Central Indiana COVID-19 Community Economic Relief Fund grants $4 million to 56 human services organizations

INDIANAPOLIS – The Central Indiana COVID-19 Community Economic Relief Fund (C-CERF) has made a third round of unrestricted grants totaling $4 million to 56 community organizations. Combined with two rounds of grants made since March 24, C-CERF has now distributed more than $15.8 million to 100 organizations in Central Indiana. C-CERF is an economic relief fund of United Way of Central Indiana (UWCI) launched with significant initial investments from founding partners Lilly Endowment Inc., Central Indiana Community Foundation (through the Glick Fund and The Indianapolis Foundation), Eli Lilly and Company Foundation, Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust, Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation, and United Way of Central Indiana. Since its establishment, C-CERF has grown to nearly $23.5 million because of generous donations from individuals and additional organizations. In this round, the C-CERF Task Force prioritized funding to organizations in Marion County providing basic needs support to individuals and families. A specific emphasis was placed on organizations assisting communities of color, refugees and immigrants, and LGBTQ+ communities. For the purposes of this grant round, basic needs include shelter, food, utility assistance, childcare, transportation, and legal services (for eviction and unemployment insurance appeals). C-CERF Recipients and Grants
B4UFall, Inc. - $50,000Boys & Girls Clubs of Indianapolis - $50,000Brookside Community Development Corporation - $50,000BU Wellness Network - $30,000Burmese American Community Institute - $30,000Catholic Charities Indianapolis - $125,000Child Advocates, Inc - $20,000Christamore House Family and Community Center - $50,000CICOA - $100,000Coalition for Homelessness Intervention and Prevention - $100,000Coburn Place Safe Haven - $25,000Community Alliance of the Far Eastside, Inc. (CAFE) - $125,000Concord Neighborhood Center - $100,000The Damien Center, Inc. - $85,000Dayspring Center, Inc. - $60,000Dove Recovery House for Women - $25,000Early Learning Indiana - $75,000East Tenth United Methodist Children and Youth Center - $75,000Eastern Star Church Jewel Human Services Corporation - $75,000Edna Martin Christian Center, Inc. - $125,000EVOLVE Mentoring a project of Hovey Street Christian Church - $75,000Exodus Refugee Immigration, Inc. - $75,000Fathers and Families Center - $85,000Fay Biccard Glick Neighborhood Center at Crooked Creek - $75,000Fight for Life Foundation - $20,000Flanner House of Indianapolis, Inc - $125,000George T. Goodwin Community Center - $60,000Hawthorne Community Center - $125,000HealthNet Homeless Initiative Program - $50,000Horizon House - $100,000HVAF of Indiana, Inc. - $50,000Immigrant Welcome Center - $30,000Indiana Youth Group (IYG) - $50,000Indianapolis Legal Aid Society - $100,000Indianapolis Urban League (IUL) - $125,000Indy Hunger Network - $75,000JCC Indianapolis - $75,000Jewish Family Services at the Reuben Center - $30,000John Boner Neighborhood Centers - $100,000The Julian Center, Inc. - $50,000Kheprw Institute - $25,000La Plaza - $100,000Little Red Door Cancer Agency - $110,000Martin Luther King Community Center - $85,000Mary Rigg Neighborhood Center - $125,000Mozel Sanders Foundation - $60,000Neighborhood Christian Legal Clinic - $100,000PACE, Inc. (Public Advocates in Community re-Entry) - $100,000The Patachou Foundation - $30,000Pathway Resource Center, Inc. - $100,000Progress House, Inc. - $25,000Project Azul - $20,000Shepherd Community Center - $125,000Southeast Community Services, Inc. - $100,000Starfish Initiative - $20,000Volunteers of America Ohio & Indiana - $25,000TOTAL - $4,000,000  “We are deeply grateful for the incredible support from the COVID-19 Community Economic Relief Fund,” said Miriam Acevedo Davis, president and CEO of La Plaza. “These funds will allow us to help some of the most vulnerable families in the Latino community, many who have limited options for support. COVID-19 has disproportionately affected the Latino community and thanks to the generous support of C-CERF, we will be able to provide essential services and resources to our community. ¡Gracias!” What’s NextUWCI is preparing to announce a separate round of grants to community organizations in Boone, Hancock, Hamilton, Hendricks and Morgan counties, as part of a $3.5 million grant from Lilly Endowment, to help meet the basic needs of residents affected by the pandemic in those areas.
To learn more or to donate to the C-CERF, text HELP2020 to 91999 or visit www.covid-19cerf.org. 100 percent of donations to the Central Indiana COVID-19 Community Economic Relief Fund’s website will go directly to the organizations that are serving those in need due to the pandemic. 

### About the Central Indiana COVID-19 Community Economic Relief Fund (C-CERF)In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, a coalition of community funders launched an initial $16.5 million Central Indiana COVID-19 Community Economic Relief Fund (C-CERF) to support human services organizations in Boone, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks, Marion, and Morgan counties during the crisis. This fund is governed by the C-CERF Task Force, which includes leaders from the founding partners: Lilly Endowment Inc., Central Indiana Community Foundation (through the Glick Fund and The Indianapolis Foundation), Eli Lilly and Company Foundation, Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust, Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation, and United Way of Central Indiana. For information and updates on C-CERF, visit www.covid19cerf.org. 

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Jessica DiSanto | United Way of Central Indiana