Responding to the Pandemic

Grantee Spotlight, L.E. Phillips Career Development Center

The L.E. Phillips Career Development Center (CDC) has been in the Chippewa Valley for over 60 years, providing vocational services, employment opportunities, and community outreach services for individuals with disabilities and disadvantages.

In March 2020, we converted a portion of our upholstery department into mask making to combat the spread of COVID-19. Our goal at that time was to make and distribute 40,000 masks to our community members. CDC appreciates ECCF as well as all of the wonderful donations we have received in response to our production of face masks for distribution throughout the Chippewa Valley. In mid-September, we donated over 54,000 masks throughout the Chippewa Valley to area businesses and individual community members. Many support CDC, and it feels great to “give back” to our community when needed.

We will continue to be a resource for our community in slowing the spread of COVID-19. By the end of 2020, we anticipate that we will have made and distributed over 75,000 – 100,000 masks. Thank you for the positive response. Your Pho to: CDC emp loyees working from home to package single masks support and investment in our organization is incredible!

“Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success.”

– Henry Ford

Community Fund

Dozens of nonprofits work hard to improve Eau Claire’s quality of life. How do you choose which one to support? With the Community Fund, you don’t have to! A gift to this fund helps ECCF fund grant requests that address our area’s most pressing needs, whatever they may be.

The Community Fund’s support was especially important this year, when it was channeled into the Quick Response & Recovery Community Fund to address local nonprofits’ urgent needs.

In 2020, basic needs like food, shelter, and healthcare were especially crucial due to the pandemic, and many of the Community Fund-supported grants addressed them. However, it usually supports grants to nonprofits in all four ECCF giving categories: Create Culture, Form Futures, Give Green, and Offer Opportunities.

Gifts to the Community Fund not only help ensure that all Eau Claire residents have what they need to stay safe and healthy; they also help make Eau Claire the diverse and vibrant place we love.

23 Years of Impact

(Since Inception):

$306,743

Total Grants Distributed through 2020

133

Grants to Nonprofits 8 $350,240