Press Release
Central Indiana COVID-19 Community Economic Relief Fund grants $4 million
Central Indiana COVID-19 Community Economic Relief Fund grants $4 million to 56 human services organizations
INDIANAPOLIS – (May 12, 2020) The Central Indiana COVID-19 Community Economic Relief Fund (C-CERF) has made a third round of unrestricted grants totaling $4 million to 56 community organizations. Combined with two rounds of grants made since March 24, C-CERF has now distributed more than $15.8 million to 100 organizations in Central Indiana.
C-CERF is an economic relief fund of United Way of Central Indiana (UWCI) launched with significant initial investments from founding partners Lilly Endowment Inc., Central Indiana Community Foundation (through the Glick Fund and The Indianapolis Foundation), Eli Lilly and Company Foundation, Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust, Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation, and United Way of Central Indiana. Since its establishment, C-CERF has grown to nearly $23.5 million because of generous donations from individuals and additional organizations.
In this round, the C-CERF Task Force prioritized funding to organizations in Marion County providing basic needs support to individuals and families. A specific emphasis was placed on organizations assisting communities of color, refugees and immigrants, and LGBTQ+ communities. For the purposes of this grant round, basic needs include shelter, food, utility assistance, childcare, transportation, and legal services (for eviction and unemployment insurance appeals).
C-CERF Recipients and Grants
| B4UFall, Inc. $50,000 | Boys & Girls Clubs of Indianapolis $50,000 | Brookside Community Development Corporation $50,000 |
| BU Wellness Network $30,000 | Burmese American Community Institute $30,000 | Catholic Charities Indianapolis $125,000 |
| Child Advocates, Inc. $20,000 | Christamore House Family and Community Center $50,000 | CICOA $100,000 |
| Coalition for Homelessness Intervention and Prevention $100,000 | Coburn Place Safe Haven $25,000 | Community Alliance of the Far Eastside, Inc. (CAFE) $125,000 |
| Concord Neighborhood Center $100,000 | The Damien Center, Inc. $85,000 | Dayspring Center, Inc. $60,000 |
| Dove Recovery House for Women $25,000 | Early Learning Indiana $75,000 | East Tenth United Methodist Children and Youth Center $75,000 |
| Eastern Star Church Jewel Human Services Corporation $75,000 | Edna Martin Christian Center, Inc. $125,000 | EVOLVE Mentoring a project of Hovey Street Christian Church $75,000 |
| Exodus Refugee Immigration, Inc. $75,000 | Fathers and Families Center $85,000 | Fay Biccard Glick Neighborhood Center at Crooked Creek $75,000 |
| Fight for Life Foundation $20,000 | Flanner House of Indianapolis, Inc. $125,000 | George T. Goodwin Community Center $60,000 |
| Hawthorne Community Center $125,000 | HealthNet Homeless Initiative Program $50,000 | Horizon House $100,000 |
| Indianapolis Legal Aid Society $100,000 | Indianapolis Urban League (IUL) $125,000 | Indy Hunger Network $75,000 |
| JCC Indianapolis $75,000 | Jewish Family Services at the Reuben Center $30,000 | John Boner Neighborhood Centers $100,000 |
| The Julian Center, Inc. $50,000 | Kheprw Institute $25,000 | La Plaza $100,000 |
| Little Red Door Cancer Agency $110,000 | Martin Luther King Community Center $85,000 | Mary Rigg Neighborhood Center $125,000 |
| Mozel Sanders Foundation $60,000 | Neighborhood Christian Legal Clinic $100,000 | PACE, Inc. (Public Advocates in Community re-Entry) $100,000 |
| The Patachou Foundation $30,000 | Pathway Resource Center, Inc. $100,000 | Progress House, Inc. $25,000 |
| Project Azul $20,000 | Shepherd Community Center $125,000 | Southeast Community Services, Inc. $100,000 |
| Starfish Initiative $20,000 | Volunteers of America Ohio & Indiana $25,000 |
“We are deeply grateful for the incredible support from the COVID-19 Community Economic Relief Fund,” said Miriam Acevedo Davis, president and CEO of La Plaza. “These funds will allow us to help some of the most vulnerable families in the Latino community, many who have limited options for support. COVID-19 has disproportionately affected the Latino community and thanks to the generous support of C-CERF, we will be able to provide essential services and resources to our community. ¡Gracias!”
What’s Next
UWCI is preparing to announce a separate round of grants to community organizations in Boone, Hancock, Hamilton, Hendricks and Morgan counties, as part of a $3.5 million grant from Lilly Endowment, to help meet the basic needs of residents affected by the pandemic in those areas.
To learn more or to donate to the C-CERF, text HELP2020 to 91999 or visit www.covid-19cerf.org. One hundred percent of donations to the Central Indiana COVID-19 Community Economic Relief Fund’s website will go directly to the organizations that are serving those in need due to the pandemic.
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About the Central Indiana COVID-19 Community Economic Relief Fund (C-CERF)
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, a coalition of community funders launched an initial $16.5 million Central Indiana COVID-19 Community Economic Relief Fund (C-CERF) to support human services organizations in Boone, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks, Marion, and Morgan counties during the crisis. This fund is governed by the C-CERF Task Force, which includes leaders from the founding partners: Lilly Endowment Inc., Central Indiana Community Foundation (through the Glick Fund and The Indianapolis Foundation), Eli Lilly and Company Foundation, Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust, Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation and United Way of Central Indiana. For information and updates on C-CERF, visit www.covid19cerf.org.
Media Contacts
| Teri Walker | Jessica DiSanto |
| Manager of Communications and External Relations | Director of Communications |
| Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust | United Way of Central Indiana |
| twalker@ninapulliamtrust.org | jessica.disanto@uwci.org |
| AZ: 480-887-0083 | IN: 317-231-9207 | IN: 317-292-5608 |