United Way begins grant funding to nonprofits

Published 1:30 am Wednesday, April 15, 2020

An effort to help local nonprofits during the worldwide novel coronavirus public health threat has grown by more than $50,000, thanks to community generosity.

The United Way of Clallam County has begun to grant funds from its COVID-19 Response Fund, monies collected to help minimize the financial impact of the coronavirus outbreak in communities across the North Olympic Peninsula.

The fund was started with $100,000 from the Clallam Community Foundation and has grown to more than $156,000 with donations from local businesses, residents and foundations in the greater Seattle area.

To date, United Way has granted 11 non-profit agencies a total of $70,700, according to Christy Smith, United Way of Clallam County’s Chief Executive Officer.

“Donations have helped to support the YMCA and Boys & Girls Club as they offer childcare, food banks in Port Angeles, Sequim and OlyCAP’s Senior meals programs, as well as basic needs for residents in western Clallam County to name just a few,” Smith said.

Depending on need, the fund is available to support nonprofits in a variety of ways, Smith said, from including (but not limited to) scholarships for childcare, food for food banks and other places providing free meals, and support for keeping people employed at nonprofits that are providing direct services.

Qualified non-profits can visit www.unitedwayclallam.org to apply for funding, or email to info@unitedway clallam.org for more information.

To donate to the United Way COVID-19 fund call 360-457-3011, go online to www.unitedwayclallam.org, or mail to: PO Box 937, Port Angeles, WA 98362.

All donations from this fund will be used to support local nonprofits who are focused on health and human service needs in the community, United Way representatives said.