MOLINE, ILLINOIS (April 9, 2020) — To meet the needs of people living in western Illinois dealing with the COVID-19 crisis, four local funders have announced a Rapid Response Fund with immediate assistance of $325,000 distributed this week. A portion of the funding has been given to the area from the Illinois COVID-19 Response Fund established and funded by over 2,000 corporate and private Illinois-based Foundations and generous donors through a partnership with the Alliance of Illinois Community Foundation and the United Way of Illinois in collaboration with the Office of the Governor.
Along with their generous donors, The Moline Foundation, The Rock Island Community Foundation, The Doris and Victor Day Foundation, and The East Moline Community Fund have united to provide funding of $200,000 to two groups working with critical food-access and those needs of senior citizens living in Rock Island, Henry, Mercer, Warren, Henderson, and McDonough Counties in western Illinois.
The River Bend Foodbank assists with food access in 23 counties in western Illinois and eastern Iowa; including the six counties listed above. With the current crisis, the River Bend Foodbank has developed a delivery system that allows people to continue sheltering in place while receiving food and supplies to meet the possible needs of over 270,000 citizens in western Illinois.
Alternatives for Older Adults also serves people in the six identified counties working with senior citizens to assist them with their most critical and basic needs of rent, utility bills, health-care, and food. With offices and staff in Moline, Kewanee, Galesburg, and Macomb, Alternatives for Older Adults is already assisting a vulnerable population of those citizens aged 60 and above. In Rock Island County, over 60 non-profit organizations have formed a partnership to determine emergency needs which is administered through Supplemental Emergency Assistance Program (SEAP) and Alternatives for Older Adults.
Additional funding of $125,000 has also be distributed to the following organizations:
1. County Health Departments in Rock Island, Henry, Mercer, Warren, Henderson, and McDonough counties will receive $18,000 to provide Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for their outreach staff and first-responders in their communities.
2. All public schools in Rock Island County will receive $1,000 to provide at-home school supplies for their students learning from home during the COVID Pandemic.
3. Three Illinois Quad Cities school districts have been given the following funds to assist with at-home supplies and learning tools for education at home:
Rock Island School District N° 41 $15,000
Moline School District N° 40 $15,000
East Moline School District N° 37 $5,000
4. Transitions, Rock Island, Illinois has received funding of $2,000 for mental health program assistance.
5. Community Health Care, Moline, Illinois has received funding of $50,000 for health services and Curbside Care for all residents in Rock Island County.
In this unprecedented time of need, if you would like to assist in helping others with a charitable donation to the local Rapid Response Fund, please contact Paul Plagenz at 563-508-0170 or contribute online at www.molinefoundation.org.
Checks may also be mailed to:
The Moline Foundation The Rock Island Community Foundation
1601 River Drive, Suite 201 1800 3rd Avenue Suite 302
Moline, IL 61265 Rock Island, IL 61201
Paul Plagenz, President/CEO, The Moline Foundation, said “On behalf of our generous donors, we join our local funding partners in helping those who are most impacted by this crisis. We hope this first distribution from our joint Rapid Response Fund provides a sense of security for our residents and non-profit partners. We will continue to work with our network of those assisting others in the region identify funding priorities.”
Dave Geenen, Executive Director, The Doris and Victor Day Foundation, said, “The Board of Directors believes in the philosophy of strong partnerships and collaboration. Adding funds to the Illinois COVID-19 Relief Fund will provide relief to our region and to partners who are on the front lines of meeting need. We are grateful for the leadership of this Illinois Community Foundation coalition.”
“The Rock Island Community Foundation has always worked to benefit our neighbors in our city. Our Board of Directors quickly stepped up to work with our fellow funders in this time of great need," said Gary Rowe, Executive Director, The Rock Island Community Foundation.
“With The East Moline Community Fund, we always put people first. Helping our friends and neighbors is our number one priority. We are grateful for our partnership with The Moline Foundation and their continuing leadership in helping others along with other local funders,” said Bob Baecke, Chairman, The East Moline Community Fund Board of Directors.
Information about The Four Local Funders
The Moline Foundation, founded in 1953, is a community foundation which provides assistance to benefit health, human services, education, community development, the arts, and other charitable organizations which help the citizens of Moline and the surrounding area, including the Quad Cities region. The Moline Foundation receives and administers charitable gifts in Scott County, Iowa, and Rock Island, Henry, Mercer, Warren, Henderson, and McDonough counties in Illinois. www.molinefoundation.org.
Fully-funded by Doris and Victor Day, of Rock Island, principal owners of Bear Manufacturing in 1986 with the instructions that the interest of the principal be used to make the Quad Cities a better place, The Doris and Victor Day Foundation has distributed more than $21 million to non-profit charities in Rock Island (IL) and Scott (IA) Counties. Members of the board are William Stengel Pr, Stacie Fidlar, Kai Swanson, Daniel Fetes, and John Phillips. www.dayfoundation.org
Founded in 1967, The Rock Island Community Foundation‘s mission is to enhance the general welfare of the citizens of Rock Island. The Foundation has assets of more than $4 million and has made grants of more than $2 million to nonprofit organizations that serve the people of our city. www.rockislandcommunityfoundation.org
For the past decade, The East Moline Community Fund has dedicated itself to serving the needs of their friends and neighbors throughout the region. A dedicated group of volunteers accepts gifts and distributes funding though an affiliation with The Moline Foundation. www.eastmolinecf.org
