VALLEY FOUNDATIONS AND UNITED WAYS COORDINATE RESPONSE TO COVID-19

Rather than respond to the COVID-19 crisis in isolation, our local foundations and United Ways are working collectively to support Mahoning Valley nonprofits and residents.

Six local funders—The Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley, Mercy Health Foundation of Mahoning Valley, The Raymond John Wean Foundation, United Way of Trumbull County, United Way of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley, The Youngstown Foundation—pledge to leverage resources, informational and monetary, to strengthen investments made to address COVID-19 and its impact on Valley residents.

While our organizations each have established priorities and funding guidelines, we are all committed to coordinating efforts. Organization leaders will convene weekly to share information, communicate emerging needs and grant decisions and collaborate on project funding when possible. This expanded communication is intended to ensure donations are distributed efficiently and will increase the impact of each contribution.

Many agencies and nonprofits are being challenged as they face increased needs from their current clients and an influx of new individuals and families seeking help. First steps for this funding partnership include gathering information from local agencies and individuals on the impact of this virus and its consequences. Assessing the immediate, short-term (2-6 weeks out) and long-term needs of the community, we will work together to respond to those identified critical needs and continue to reassess as this virus presents new challenges almost on an hourly basis.

Several partners have established COVID-19 funds and any donations to support those funds and increase the power of subsequent community investments are welcome. Links to donation pages are listed at the bottom of this page.

The novel coronavirus, or COVID-19, has taken the nation by surprise and called on Mahoning Valley residents to support one another. This funding partnership and the coordination of our foundations and United Ways will further strengthen that support and our community’s ability to overcome each obstacle we encounter.

Shari Harrell, The Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley
Paul Homick, Mercy Health Foundation Mahoning Valley
Jennifer Roller, The Raymond John Wean Foundation
Ginny Pasha, United Way of Trumbull County
Bob Hannon, United Way of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley
Jan Strasfeld, The Youngstown Foundation

If you are looking to make a donation, there are various ways you can invest your dollars back into the community:

The Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley
https://www.cfmv.org/response-fund/

Mercy Health Foundation
https://foundation.mercy.com/youngstown/give.aspx?from=/youngstown.aspx

United Way of Trumbull County
https://www.unitedwaytrumbull.org/covid-19-relief-fund
or Text TRUMBULL to 41444

United Way of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley
https://www.ymvunitedway.org/covid-19-response-fund/
or Text COVID19 to 313131

The Youngstown Foundation
https://www.youngstownfoundation.org/give/donate-now.aspx

Any questions, please call Roxann Sebest, United Way of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley, at 330-746-8494 or you can directly contact any of the above organizations.