Collage of COVID grantees carrying out their work during the pandemic

Week 13: COVID-19 Response Grants

In partnership with our generous donors and supporters, Community Foundation for Southern Arizona has awarded more than $1.6 million in COVID-19 relief funding to our nonprofit partners in Southern Arizona.

We are pleased to announce our thirteenth round of COVID-19 Response Grants.

In week thirteen, $49,866 was awarded to three organizations to provide meals and grocery gift cards to immunocompromised community members, support community transformation efforts for seniors and disabled adults, and expand access to education for adult literacy students.

“We serve a vulnerable population of people living with HIV, complicated by extremely high levels of poverty and food insecurity,” shared TIHAN Executive Director, Scott Blades. “Most of the people we serve are over the age of 50 and have underlying health conditions, in addition to HIV.  The majority of our clients living with HIV, or CarePartners, are people of color, and almost 60% identify as LGBTQ+. This grant from the Community Foundation for Southern Arizona will allow us to provide two months of food support to more than 200 of our HIV clients who are most impacted by hunger. Thank you, CFSA, for providing such an incredible response to the needs we see and the programs we’ve established to make a difference,” continued Blades.

The Thrive in the 05 project works closely with vulnerable populations, including seniors and disabled adults who live at Tucson House and in the Old Pascua community to support transformation efforts for community members. As of one of the most impoverished areas of Pima County, this project supports the 85705 zip code with community-based crime reduction, workforce and economic development, and housing, and more.

Literacy Connects serves adults unable to access services due to low literacy, limited English, or a lack of a high school diploma. A Literacy Connects student from Turkey recently shared, “I am really happy that the classes are not being canceled due to this ongoing pandemic. Learning with an online platform has allowed me to continue learning English and how to use Zoom.”  Grants Manager Melisa Woodhall said, “This grant is helping ensure that hundreds of adults in our community can continue their education during, and in the wake of, the COVID-19 pandemic.”