North Texas Community Foundation announces grants totaling $811,260 have been disbursed through the Better Together Fund to 27 local nonprofits supporting people and communities experiencing hardships caused by COVID-19.
The Better Together Fund launched in early April with a $400,000 challenge grant from Wholly Guacamole! founder, Don Bowden. To date, Community Foundation fundholders and investors have collectively contributed over $840,000 to the Fund, 100% of which is being deployed to address immediate needs arising from the outbreak and long-term recovery.
The grants – ranging in size from $12,500 to $83,000 – support projects focusing on community recovery, including education, workforce development, service industry support, medical and mental health care, and other basic needs.
“In times of crisis, coordination is vital in getting critical resources to those who need them most. Our nonprofit leaders are using every resource at their disposal – including resilience, ingenuity and tenacity – to implement solutions that are making a difference,” said Rose Bradshaw, president/CEO of North Texas Community Foundation.
Funds were allocated by The Better Together Fund Grants Committee, led by Michael Appleman and including Stephanie Brentlinger, Amy Brown, Adelaide Leavens, and members of the Bowden family. Appleman, a partner at Cantey Hanger, noted, “we are grateful to North Texas Community Foundation fundholders, as well as private and corporate donors, who helped fuel this effort.”
“In the months and years ahead, North Texas Community Foundation will keep a finger on the pulse of our community by actively connecting with partner organizations and listening to our fellow North Texans,” said Bradshaw. “This Fund gives proof that we are all better, together.”
Grant recipients include:
Alliance for Children: to purchase laptops for the Crimes Against Children Units at Fort Worth Police Department and Arlington Police Department.
The Art Station: to provide onsite art therapy workshops for healthcare workers to help manage increased stress from COVID-19.
Boys and Girls Club of Greater Tarrant County: to provide curbside and mobile food distribution and programming.
Catholic Charities of Fort Worth: to provide financial assistance to clients served and support case management.
Community Healthcare of Texas: to purchase PPE for staff to continue serving patients in hospice care.
Community Enrichment Center: To provide rent subsidies for families living in Community Enrichment Center properties and to provide food for 100% of families that visit the organization’s food pantry.
Community Learning Center, Inc: to provide tuition relief scholarships for students entering the job training program and who have been affected by COVID-19.
Cornerstone Assistance Network: to support telehealth services to uninsured patients, food, financial assistance, and employment support for individuals and families in need.
Family Pathfinders: To provide emergency assistance to help eligible individuals and families meet basic needs, including (but not limited to) help with rent, utilities, food, gas, etc.
First Street Methodist Mission: to provide rental and utility assistance to community members in need.
Historic Southside, Inc.: to provide relief grants to restaurant and service workers experiencing financial hardship from COVID-19.
James L. West Center for Dementia Care: to purchase PPE for staff to continue serving patients and one hands-free temperature kiosk to help prevent the spread of disease.
Justin’s Place: to provide food and transportation assistance to clients in need.
The Ladder Alliance: to purchase 20 laptops and software to aid in remote learning for job training and computer literacy classes.
Meals on Wheel North Central Texas: to purchase a cargo van to assist with the increased demand of food distribution to the senior community in the 2,772 square mile, 3-county service area.
Meals on Wheel Wise County: to purchase a cargo van that will replace staff cars and an open air trailer and help with the 25% increase in food distribution to the senior community in their service area.
MHMR Visions: to provide respite care for 200 families with a baby or child that is medically fragile or has been diagnosed with a delay or disability.
Northside Inter-Community Agency: to help replenish the food pantry, replace the freezer compressor for food storage, purchase air conditioning units & fans for seniors and support staffing.
The Parenting Center: to support virtual counseling services to meet the growing demand and provide for a mobile-friendly website with scheduling portal.
Read Fort Worth: to provide summer porch visits and drive-in carnivals for Fort Worth ISD students.
Ruth’s Place: to purchase the PPE needed to re-open the community health clinic and provide food for community members in need.
SafeHaven of Tarrant County: to hire an additional High-Risk Team case manager to help reduce domestic violence deaths.
Taste Project: to support operations of the restaurant while continuing to serve those in need and for outdoor patio improvements.
Traffick911: To provide basic needs and transportation for survivors of sex trafficking and their families.
United Community Centers: to support 220 low-income students in their summer literacy program.
The Women’s Center: To provide emergency assistance for clients as well as provide critical technology needs for staff to be able to work remotely.
World Relief: to provide rental assistance, basic needs and employment services to their immigrant, refugee and asylee clients.
Donors Include:
19/19 Investment Counsel
Karen and Larry Anfin
Anonymous (6)
Anonymous Fund
Jineen and Mike Bessire
Michele Boillotat
Bowden Family Fund
Natalie Bowen
Cindy and Jim Boyd
The Bradshaw Family
Malorie Brooks
Burr Family Charitable Fund
Linda Busdiecker
James Capp
Stefanie Cenkus
Brittany Christian
Rita and Cleve Clinton
Whitfield J. Collins Charitable Fund
Conerly Family Fund
Doss Foundation Fund
Esch Family Charitable Fund
Shelley Flores
Randall Ford
Shirlee J. and Taylor Gandy Charitable Fund
Leann Guzman
GWR Foundation Fund
Angela Hall
Jane Walker Hardwick Charitable Fund
Robert and Linda Herchert Charitable Fund
International Children’s Fund
Christina Judge
Pat and Melanie Kennedy
Doug and Gina Kinsey
Ellison and Edward Lasater Charitable Fund
Mollie L. and Garland M. Lasater, Jr. Charitable Fund
Erma Lee
Martha V. Leonard Fund
Cathy Lewis
Garrett March
Kim Mason
The Meadows Foundation
Meta Alice Keith Bratten Foundation
Deanna and Rob Miller
Charles B. Milliken
David E. Minor Family Foundation
Sally P. and Scott W. Mooring III Charitable Fund
Ryan Park
Patel Gaines, PLLC
Laurie Pierce
Malyn Powers
Chuck and Kathleen Primm
Walter and Lori Rainwater Fund
Tracy Rector & Greg Fitzgerald Charitable Fund
Carol Roark
Sara Robison
The Satori Foundation Inc.
Catherine Schmuck
Christina Sears
Susan Shaw
Cathy R. and Scott Sheffield Charitable Fund
Jessica Siegel
Destiny Silva
Patsy B. Small
Ken Smith and Susan Swan Smith
Nancy and John Snyder Foundation
Christina Tomerlin
Cynthia Vandersleen
Sara Weaver
Wells Fargo Foundation
Kristine Williams
Donna and Dennis Winborn Charitable Fund
Jack W. and Paula J. Winter Charitable Fund
