North Texas Community Foundation announces grants totaling $354,700 have been disbursed through the Better Together Fund to local nonprofits supporting people and communities negatively affected by COVID-19.
North Texas Community Foundation’s Better Together Fund launched in early April with a $400,000 challenge grant from Wholly Guacamole! Founder, Don Bowden. The Better Together Fund is supported by myriad fundholders and investors who have collectively contributed over $830,000, 100% of which will be deployed to address both acute community needs from the outbreak and longer-term recovery.
“The Better Together Fund was exactly the concept that we were seeking. With North Texas Community Foundation involved, we knew our gift would be accomplishing the most good,” said fundholder John Esch.
The first round of response funding focuses on projects addressing immediate critical needs, including food insecurity, housing, medical care and other basic needs. Grants ranging in size from $8,000 to $55,000 were made in response to requests submitted through the North Texas Cares shared grant application. The remaining balance will be distributed over the next three months to local nonprofits working to navigate the way forward.
“The Better Together Fund will save us a lot of time analyzing and vetting, and will leave the grantmaking decisions to the people who are researching this every day,” continued Amy Knight Brown of the Doss Family Fund.
“In this challenging time, it’s incredible to witness our community rise to the challenge and come together to support our nonprofit sector and the people they serve,” said Rose Bradshaw, president/CEO of North Texas Community Foundation. “Thanks to the generosity of our fundholders and friends, we are able to deploy grant funding to organizations helping our neighbors struggling to make rent, put food on the table or get proper medical care.”
Special thanks to the Bowden family and Grant Committee members Michael Appleman, Stephanie Brentlinger, Amy Brown and Adelaide Leavens for guiding the distribution of funds.
In the coming months, North Texas Community Foundation’s Better Together Fund will continue to distribute funding to ensure the long-term recovery and well-being of our community.
Child Abuse Identification and Prevention
Alliance for Children: to purchase laptops for the Crimes Against Children Units at Fort Worth Police Department and Arlington Police Department.
Health
Community Healthcare of Texas: to purchase PPE for staff to continue serving patients in hospice care.
Cornerstone Assistance Network: To support telehealth services to uninsured patients, food, financial assistance, and employment support for individuals and families in need.
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.
Ruth’s Place: to purchase the PPE needed to re-open the community health clinic and provide food for community members in need.
Financial Assistance
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.
Justin’s Place: to provide food and transportation assistance to clients in need.
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.
Food Security and Education
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.
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.
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.
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.
Thank you to the fundholders and donors that have invested in the Better Together Fund’s COVID-19 Response.
North Texas Community Foundation Funds:
Anonymous Fund
Bowden Family Fund
Burr Family Charitable Fund
Whitfield, J. Collins Charitable Fund
Conerly Family Fund
Doss Foundation Fund
Esch Family Charitable Fund
Shirlee J. and Taylor Gandy Charitable Fund
GWR Foundation Fund
Jane Walker Hardwick Charitable Fund
Robert L. and Linda Herchert Charitable Fund
Mollie and Garland Lasater Charitable Fund
Ellison and Edward Lasater Charitable Fund
Martha V. Leonard Fund
David E. Minor Family Foundation
Walter and Lori Rainwater Fund
Tracy Rector and Greg Fitzgerald Charitable Fund
Cathy R. and Scott Sheffield Charitable Fund
Nancy and John Snyder Fund
Jack W. and Paula J. Winter Charitable Fund
Donna and Dennis Winborn Charitable Fund
Community Donors and Private/Corporate Foundations
19/19 Investment Counsel Agent
Ms. Karen Anfin
Ms. Michele Boillotat
Ms. Natalie Bowen
Mrs. Cynthia Q. Boyd
Ms. Malorie Brooks
Mr. James Capp
Ms. Stafanie Cenkus
Ms. Brittany Christian
Mr. Randall Ford
Ms. Leann Guzman
Ms. Angela Hall
Ms. Erma Lee
Ms. Cathy Lewis
Ms. Kim Mason
The Meadows Foundation
Mr. Charles B. Milliken
Ms. Malyn Powers
Ms. Carol Roark
Ms. Sara Robison
The Satori Foundation
Ms. Catherine Schmuck
Ms. Susan Shaw
Ms. Jessica Siegel
Ms. Destiny Silva
Mrs. Patsy B. Small
Ms. Christina Tomerlin
Ms. Cynthia Vandersleen
Ms. Sara Weaver
Wells Fargo Foundation
Ms. Kristine Williams
