COVID-19 Long Island Philanthropic Response Fund Provides Half a Million Dollars in Grants to Long Island-Based Nonprofits

Tuesday, April 21, 2020

COVID-19 Long Island Philanthropic Response Fund Provides Half a Million Dollars in Grants to Long Island-Based Nonprofits

Melville, NY April 21, 2020 – The COVID-19 Long Island Philanthropic Response Fund in the Long Island Community Foundation announced today that 36 Long Island-based health and human services organizations responding to the coronavirus health crisis have received grants.

“While the Coronavirus has affected all people across the country, its impact on communities of color, families with mixed immigration status, low-income workers, seniors, and people living in group homes have been profound,” says David Okorn, Executive Director, Long Island Community Foundation. “Beyond the health impacts, communities of color are disproportionately affected by the interconnected economic crisis, with a large percentage of these residents losing their jobs. These communities are the least equipped to withstand these economic hardships. As a result, we are making grants to nonprofits on the front lines addressing the needs of vulnerable populations. As the needs are much greater than our current resources, we are requesting contributions to the Fund.”

“The Claire Friedlander Family Foundation responded immediately to support the COVID-19 Long Island Philanthropic Response Fund. We are proud to join with other foundations as a unified front to direct emergency funding to our vulnerable and essential nonprofits on Long Island,” said Peter J. Klein, CFA, President, The Claire Friedlander Family Foundation.

“Long Island was the beloved home of Amy and Horace and they did a lot to make sure others were able to enjoy it as much as they did. Our family is proud to continue their legacy and commitment to this region, especially when there is such dire need.” – Advisors of the Horace and Amy Hagedorn Fund

The Long Island Community Foundation established the COVID-19 Philanthropic Response Fund to increase and coordinate philanthropic resources in order to support emergent and critical health and human service needs of the region’s most vulnerable, and the nonprofits that are on the front line of this crisis. This resource is the only pooled fund in the region supporting the nonprofit sector. The Fund was launched on March 31st in partnership with Actor/Director Billy Baldwin, The Claire Friedlander Family Foundation, Greentree Foundation, Horace and Amy Hagedorn Fund, Long Island Community Foundation (LICF), Rauch Foundation and many other donors. Over the past weeks, the fund has grown to over $1 million dollars thanks to the contributions of foundations, corporations, and individuals, including the NYS Health Foundation, Apple Bank, JM Kaplan, Fred and Gilda Nobel Foundation, Sandy River Charitable Foundation, and other donors from our family of funds...