PARTNERS IN PROGRESS

Since February, Grand Rapids Community Foundation’s Board of Trustees has approved $2,039,000 in grant partnerships, thanks to the generosity of our donor partners. Funds to support these gifts have come from the Fund for Community Good, Field of Interest Funds and our Kent County COVID-19 Recovery Fund. These partnerships with local nonprofits support our community in many ways.

BAXTER COMMUNITY CENTER, $400,000

For 50 years, Baxter Community Center has provided quality services and met critical needs of Baxter neighborhood residents. This grant is awarded to maximize organizational potential and secure a sustainable future of service to our community.

FAMILY OUTREACH CENTER, $50,000

This grant partnership supports Family Outreach Center’s high demand for culturally responsive mental health services to children and adults. These services are for people who are uninsured or underinsured, which is critical, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

GRAND RAPIDS URBAN LEAGUE, $150,000

Grand Rapids Urban League is an anchor institution providing trusted employment, youth development and health education supports in communities of color. This grant partnership helps them continue critical operations while they leverage their relationships to provide culturally responsive services related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

HEART OF WEST MICHIGAN UNITED WAY, $50,000

This grant partnership supports the Kent County Coronavirus Response Fund, developed to meet immediate needs related to the COVID-19 pandemic, such as housing, food and shelter.

HISPANIC CENTER OF WESTERN MICHIGAN, $25,000

This grant partnership supports multilingual translation and interpretation services. These help all community members access critical information about minimizing exposure to and spreading COVID-19, as well as other resources.

HISPANIC CENTER OF WESTERN MICHIGAN, $25,000

This grant helps fund back office support so the Hispanic Center can do financial due diligence and distribute funds for La Lucha Fund (described below).

INSTITUTE OF UBUNTU, $200,000

A grant partnership with Black Impact Collective supports their exploration of seven impact areas for the immediate and postCOVID-19 recovery for Black and African American people living in greater-Grand Rapids.

KCONNECT, $10,000

KConnect is a public, private and nonprofit sectors collaboration created to dissolve systemic inequity across the prenatal to career continuum, while improving outcomes for all. This grant partnership supports developing a comprehensive community plan to address housing insecurity and racialized disparities in Kent County.

KENT SCHOOL SERVICES NETWORK, $500,000

KSSN creates the supports necessary for a community school model that ensures student access to physical health, mental health and human services within their schools. This grant partnership helps major community health and human service providers address basic needs, so students are ready to learn.

LA LUCHA FUND, $100,000

This grant partnership provided seed funding for La Lucha Fund. The fund was developed in light of the COVID-19 pandemic to provide direct financial support to people who are undocumented or families who are mixed status in Kent County. The fund was developed through a partnership between Movimiento Cosecha, Grand Rapids Area Mutual Aid Network and LatinxGR.

RENDE PROGRESS CAPITAL, $250,000

This grant partnership supports Rende Progress Capital as they offer flexible capital for excluded entrepreneurs facing the economic consequences of COVID-19.

SAMARITAS, $100,000

Samaritas provides many services to help older adults of any income level to age at home with dignity. This grant partnership supports a new 53-unit affordable living community for older adults in Grand Rapids.

STEEPLETOWN NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES, $10,000

Steepletown is committed to diversity, equity and inclusion. This grant partnership will help them explore new approaches for delivering preschool, workforce education and other critical services now that they may no longer lease church space. They are transitioning to become an independent entity that primarily serves communities of color in urban West Side neighborhoods.

UNITED METHODIST COMMUNITY HOUSE, $10,000

This grant will help United Methodist Community House grow and adapt its programs and operations to best service families in the heart of Grand Rapids.

WEST MICHIGAN HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FOUNDATION, $150,000

The pandemic disproportionately affects communities of color, so supporting them is critical for an equitable economic recovery in Kent County. This grant partnership leverages the Hispanic Chamber’s trusted relationships to help Latinx owned businesses navigate COVID-19’s economic consequences.

WOMEN’S RESOURCE CENTER, $9,000

This grant partnership will help Women’s Resource Center find a more centralized location with more room for flexible programming. Relocating will help Women’s Resource Center meet a growing demand for services.

Nonprofit Partner Spotlight: Family Outreach Center

Dr. Veneese V. Chandler, Family Outreach Center executive director and CEO

The COVID-19 pandemic is magnifying deep and historic racial inequities, which can result in elevated anxiety for people of color. Anxiety levels can also be increased due to race-based trauma, triggered by the coverage of police brutality against Black people or the backlash to racial uprisings. While mental health services are always critical, the demand for these services is rising.

Family Outreach Center is a leading organization in delivering culturally responsive mental health services to children and adults who are uninsured or underinsured.

“The COVID-19 pandemic further complicates the life and functioning of these underserved populations by raising anxiety levels, which negatively affects their mental health and overall sense of well-being,” said Dr. Veneese V. Chandler, FOC executive director and CEO. “Awareness of the challenges and disparities that already exist for these populations, helps Family Outreach Center deliver the appropriate interventions and support during this critical time.”

As the pandemic surfaced in West Michigan, FOC quickly and successfully transitioned their programming to meet emerging needs. They offer telehealth services and maintain a limited amount of office hours for access to doctors and emergency supports. They have a culturally diverse staff and offer services in English and Spanish.

FOC aligns with the Community Foundation’s priority to offer health and vital services in communities of color, so our Board of Trustees approved a $50,000 grant partnership in April. The grant will be matched nearly 1:1 from federal dollars through Medicaid Outreach. “Partnering with the Community Foundation helps FOC to ensure that those most at risk receive the culturally relevant treatment needed. Family Outreach Center has been able to continue providing essential counseling services that make a difference for adults, children and low income populations,” Dr. Chandler said.

Fear and anxiety about a disease can be overwhelming. If you, or people you care about, are feeling overwhelmed with emotions, call Family Outreach Center at 616.247.3815.