Sarah Tucci
Special to Treasure Coast Newspapers USA TODAY NETWORK – FLORIDA
INDIAN RIVER COUNTY – United Way of Indian River County and a coalition of philanthropic partners have joined to raise over $1 million for the COVID-19 Community Response Fund.
United Way has been a trusted organization in Indian River County for nearly 60 years with a wide network of partners and community leaders who embrace and support the collective impact model. UWIRC is uniquely positioned to process and deploy funds quickly and efficiently to provide support to local organizations year round and in times of crisis.
It is because of these roots in the community that in just over one month, the fund has raised more than $1 million from generous foundations, corporate partners, and individual donors.
United Way of Indian River County COO Meredith Egan, Indian River Community Foundation CEO Jeff Pickering, and John’s Island Community Service League president Hope Woodhouse. DENISE RITCHIE
United Way of Indian River County is grateful for the support of the John’s Island Community Service League and an anonymous donor who pledged a matching challenge up to a total of $250,000. Other major contributors include Bank of America, Florida Power and Light, Grand Harbor Community Outreach Program, Head, Heart, and Hands of Indian River Club, Indian River Community Foundation, John’s Island Foundation, M& T Bank, Professional Advisory Services, Truist Foundation, Vero Beach Rotary Charities Foundation, and well over 225 generous individual donors.
To date, more than $400,000 in grant monies has been distributed to 21 local organizations, including the Treasure Coast Homeless Services Council, United Against Poverty, the Economic Opportunities Council, the Treasure Coast Food Bank, and the Veterans Council of Indian River County. With this additional funding these community based organizations can continue to provide essential programs and services such as rent, utilities, food and meal distribution, veteran and senior services, and many other essential needs to individuals and families affected by this pandemic. “We can think of no greater priority today than for us, as a community, to ensure that the basic needs of all our friends and neighbors are being met,” said
Meredith Egan, COO of United Way of Indian River County. “It is important for our community’s health and
for our community’s character, that this is the time to show up for people in need. We are grateful that our
community heard the call to action and immediately responded.”
The ongoing support of the COVID-19 Community Response Fund has allowed UWIRC to respond to emerging needs, and to be prepared for the days and weeks ahead. In order to ensure on -hundred percent of dollars raised during this crisis are directly serving the most vulnerable in our community, UWIRC is underwriting all administrative costs associated with raising and distributing these funds.
For a complete list of funded agency partners, local resources, or to donate to this fund, visit UnitedWayIRC.org. For immediate assistance, please dial 2-1-1. United Way of Indian River County fights for the health, education, and financial stability of every community member by working with local programs to provide resources to individuals and families in crisis today, while working year-round to improve community conditions and create lasting solutions.
For more information call 772-567-8900 or visit UnitedWayIRC.org.
“We can think of no greater priority today than for us, as a community, to ensure that the basic needs of all our friends and neighbors are being met.”
Meredith Egan – Chief operating officer, United Way of Indian River County
