Forty-six organizations receive immediate grants from the Central Indiana COVID-19 Community Economic Relief Fund

First round of funding will support organizations working to meet critical needs
INDIANAPOLIS – Today, the Central Indiana COVID-19 Community Economic Relief Fund (C-CERF) made unrestricted grants to 46 community organizations throughout Central Indiana, totaling $7,305,000. The funds will be used to help stabilize community organizations that are helping individuals and families as they weather the economic crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic in the days and weeks to come. These grants are the first phase of funding from C-CERF, the economic relief fund launched with 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. The fund now stands at more than $17.8 million, with additional contributions continuing to be solicited. “Our coalition of funders has been in daily communication with community leaders across Central Indiana to assess emerging needs and direct service providers to better understand their most pressing challenges,” said Ann Murtlow, president & CEO, United Way of Central Indiana, which is administering the fund. “With this information, the founding funders of C-CERF were able to make decisions on grants to organizations that serve in critical service areas that provide flexibility to problem solve in a rapidly changing environment.” The C-CERF Task Force, which includes leaders from each of the founding partners, prioritized funding to community-based organizations in Boone, Hancock, Hamilton, Hendricks, Marion, and Morgan counties that focus on the following types of services:

Childcare for healthcare workers and first responders

Food access for those struggling to make ends meet

Homeless and shelter care that allows for safe health practices

Strengthening access to resources for seniors and immigrants

Disaster planning and infrastructure support to connect people to services

Multi-service centers to help them address current and emerging needs in their neighborhoods

 GranteesAlternatives Incorporated - $50,000American Red Cross of Greater Indianapolis - $250,000AYS - $400,000Barbara B. Jordan YMCA - $50,000Boone County Senior Services - $20,000Caring Center/Project Help - $25,000Catholic Charities Indianapolis - $250,000Christamore House - $100,000Churches in Mission - $50,000CICOA Aging and In-Home Solutions - $75,000Coburn Place Safe Haven - $50,000Community Alliance of the Far Eastside - $100,000Concord Neighborhood Center - $100,000Early Learning Indiana - $250,000Edna Martin Christian Center - $250,000Family Promise of Hendricks County - $25,000Fay Biccard Glick Neighborhood Center at Crooked Creek - $50,000Flanner House of Indianapolis - $200,000Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana - $750,000Good Samaritan Network of Hamilton County - $50,000Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana - $250,000Hawthorne Community Center - $100,000Hendricks County Senior Services - $50,000Horizon House - $100,000HVAF of Indiana - $50,000Immigrant Welcome Center - $20,000Indiana 211 Partnership - $200,000Indianapolis Urban League - $200,000John H. Boner Neighborhood Centers - $250,000The Julian Center - $100,000La Plaza - $100,000Martin Luther King Community Center - $100,000Mary Rigg Neighborhood Center - $100,000Meals on Wheels - $20,000Meals on Wheels of Hancock County - $20,000Midwest Food Bank - $250,000PACE - $50,000St. Vincent de Paul Society - $150,000The Salvation Army - $250,000Second Helpings - $750,000Sheltering Wings - $50,000Shepherd Community, Inc. - $100,000Southeast Community Services - $200,000Volunteers of America Ohio & Indiana - $100,000Wheeler Mission Ministries - $250,000YMCA of Greater Indianapolis - $400,000 “At this moment, our community is feeling the impact of layoffs and other job losses, increased childcare needs due to school closures, and significant food shortages for our most vulnerable neighbors,” said Ronni Kloth, Lilly Endowment’s vice president for community development. “We hope that this first wave of funding can help these organizations begin to address these and other critical needs.” In the coming weeks, the C-CERF Task Force will be working with nonprofit organizations that provide human services across Central Indiana in an effort to listen, collect data, and determine next steps. This includes the timeline and priorities for the next round of funding from C-CERF. Human services organizations in Central Indiana that have questions or want to know more are encouraged to send a message to covid-19cerf@uwci.org. To learn more or to donate to the C-CERF, text HELP2020 to 91999 or visit www.covid19cerf.org. 100 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. 

### 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:

Jessica DiSanto | United Way of Central Indiana