Collage of COVID grantees carrying out their work during the pandemic

Week 8 Update: COVID-19 Response Funds

In partnership with our generous donors and supporters, Community Foundation for Southern Arizona has awarded more than $1.1 million in COVID-19 relief funding over the last two months. 

This week, we are pleased to announce our eighth round of COVID-19 Response Grants.  CFSA’s COVID-19 Response Grants provide general operating support to Pima County and Santa Cruz County nonprofits serving Arizona’s most vulnerable residents with a focus on providing basic human needs and access to healthcare.

In week eight, $84,200 was awarded to six organizations supporting access to healthy food, providing care packages to trans community members in need, helping vulnerable pets and pet families, and much more

“The Coronavirus crisis is seriously impacting our reservations and communities, showing us the urgent need to plant food in family and community gardens,” shared Andrea Carmen, Executive Director of International Indian Treaty Council. “The 4 Food Restoration Projects IITC is supporting are bringing together youth and elders from the Tohono and Yaqui reservations around Tucson, and collaborating with the Navajo and Hopi projects in Northern Arizona, to share seeds and the knowledge of our peoples about planting, growing and preparing traditional foods. We thank the  Community Foundation of Southern Arizona for recognizing the importance of these community projects in response to the pandemic and beyond as we work for a resilient future,” she continued.

“We were so excited to launch our Trans Care Packages program in response to the impact COVID-19 on our trans community regarding heightened levels of gender dysphoria, isolation, and economic hardship. However, we were faced with some uncertainty with how to sustain this program. After receiving an extremely generous gift from CFSA, we are now able to sustain our Trans Care Packages program for the next 6 months!” shared AJ Tiedman, Southern Arizona Gender Alliance’s Program Manager.

The effects of COVID-19 are far-reaching, impacting almost every aspect of life in Southern Arizona. Some people experiencing financial instability are being faced with the difficult decision of rehoming their family pets. “We are honored to be a recipient of a CFSA COVID-19 Response Fund grant,” said Friends of PAAC Board Chair, Tammi Barrick. “This generous gift will enable us to help pets stay with their families who may be struggling financially or even facing eviction due to the pandemic by aiding with temporary boarding. Thank you, CFSA, for caring for every member of our community and their pets, too.”