The Board of Directors of the Healthcare Foundation of La Porte (HFL) voted today (March 25, 2020) to approve a plan that allows the HFL to provide emergency grants to qualifying organizations who are working in La Porte County communities to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.
In line with the HFL’s mission, the board took swift action to respond to community needs.
“We exist to empower residents to live healthy in and around La Porte. Our mission dictates that we address the COVID-19 health crisis at a local level, and we are pleased to have been able to put this plan in place so quickly,” said HFL Board Chair Jeff Bernel.
Maria Fruth, President and CEO of HFL, said the HFL COVID-19 Emergency Grants Plan takes a multi-faceted approach as the impact of the pandemic continues to unfold.
“This plan is designed to be flexible and easy for qualifying organizations to access funding as needs are identified,” she said. “We must be able to respond quickly as our needs as a community change.”
Phase 1 of the plan addresses immediate needs. It runs from March 25, 2020 to May 30, 2020, but can be flexible to follow the progression of the crisis and government orders.
Phase 2 of the plan is designed to address some of the long-term affects the community will face and will include recovery efforts funding. This phase will be shared upon board approval and communicated to the community, as soon as the immediate crisis is over and long-term needs are identified.
In Phase 1, the HFL will prioritize the following services related to the increased demand as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak:
- Food needs for La Porte County residents with food insecurity
- The elderly and other high-risk populations
- Supplies to support emergency response
- Healthcare and emergency response workers in need of protective gear and equipment
- Unrestricted funds to NFP for business continuity
If organizations have a different need not listed above, they may email mfruth@hflaporte.org. Organizations should go to the HFL Grant Portal to complete their applications. Visit www.hflaporte.org for a link to information and the application. The deadline will be rolling (applications will be considered any time from now until May 30, 2020, and that deadline also may be extended).
General guidelines are as follows:
- Organizations may request between $1,000 and $50,000 in funding
- If needs exceed $50,000, please email mfruth@hflaporte.org
- Decisions regarding applications will occur within 48 hours. Funds will be sent electronically to grantee.
Applying organizations should be prepared to provide basic information about their organization, and information about their COVID-19 response needs and plans for the funds. Details are in the application itself.
The HFL invites the entire community to visit their web site and check the COVID-19 Resource Hub – an online resource that serves as a clearinghouse for community needs and ways to help.
Fruth urges the community to engage with the resource hub. Able to help? Consider a donation to two county relief funds that are listed in the Local Community Needs section of the Hub: The United Way of La Porte County COVID-19 Relief Fund, and the Unity Foundation La Porte County Disaster Relief and Recovery Fund.
Check the hub regularly for updates to keep informed and be sure to follow the Healthcare Foundation of La Porte on Facebook as well.
For more information, email mfruth@hflaporte.org.
