More Than 30 Nonprofits Awarded Funding to Provide Relief to Long Beach Residents

The City of Long Beach, in partnership with the Long Beach Community Foundation, has raised more than $1,000,000 from members of the community, businesses and family foundations to address coronavirus-related issues in Long Beach. Approximately half of the amount raised has already been granted into the community to address the current public health crisis, and the momentum continues this week with updated priority funding announced.

“Long Beach residents, businesses, and foundations have risen to the occasion to help our city during this health crisis,” said Mayor Robert Garcia. “We are seeing unprecedented levels of compassion during these difficult times and I am so proud of the work that is being done through the non-profits to support our community.”

The Coronavirus Relief Fund began accepting donations on March 18, via credit card, text-to-give, PayPal and check contributions from public donors. The Long Beach Community Foundation promptly began collecting donations while simultaneously developing a program to distribute the funds quickly back into the community to support five defined funding priorities which include:

• Serving low-income individuals affected by COVID-19 to pay for critical expenses;
• Microloans and/or funds to small businesses affected by COVID-19 to pay for critical expenses and adapt business models during this crisis;
• Providing emergency funds for workers laid off as a result of COVID-19;
• Providing assistance to individuals experiencing homelessness for sheltering, food, sanitation supplies to mitigate the spread COVID-19, and to quarantine as a result of COVID-19 exposure, and
• Providing food and critical supply delivery to those who are home-bound.

Additional funding priorities were added this week to continue to support the most pressing current needs in Long Beach:

• Support for Emergency Health Workers – Grants to nonprofits who can assist community clinics and hospitals responding to increased patient flow, triaging those who are sick, exposed or in need of testing, and to support isolation and quarantine sites being established and operated in Long Beach.
• Support for Mental Health & Domestic Violence Sheltering – Grants to nonprofits who will support existing mental health and domestic violence services that need to expand due to increased demand from impacts of the coronavirus.

“While Federal and State assistance programs were being developed, the Long Beach Community Foundation set into motion both a funding stream and a process for quick deployment of resources,” said Long Beach Community Foundation President & CEO Marcelle Epley. “Careful advanced planning, an in-depth knowledge of the community and its nonprofits helped launch this program efficiently, which is benefiting thousands of Long Beach residents right now where the need is the greatest.”

More than $475,000 has been distributed to 31 nonprofits that are keeping families fed, sheltering people experiencing homelessness, providing key resources to businesses and supporting fragile populations quarantined during this public health crisis. Individual organizations are awarded up to $20,000 each, and the grant application process will be available for as long as funding allows.

To make a contribution:

• Text: Text “SupportLB” to 501-55 and follow the prompts to donate.
• PayPal:Use PayPal online or the smartphone application to @SupportLB.
• Credit Card:Visitorg to fill out the secure online form.
• Check:Check donations may be mailed to Long Beach Community Foundation, 400 Oceangate, Suite 800, Long Beach, CA 90802. Please write Long Beach Coronavirus Relief Fund in the memo section of your check.

For the latest information on COVID-19, with details on all that the City of Long Beach is doing to keep our residents safe, visit: longbeach.gov/COVID19