SPOKANE, WA, April 10, 2020; Innovia Foundation today announced 80 grants totaling $514,500 from the COVID-19 Community Response and Recovery Fund for Eastern Washington.
This is the first round of grants from the Eastern Washington Fund and are directed to nonprofit and grassroots organizations, as well as schools and other government agencies, that are on the front lines of the COVID-19 response. See attached for the list of partners receiving funding.
“While our healthcare systems, public health professionals, and local government agencies are doing everything in their power to support our community, we know that gaps remain. Thanks to the generosity of our funding partners, we can step in to address some of those gaps through grants to organizations serving our most vulnerable populations,” said Innovia Foundation CEO Shelly O’Quinn. “We are pleased to support the incredible work our community partners are doing to ensure the wellbeing of our region.”
In addition to the 80 grants awarded in Eastern Washington, an additional $110,000 will be awarded for Eastern Washington Tribal Communities next week. The North Idaho COVID-19 Community Response and Recovery Fund is also expected to make its first round of grants early next week totaling more than $200,000.
“This crisis has further exposed and deepened the health inequities in our region, particularly among communities of color. Our funding partners recognize this reality and have prioritized many of these funds to support smaller and faith-based organizations that are trusted in the communities they serve,” said Empire Health Foundation Interim President Jeffrey Bell. “These resources will be directed to the people who need it most. The level of cooperation and communication among the funders is truly remarkable and Empire Health Foundation is humbled to be part of this effort.”
The COVID-19 Community Response and Recovery Fund for Eastern Washington is hosted at Innovia Foundation in partnership with Empire Health Foundation and Spokane County United Way.
“United Way is proud to be part of this collaborative outreach,” said Spokane County United Way President and CEO Tim Henkel. “The partners and funders involved recognize that we can have greater impact by working together and are committed to assisting the most marginalized and low-income members of our community who are adversely affected by this outbreak.”
Grants from the COVID-19 Community Response and Recovery Funds are administered in partnership with regional community advisory groups consisting of residents and leaders from health, economic and human services sectors. Thanks to the generosity of local, regional and national funding partners, the fund for Eastern Washington has surpassed $1.6 million.
Businesses, individuals and organizations can donate and find additional information about the COVID-19 Community Response and Recovery Funds for Eastern Washington and North Idaho at innovia.org/COVID19.
COVID-19 Response and Recovery Eastern Washington Funding partners: Innovia Foundation, Empire Health Foundation, Spokane County United Way, Avista Foundation, BECU, Better Health Together, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Burlington Northern, Community Building Foundation, Delta Dental of Washington, Health Sciences & Services Authority of Spokane County, Itron, Lewis-Clark Valley Healthcare Foundation, MultiCare Health System, M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust, Perigee Fund, Premera Blue Cross, Providence Health Care, Umpqua Bank, Wells Fargo and Women Helping Women Fund.
