More than $130K in COVID-19 relief grants awarded to DeKalb County nonprofits through foundation

SYCAMORE – More than $130,000 has been awarded to DeKalb County organizations in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to an announcement by the DeKalb County Community Foundation.

The DeKalb County COVID-19 Response Fund advisory committee announced that a total of $130,563 was awarded to 20 local charitable organizations during the fourth round of DeKalb County COVID-19 Response Grants.

The DeKalb County COVID-19 Response Grant program was designed to support the needs of people in DeKalb County during the COVID-19 pandemic. Organizations who received funding during this fourth round of grantmaking include:

· 4-C: Community Coordinated Child Care - $7,500 for COVID-19 relief for in-home childcare providers in DeKalb County.

· Adventure Works of DeKalb County, Inc. - $6,320 to provide technological support for telemental health

· Barb City Manor Retirement Home - $10,000 for COVID-19 emergency assistance

· Barb Food Mart - $7,380 – to provide emergency food and organizational improvements

· Children’s Learning Center Inc. - $7,683 for technology upgrades to provide effective communication with families and staff

· Cortland Community Library - $2,000 to support organizational operations and safety equipment

· DeKalb County Community Gardens - $16,430 to support the food and nutrition program

· Farmworker and Landscaper Advocacy Project - $5,000 to help provide utility and rental financial assistance to low-income Latinx residents in DeKalb County

· Fox Valley Community Services - $5,000 to support organization operations and expansion

· Friends of the DeKalb Regional Office of Education - $2,000 to support the diaper distribution initiative

· Genoa Township Park District - $1,750 for the purchase of additional training supplies for lifeguards and cleaning equipment

· Kishwaukee Family YMCA - $8,000 to organization operations

· Network of Nations - $5,000 to provide food and support to international students through the pandemic

· Opportunity House, Inc. - $5,000 to support organization operations

· Preservation of Egyptian Theatre, Inc. - $11,000 to support organization operations

· RAMP - $3,000 to support access to independent living services

· Society of St. Vincent de Paul St Mary/Christ the Teacher Conference - $4,000 to help provide rental assistance and emergency shelter for individuals and families impacted by COVID-19

· The Salvation Army - $10,000 to support the emergency housing assistance program

· Voluntary Action Center - $7,500 to provide support for meal service delivery

· Westminster Presbyterian Church - $6,000 to support the Annie Glidden North food relief program

Funding for response grants is made possible through ongoing donor generosity to DeKalb County COVID-19 Response Fund, according to a news release. This pass through fund was created in March 2020 in collaboration with various local funding partners to be a depository for contributions in response to the effects of COVID-19 in DeKalb County. Grants distributed can address preparedness, response, recovery, and/or rebuilding efforts as the pandemic evolves. Contributions to the fund can be made online at www.dekalbccf.org.

Since April 2020, the fund has distributed $541,368 in assistance to organizations serving DeKalb County. Staff with DCCF thanked donors for contributing to the fund.

Additional rounds of grants will likely be made to support evolving needs in the community. At that time, the COVID-19 Response Grant program will re-open and begin accepting requests with the Community Foundation releasing appropriate notice through various communication channels.

For questions related to grants, contact Tiffany McQueen Lewis, Community Foundation Grants Director, at tiffany@dekalbccf.org or 815-748-5383. For questions related to the COVID-19 Response Fund or advisory committee, contact Community Foundation Executive Director Dan Templin at 815-748-5383 or email dan@dekalbccf.org.