Blue Cross Foundation Announces Latest COVID-19 Disaster Grants

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Foundation has made $3.1 M in grants to 70 Louisiana nonprofits since March

Since mid-March, the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana Foundation has granted more than $3.1 million to 70 nonprofits across the state working to meet the needs of communities in response to COVID-19.

Efforts supported through Foundation grant funding include:

  • $1 million for providing food to kids, financially insecure families and seniors
  • $160,000 to support healthcare needs, including securing critical supplies for providers, connecting individuals to care and mental health resources
  • $780,000 to provide support for direct economic support funds, housing assistance and keeping families financially stable
  • $630,000 for regional groups organizing disaster response in communities across Louisiana, and support of nonprofits through community relief funds operated by local community foundations

Michael Tipton, president of the Foundation, adds that the Foundation recently began supporting additional important efforts.

“Initially, we were focused on tangible, immediate, life-sustaining needs like access to housing and food. More recently, we’ve started investing in mental health services, response services for victims of abuse and neglect, and a few other areas that let us address needs becoming critical during this ongoing crisis,” he said.

The Foundation plans to continue making grants to nonprofits as funds allow and as the need persists, Tipton added. The Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana Foundation board has made a total of $5 million available to date for COVID-19 disaster grant funding.

About Community Crisis and Disaster Response Grants

The Foundation has set up a grant fund of $5 million for nonprofits meeting the needs of Louisianians who have been affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. The first $3.1 million has been awarded, but nonprofits are invited and encouraged to apply for the remaining grant fund. Qualifying work can include immediate needs like food, clothing, shelter, and meeting household expenses. Grants can also be used to meet more long-term needs such as ongoing patient education and care navigation, economic recovery efforts and more.

Community Crisis and Disaster Response are up to $50,000 and grants are made as general operating support – which means nonprofits can be flexible in their approach to solving problems for their communities.

The Foundation continues to process grant applications daily. The full request for proposals, as well as the application for the grant program are online at http://www.bcbslafoundation.org/disastergrants

About the Blue Cross Foundation

The Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana Foundation works each day to improve the health and lives of Louisianians by empowering everyday people to do extraordinary good. By building and funding coalitions of friends, families and neighbors, the Foundation hopes to build a healthier Louisiana, particularly for its children. The Foundation is funded solely by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana, but is a separate 501(c)(3) nonprofit entity. Together, Blue Cross and the Blue Cross Foundation invest $3.5 million each year into Louisiana’s communities and nonprofits.

The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association is an association of 35 independent, locally operated Blue Cross and/or Blue Shield companies.