Community Foundation of Western Mass. Awards CHD an Additional $75,000 in COVID-19 Support

Recognizing the agency’s role on the front lines of response to the continuing COVID-19 pandemic, the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts (CFWM) has pledged an additional $75,000 to CHD to support its work.

“It is with great pleasure that we inform you that your organization has been awarded a grant from the CFWM COVID-19 Response Fund,” said Jim Ayres, vice president for Programs and Strategy for the CWFM in his notification letter. “You are receiving this grant thanks in part to funding from the Massachusetts COVID-19 Relief Fund. The Massachusetts COVID-19 Relief Fund works in concert with regional community foundations and non-profit leaders to support those across the state most impacted by the COVID-19 health crisis, focusing on essential frontline workers and vulnerable populations including the homeless, immigrant populations, people with disabilities and those facing food insecurity.”

The recent gift brings total pandemic-related funding received by CHD from the Community Foundation to $100,000, including prior allocations of $15,000 to CHD and $10,000 to CHD’s Family Outreach of Amherst.

“This is an extraordinary contribution by the Community Foundation and by the Mass. COVID-19 Relief Fund to our mission and to our ability to continue safely serving people and families during this incredibly challenging time,” said Jim Goodwin, president and CEO of CHD. “Words cannot express how grateful we are for this support and this recognition of the essential nature of our services.”

“In these funds and their amazing support for organizations such as ours, we see how the Massachusetts statewide philanthropic and business communities have rallied to assist us in continuing to serve,” said Ben Craft, vice president of Community Engagement. “We particularly appreciate the contributions to these funds from businesses large and small, who face their own significant concerns yet still have stepped up to help.”

CHD last month established its own COVID-19 Emergency Fund, which to date has received over $24,000 in donations. “We are overwhelmed by the generosity of those who continue to invest in the success, safety and stability of the people, families and communities we care for,” said Craft.