Foundation Response: Additional COVID-19 Relief Funds Awarded

April 24, 2020

Wednesday, April 22, 2020

The Rees-Jones Foundation COVID-19 Response

During this time of need, The Rees-Jones Foundation remains committed to the North Texas community. To address urgent needs, The Foundation has invited nonprofit organizations in North Texas who are serving the vulnerable population most impacted by COVID-19 to submit a request for funding. 50 requests have been received and are under consideration as of April 22, 2020.

The Foundation continues to work closely with its board to ensure that request decisions on urgent requests are timely and based on the evolving needs of the community.

In addition to The Foundation’s own grant making, The Foundation is collaborating with other foundations and funding organizations through the North Texas Cares initiative. This funder collaborative is providing support to organizations that work with people and communities who may be most negatively affected by COVID-19.

The Foundation has awarded the following additional 11 grants:

Ability Connection – $50,000

Their mission is to enrich the lives of people with intellectual and physical disabilities through comprehensive, life changing care, training and support.

Funding will offset expenses incurred in response to COVID-19 including the purchase of personal protective equipment, medical supplies, food, and additional staff. Ability Connection closed their training center and shifted those staff members into support roles within their group homes to better serve their residents around the clock.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Tarrant County – $100,000

Their mission is to enable all young people, especially those who need them most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens.

Funding will support the Boys & Girls Club initiative to provide food to families throughout Tarrant County. In addition to alleviating the overwhelming demand for food, Boys & Girls Club is providing educational activity kits to kids to keep them active and engaged. The mentor staff is continuing youth engagement virtually on a regular basis.

Brother Bill’s Helping Hand – $25,000

Their mission is to help the community overcome the challenges of generational poverty. They provide food, clothing and spiritual encouragement to those neighbors in need.

Funding will support Brother Bill’s food pantry, which serves as a key general assistance provider for the West Dallas community and beyond. The food pantry usually provides about 800 families with 100 pounds of food goods each month. As a result of COVID-19, Brother Bill’s projects serving an additional 300 families each month. Funding will provide the additional resources to support their expanded food delivery.

Center for Transforming Lives – $75,000

Their mission is to lift women and children from poverty to possibility through homeless services, early childhood education, and economic mobility.

Funding will support childcare for parents deemed essential workers, as the Center remains open at this time. Additionally, funding will provide critical items such as household essentials, hygiene items, diapers, and more to families just out of homelessness. For clients who have lost their jobs due to COVID-19, the Center is providing rental assistance and case managers are linking those clients to unemployment services as available.

Cornerstone Community Development – $25,000

Their mission is to reach people and spread the word of Jesus Christ, and serve people in a Christ-like way.

Funding will enable Cornerstone to support more homeless community members in Southern Dallas with essential services. Their clothing closet and shower program remain open, and their kitchen continues to provide 1,700 meals each week. Due to school closures, Cornerstone has witnessed an influx of children during their lunchtime meal service.

Mosaic Family Services – $25,000

Their mission is to support, educate, and empower the multicultural individuals and families of North Texas. They are dedicated to serving survivors of human rights abuses from around the world and within the community.

Funds will support the emergency shelter’s ability to continue operating at full capacity through the purchase of supplies, food, and supplemental child-related learning materials. Due to the shelter-in-place order, the shelter is incurring additional expenses as they care for their residents 24/7. Mosaic continues to provide case management and a safe environment to survivors of domestic violence.

My Possibilities – $50,000

Their mission is to provide people with cognitive disabilities the chance to continue their education. My Possibilities provides vocational skills, socialization opportunities, trade skills, and independent living skills to HIPsters (Highly Important People) that give them the chance to live the life they deserve.

Funding will support their shift to online programming, which will enable My Possibilities to continue supporting skill development and learning for their clients with developmental disabilities as well as needed speech therapy. Additionally, funds will go toward the purchase of critically needed personal and hygiene items for their 11 group residence homes.

Network of Community Ministries – $20,000

Their mission is to care, coach and empower their neighbor in need as they seek an improved quality of life.

Funding will support their expanded food distribution in the Richardson area. Through their partnership with Richardson ISD, an additional 1,500 boxes of food will be provided to families in need. The demand for food is projected to double due to lost jobs and other difficulties related to COVID-19.

Paws for Reflection – $25,000

Their mission is to provide a healing, educational, motivational, and recreational environment utilizing equine and other animal assisted therapies and experiences to enhance the quality of life for all clients, and to provide a loving home, whether temporary or permanent, for animals that meet a specific criteria.

Funding will supplement the care of their farm and companion animals that assist with mental health counseling and therapies. Funds will also support the clinicians who have transitioned to providing uninterrupted counseling services via tele-health to their clients as well as first-responders.

Union Gospel Mission Center of Hope – $25,000

Their mission is to transform lives to end homelessness one person at a time. They provide food, shelter, clothing, transportation, job readiness training, counseling, healthcare, temporary housing, and affordable housing to those in need.

Funding will enable Union Gospel Mission to continue operating their shelter at full capacity for the 125 women and children seeking refuge. Due to the shelter-in-place ordinance, the organization is incurring additional expenses related to additional security, staff and meals, as well as learning resources for children out of school, and childcare for infants and toddlers.

YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas – $60,000

Their mission is to put Christian values into practice through programs that build a healthy spirit, mind and body for all. The Y states that their impact is felt when an individual makes a healthy choice, when a mentor inspires a child and when a community comes together for the common good.

Funding will support the Y’s childcare initiative. Seven of the Y’s branches in Dallas have reopened to act as childcare sites for essential workers, first-responders, public servants and supply chain staff. Funds will offset the expenses incurred as a result of proper social distancing and increased safety protocols.