United Way of Central Indiana announces additional COVID-19 relief coming to Putnam County
PUTNAM COUNTY, IN – United Way of Central Indiana (UWCI) is pleased to announce that Putnam County, Indiana, will receive a second COVID-19 Economic Relief Initiative grant for $110,448 from Indiana United Ways, the state professional association of which United Way of Central Indiana is a member. The grant will be used to support the Putnam County community, now a part of UWCI’s service area, in meeting basic human needs brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The grant is one of 47 grants that Indiana United Ways is making to member organizations and community foundations through the initiative, which was made possible by funding Indiana United Ways received from Lilly Endowment Inc.
“United Way has been a key convener and coordinator of our community’s response to meet human needs for decades,” said Chris Flegal, director of community relations for Hendricks, Morgan and Putnam counties at UWCI. “Even before this crisis, we knew that 39% of families in Putnam County were not able to make ends meet – despite working. In the wake of COVID, those needs became even more dire. Thanks to the generous, continued support of Lilly Endowment to our State Association, we can continue to help our community, through nonprofit partners, deal with and hopefully resolve the impacts of this trying time.”
The second COVID-19 Economic Relief Initiative grant again calls for United Ways that receive funding to leverage partnerships and relationships to better meet COVID-related basic needs aligned with the social determinants of health as defined by the CDC. Specifically, United Way of Central Indiana plans to convene a committee of Putnam County residents to identify current community needs, forecast the demand for those needs over the next few months, and invest the grant dollars in nonprofits who are equipped to respond to the urgent need.
In April 2020, Lilly Endowment helped Indiana United Ways establish the COVID-19 Economic Relief Initiative with an initial $30 million grant. Lilly Endowment made an additional $15 million grant in March to Indiana United Ways to support the initiative. Both grants are part of Lilly Endowment’s overall grantmaking to help organizations meet COVID-related needs. Since March 2020, Lilly Endowment has made grants totaling more than $210 million to organizations working in Indiana and across the nation as they respond to the pandemic.
###
United Way of Central Indiana is a community of donors, advocates, volunteers, and partners who fight for the health, education, and financial stability of every person in every community. United Way invites all members of our community to LIVE UNITED by giving, advocating and volunteering to improve lives in Central Indiana. Visit www.uwci.org to learn more.
Indiana United Ways is the state professional association for United Ways in Indiana and supports a thriving United Way system through capacity building, shared services, and network collaboration opportunities. For more information, contact Tonja Stokes, Vice President of Organizational Development at tonja.stokes@iuw.org.
Lilly Endowment Inc. is an Indianapolis-based private philanthropic foundation created in 1937 by J.K. Lilly, Sr. and his sons, Eli and J.K. Jr., through gifts of stock in their pharmaceutical business, Eli Lilly and Company. Although the gifts of stock remain a financial bedrock of the Endowment, it is a separate entity from the company, with a distinct governing board, staff and location. In keeping with the founders’ wishes, the Endowment supports the causes of community development, education and religion. The Endowment funds significant programs throughout the United States, especially in the field of religion. However, it maintains a special commitment to its founders’ hometown, Indianapolis, and home state, Indiana.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Jessica French | c 317.292.5608 | jessica.french@uwci.org
Bryn Eudy | c 812.390.1274 | beudy@voxglobal.com