HOLLAND (WHTC-AM/FM) — Community Foundation of the Holland/Zeeland Area (CFHZ) officials have announced a new community stabilization fund in response to the effects of COVID-19.
The new fund will focus on three areas of prioritized investment for the rest of 2020: financial stability, health, and education, with the intention of preventing people from slipping into poverty.
The fund will provide grants for food, housing, and other basic needs supports, as well as access to mental health and substance abuse services, and helping people retain health insurance access.
Money set aside for education will focus on fixing the educational opportunity gap, which is growing for children already struggling before the pandemic.
“Never before has our community experienced such a convergence of crises as the ones we are currently navigating,” said Elizabeth Kidd, vice president of community impact, in a statement emailed to media. “By thoughtfully deploying our Community’s Endowment, alongside generous contributions from local individuals, we can support efforts to address the gaps and keep the Holland/Zeeland area strong.”
The initial $200,000 in seed money for the fund is from the Community’s endowment.
Several area families and corporations joined the effort, bringing the total to $800,000.
CFHZ officials say pahilanthropy will play an important role in recovery from COVID-19’s affects.
Officials are asking for more donations, which can be made online at: www.cfhz.org/stabilizationfund, by mailing a check to the Community Foundation’s office, or by calling 616-396-6590.
“When we launched the Emergency Human Needs Fund we knew it would be only a short-term response, and that a plan for the remainder of 2020 would be needed once we had a better picture of the impact of this crisis,” said Mike Goorhouse, president and CEO. “Now we know what a significant portion of the federal stimulus response is going to be, and we have had the opportunity to gather information and insight from our community partners about the local areas of greatest need. Conversations with key donors and supporters have shown us this is the right time to transition into the next phase of our response: The Community Stabilization Fund. This is about CFHZ, alongside our amazing supporters, upholding our commitment to proactively respond to the community’s needs now and in the future.”
