Additional $320,000 Disbursed through Kankakee and Iroquois County COVID-19 Community Response Fund
From the Community Foundation of Kankakee River Valley and United Way of Kankakee & Iroquois Counties
KANKAKEE, IL (Tuesday, June 2, 2020) – The Kankakee and Iroquois Counties COVID-19 Community Response Fund announced today it has distributed an additional $320,000 to 17 organizations serving Kankakee and Iroquois counties.
The fund established by the United Way of Kankakee and Iroquois Counties and the Community Foundation of Kankakee River Valley also announced it has raised more than $650,000 since its launch in late March, including a $200,000 grant from the Illinois COVID-19 Response Fund in late May. With this most recent round of funding, the Kankakee and Iroquois Counties Response Fund has made grants of $570,000 to 30 unique organizations.
“The past two months have, in many ways, transformed our lives and our community. Yet, in such a challenging time, I’ve found myself filled with great hope and inspiration. Our community has truly rallied and come together quickly to respond,” said Kerstin Rust, Executive Director of United Way of Kankakee & Iroquois Counties.
The most recent grant recipients from the fund are:
- The Baby Fold
- Compassionate Ministries, Center of Hope
- Easterseals
- Good Shepherd Manor
- Kankakee Area YMCA
- Kankakee YWCA
- Kankakee County Community Services, Inc.
- Kankakee County Youth Intervention Agency
- Kankakee School District Health Clinic
- Living Alternatives Pregnancy Resource Center
- Northern Illinois Food Bank
- Pembroke Farming Family Association/Run-Away Buckers
- Pembroke Public Library
- P-Jay’s House
- Spanish Community Center
- Thresholds
- Youth for Christ Life Center
“We all have a role to play in ensuring our community remains strong. We are grateful for our community’s support and partnership. Our local response fund is an example of what can be achieved through working together,” said Nicole Smolkovich, Executive Director of the Community Foundation of Kankakee River Valley. “Together, we have been able to pool resources to efficiently get dollars where they are needed most.”
Donations can be made with a credit or debit card by visiting www.myunitedway.org or at www.cfkrv.org and click on DONATE. Checks can also be mailed and made out to The Community Foundation of Kankakee River Valley at 701 S Harrison Ave, Kankakee, IL 60901. Please reference “COVID-19 Fund”.
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About United Way of Kankakee and Iroquois Counties
United Way of Kankakee and Iroquois Counties is a nonprofit organization that unites people and resources to build a stronger community. United Way invests in over 40 programs at 23 agencies to support education, health and financial stability for residents in Kankakee and Iroquois Counties. Since 1941, United Way has been governed by a local volunteer board of directors. All funding decisions are made locally. For more information, visit www.myunitedway.org.
About Community Foundation of Kankakee River Valley
The Community Foundation is a not-for-profit organization that builds over time, substantial endowment funds for the community. It seeks to bring together individuals and organizations to identify and understand community issues and grant-making opportunities to enhance the quality of life in Kankakee and Iroquois Counties today and for future generations. For more information, visit www.cfkrv.org.