Atlanta-based foundations are stepping up in response to the local economic and health impacts of coronavirus.
Thursday, the Coca-Cola Foundation and the Woodruff Foundation both announced $5 million dollar investments to a local COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund.
United Way of Greater Atlanta and Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta created the fund to support some of metro Atlanta’s most vulnerable families.
“People are relying on nonprofit organizations for support and many of those nonprofits themselves are struggling around revenue and manpower,” United Way of Greater Atlanta CEO Milton Little said. “It’s got to be all hands on deck. It’s going to take philanthropy, it’s going to take ordinary citizens making a difference.”
The Community Foundation committed $1 million and United Way of Greater Atlanta contributed $500,000 to seed the fund.
Little says money donated will provide “crucial services to high-risk audiences including seniors, families with children who normally receive free or reduced meals at school, families in need of childcare, homeowners and renters at risk for eviction, and hourly/low-wage workers”.
“Food and housing are some of the top issues. These are basic needs that everyone needs to have covered, but there are so many other issues,” said Lita Pardi, vice president at the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta. “The magnitude of the gifts we have received so far sends a signal to everyone else that this pandemic is not something that we can work through quickly, with minimal support."
Individuals and families impacted and in need of support can contact United Way of Greater Atlanta’s 2-1-1 Contact Center by phone, chat, email or mobile app. Support is available 24-hours a day, all week long.
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