to those seeking to complete their education, enter into post-secondary education/training, and move into the workforce.

$5,000

to Truckee Meadows Parks Foundation

Truckee Meadows Parks Foundation has moved its programs virtual in an effort to help improve the community’s mental and physical health during this stressful time. They were granted $5,000 to provide at-home kits for kids and families.

$5,000

to ALS Association

ALS patients are highly at risk due to the respiratory issues associated with COVID-19, so it is important to provide resources and services directly to their homes.$5,000 was granted to the ALS Association to help offset their $20,000 fundraising deficit due to having to hold the Reno/Sparks Walk to Defeat ALS virtually. Funds will be used to provide services and support in Reno, Sparks, Carson City, and Gardnerville.

$1,000

to Bristlecone Family Resources

This $1,000 grant purchased alcohol-free hand sanitizer and a continued supply of masks for Bristlecone Family Resources residential and outpatient services.

$10,000

to Community Services Agency

CHA is currently providing direct emergency assistance (rental, energy, work-related), in-home child education, limited workforce services (dependent upon employer availability), and employee advance skills training (virtual). This $10,000 grant provides additional technology to customers as well as direct emergency assistance.

$10,000

to the Hart Foundation

This grant helps continue caregiving services for clients, qualifying Veterans, and other seniors.

$5,000

to the Women & Children’s Center of the Sierra

Women and Children’s Center of the Sierra (WACCS) has enhanced its basic needs distribution, developed, updated, and distributed COVID-19 information packets, implemented assistance with signing up families for safety net programs, and helps people overcome barriers keeping them from accessing other services. The $5,000 grant helps to alleviate shortfalls due to the cancellation of its annual fundraising event.

$3,000

to Reno + Sparks Chamber of Commerce

$3,000 grant added to their payroll budget for two Chamber staff.

$5,000

to Arts for All Nevada

Arts for All Nevada is posting free art activities, weekly, on their website, and it is working to move classes to Zoom (remote learning). $5,000 will support program modifications.

$5,000

to Carson Valley Arts Council

$5,000 is given to the Carson Valley Arts Council for general operating support to help offset a $10,000 deficit from having to cancel concerts, events, and educational programs.

$1,000

to David J. Drakulich Foundation

The David J. Drakulich Foundation is continuing to employ veterans. $1,000 supports the program transition from arts and healing projects to making face masks.

$50,000

to Delivery with Dignity

Delivery with Dignity provides meals to families in need. The program has a “4 pillars” model:

  1. Restaurants/catering companies are paid $6/meal to help them keep their doors open/staff employed;
  2. Local nonprofits, coordinated by United Way of Northern Nevada, who identify clients who meet the Delivering with Dignity “triple threat” criteria to receive meals;
  3. Volunteers who pick up meals and deliver them to the doorsteps of identified families; and
  4. Mobile application to provide the restaurants with the number of meals they are required to make each day and with the number of volunteer drivers needed, as well as providing route sheets and driving directions to the volunteer drivers.

$10,000

to Arbors Memory Care

$10,000 provides PPE for staff and cleaning supplies to protect the staff and patients at Arbors Memory Care in Spark. Because facilities such as Arbors Memory Care are not considered a skilled nursing facility, they are not eligible to receive federal funds from the federal funds designated for COVID-19 support from the Department of Health and Human Services.

$5,000

to Lakeside Health and Wellness Suites

This grant pays for PPE and increased sanitary measures and cleaning for the staff, facility and patients at Lakeside Health and Wellness Suites.

$5,750

to Nevada Health Centers

$2,000 will be directed toward the purchase of PPE for frontline medical workers and patients for one month. $3,750 will provide food/utility assistance for Nevada Health Center’s Washoe County patients whose income has been disrupted due to COVID-19. 

$10,000

to Community Health Alliance (CHA)

To rent screening tents for the parking lots of their four health centers and pay for equipment and increased cleaning services.

$10,000

to Northern Nevada HOPES

To buy PPE for the staff serving the dramatic increase in patients.

$30,000

to the Food Bank of Northern Nevada

This grant as part of the #GivingTuesdayNow $50,000 matching grant opportunity, will help the Food Bank cope with skyrocketing needs and disrupted distribution channels as they serve more and more individuals and families.

$200

to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)

Will pay for an annual subscription to Zoom to host mental health support group meetings.

$13,040

in restaurant gift cards

were given to area hospitals for front-line health workers through the COVID Kindness programs in partnership with Reno + Sparks Chamber of Commerce, and $5,000 of healthy frozen meals were purchased for REMSA responders.

FAQ

I’m an individual who has been affected by COVID-19. Can this Fund help me?

We understand many individuals and families have been affected by the outbreak already, and more will continue to be affected. The Community Foundation COVID-19 Relief Fund is working to move resources to Washoe County community-based health providers and nonprofits that are directly serving the most vulnerable in our community affected by emerging health, and social impacts. This Fund does not provide grants to individuals.

Can my nonprofit apply for a grant?

The COVID-19 Relief Fund is not accepting grant applications at this time.  Nonprofit organizations can apply for a Small Business Administration disaster loan. Learn more

The COVID-19 Response Fund prioritizes healthcare professionals and nonprofit organizations serving vulnerable populations working in Washoe County.

I donated to the fund because I know there are a lot of needs in our community and it’s a small gesture I can do to help. Compassion, kindness, and patience are just a few of the traits we can individually develop as we help each other through this challenge

- Lisa Aland, COVID-19 Relief Fund Donor