BALTIMORE COUNTY — Baltimore County and the Baltimore Community Foundation today announced that 50 local community-based organizations have received grants totaling $400,000 from the Baltimore County COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund in a collaborative effort to promote public health and support the County’s efforts to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“County government is working around the clock to respond to this crisis, but we know even more needs to be done. We’re so thankful for partners like BGE, Tradepoint Atlantic, the Weinberg Foundation and all our generous donors for recognizing that we are in this together, ” Baltimore County Executive Olszewski said.
“Baltimore County is home to so many dedicated community organizations and we’re proud to support the invaluable services they provide to our neighbors during this trying time.”
Since its establishment on March 31, the Emergency Response Fund, which is managed by the Baltimore Community Foundation, has raised more than $500,000 from more than 150 individual, private sector, and philanthropic donors, including Tradepoint Atlantic, the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, the David and Barbara B. Hirschhorn Foundation, the Henry and Ruth Blaustein Rosenberg Foundation and Chesapeake Realty Partners.
“BCF partners with many concerned donors and community-based organizations in Baltimore County as part of our regional focus,” said Shanaysha M. Sauls, President & CEO of Baltimore Community Foundation.
“We are honored to work with County Executive Olszewski’s administration to steward generous individual, corporate and philanthropic dollars and ensure they reach high-impact organizations in hard-hit communities.”
Baltimore County today also announced that BGE has made a $285,000 contribution to the Emergency Response Fund to support existing and future efforts. $185,000 in BGE funds will support grantees announced today while $100,000 in future funding has been reserved to enhance the County’s response to supporting reopening of County small businesses.
“Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, BGE has endeavored to balance two important commitments to our residential and business customers and the communities we serve: provide relief from COVID-19-related economic hardship and continue to invest in the critical electric and natural gas infrastructure to ensure safe and reliable access to energy,” said Rodney Oddoye, BGE’s senior vice president of governmental and external affairs.
“It is our hope that BGE’s contribution to the Baltimore County COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund will reach organizations that are vulnerable during a crisis and help them navigate this challenging period.”
In May, Baltimore County made grants available to organizations assisting those affected by COVID-19 in Baltimore County communities. Today the County announced that grant awards ranging from $3,000 to $11,300 were granted to 50 County-based organizations.
Funding will be used to support a diverse range of community efforts, such as the purchase of personal protective equipment (PPE), COVID safeguards for reopening, support for food distribution, virtual counseling services, rental assistance, educational supplies for youth, technology to address the digital divide and assistance for veterans, first responders, and their families.
A full list of the Baltimore County Emergency Response Fund awardees announced today is below:
AfriThrive Inc
Agape Christian Church
Arc Baltimore
Aspen Day Treatment
Baltimore Association of Nepalese in America INC
Baltimore Job Hunters Support Group (BJHSG)
Bas Melech Performing Arts Center Inc
Board of Child Care
CASA of Baltimore County, Inc.
Cavanaugh House
CHANA — A Program of The Associated: Jewish Federation of Baltimore
Chase Brexton Health Services, Inc.
Chesapeake Bay Memories Charities Inc.
Children’s Home, Inc.
Community Crisis Center, Inc.
Congregation Ariel Russian Community Synagogue, Inc.
Covenant Guild, Inc.
Diversified Housing Development, Inc.
FreeState Justice
Friendship Circle of Baltimore
From One Fan To Another Inc.
HACSI Hindu American Community Service Inc.
Hall at North Point Edgemere
Heaven on Earth NOW
Holistically Empowered Youth, Inc.
Humane Society of Baltimore County
Improving Education Inc.
Islamic Society of Baltimore
Jacksonville Senior Center Council
Jewish Uniformed Service Association of Maryland
KEYS Empowers, Inc.
Lake Roland Nature Council
Life Builders Church
Linwood Center
MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center
Morning Star Baptist Church of Baltimore County
NAMI Metropolitan Baltimore
No More Stolen Childhoods
One Love Foundation in Honor of Yeardley Love
Oregon Ridge Nature Center Council
Penn-Mar Human Services
Randallstown Mount Olive United Methodist Church
Research and Counselling Foundation for African Migrants (RECFAM)
Set The Captives Free Outreach Center Inc.
Spectrum Support, Inc.
St Matthew United Methodist Church
St. Ambrose Housing Aid Center
Towson University Foundation
Trinity Temple, Inc.
TWS Community Outreach
County Engaging Community Partners to Expand Food Distribution Network
Through the grant application process, the County noted that multiple organizations requested support to enhance food assistance. As a result, over 30 community organizations will be invited to partner with the County’s ongoing efforts to address food insecurity and the challenges of providing food and nutrition assistance safely during the pandemic.
To date, Baltimore County’s successful food distribution effort has provided over four million meals for County residents. Through this expanded food distribution collaboration, Baltimore County will directly engage nonprofit networks to ensure resources are reaching residents most in need of assistance.
This support for local community-based organizations is the latest effort from Baltimore County to support residents suffering as a result of the pandemic.
Baltimore County has made millions in grant funding available for small businesses through the Small Business Relief Grants Program; offered $200,000 in grant funding to assist professional artists, musicians and performers; and provided millions in rental assistance to households at risk of losing their current housing.
Donations the Baltimore County COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund continue to be accepted at www.bcf.org/emergencyresponsefund.
Future grant awards will be determined by additional funds raised.
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