Working closely with the Allegany County United Way, the
Allegany County Area Foundation served as funding intermediary for a third
round of microgrants designed to support local organizations that are helping
those effected by the coronavirus pandemic. In this latest round, $44,500 has
recently been distributed across 15 county non-profits. The grants came through
the generosity of the Buffalo-based WNY Covid-19 Community Response Fund. More
information on this initiative can be found below.
Prior rounds of Microgrants last spring and summer saw 18
organizations share $34,000 in funds.
Receiving these latest grants are Cuba Cultural Center, YMCA of
Wellsville, Wellspring Ministries, Almond Area Food Pantry, Belfast EMT Squad,
Northern Allegany Connection, Trinity Christian Day Care, DSS Child Advocacy
Center, Fillmore Central School PTO, Cooperative Extension, Salvation Army
Wellsville Corps, Allegany County Mental Health Assn, Fillmore Food Pantry,
Genesee Christian Community Food Pantry, and the Allegany County Office for the
Aging Meals on Wheels program.
Microgrant Committee members included Amanda Joyce-Phelps
(AC United Way), Kelly Dickerson (Clarity Wellness), Bruce Campbell (ACAF), and
ACAF board member Jane Foster (Belfast Central School).
WNY Covid-19 Community Response Fund Microgrant Initiative
The Western New York COVID-19 Community Response Fund was created by the philanthropic community to support nonprofits addressing immediate needs in response to the COVID-19 crisis in the eight counties of Western New York. Recognizing that a lot of the burden of the response is falling on community-based and grassroots organizations, the Fund created a microgrant program to rapidly deploy resources to small urban and rural organizations that provide hands-on assistance to community members. Intermediary organizations in each county that are recognized as trusted voices and partners identified the microgrant recipients for awards that typically ranged from $500 - $2,500.
