BETTENDORF, IOWA (March 12, 2021) Nearly a year into the pandemic, United Way Quad Cities awarded $109,528 to 11 local non-profits helping to meet residents’ emerging and evolving needs related to their education, income, and health.

The third distribution of United Way’s COVID-19 Rebuilding Fund grants provides resources for families to receive mental-health support, women to find stable employment after a COVID-related layoff, and students and at-risk youth to receive remote learning support or mentoring.

“In one way or another, this pandemic has impacted everyone — and even a year in, many Quad Citizens are struggling to meet their basic needs,” said Rene Gellerman, United Way Quad Cities president and CEO.

“The disruption to our education, income and health is felt deeply by our neighbors and children in ways that will have long-term effects on the Quad Cities. But, as demonstrated by our nonprofit partners, now is the time to get our community on the path to recovery.”

The 11 recipients include:

  • Alternatives: $9,000; successful transitions from hospital to home for older adults during COVID-19;
  • Argrow's House: $10,000; mental-health counselor;
  • Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Mississippi Valley: $5,000; direct expenses to adjust operations for mentoring program;
  • Clock Inc: $5,000; mental-health support;
  • Davenport Community School District: $13,463; contact-tracing efforts;
  • Dress for Success Quad Cities: $14,875; provide skills and resources for women impacted by COVID-19-related layoffs;
  • Family Resources Inc: $15,000; increased shelter costs;
  • One Eighty: $6,465; in-person tutoring;
  • QC Haven of Hope: $1,575; increased shelter costs;
  • Quad Cities Community Broadcasting Group: $15,000; public-service announcements for COVID relief-awareness;
  • YouthHope: $10,000; remote learning support for at-risk youth.

“Nonprofit partners like the COVID-19 fund recipients, donors and volunteers alike, have shown tireless commitment to our community, and, together, help us build the interventions that give people stability and the opportunity for economic mobility, quality education, and health-care,” Gellerman said.

Funding recommendations were made by a volunteer review-committee, based on organizations’ abilities to:

  • Provide essential needs like food, shelter, and hygiene items for our most-vulnerable populations;
  • Get kids back on track for learning and succeeding in school and life;
  • Address the immediate economic impact for many workers getting people back to work and financially stable; and
  • Ensure the health and emotional wellness of our children and adults.

Navigating Pandemic-related Challenges

Since July 2020, 41 grants have been distributed from the COVID-19 Rebuilding Fund, totaling $359,528.

Also, in response to the challenges of the past year, United Way Quad Cities has:

  • Launched the QC Tutor Connection for parents to pair up their students in K-12 with tutors offering various areas of expertise for in-person and remote services;
  • Maintained and invested in its 2-1-1 help line which continues to field more than double its normal call volume;
  • And opened its grant application process to include grassroots organizations and social entrepreneurs to better assist underserved communities, formally beginning with the United for Equity Fund.

For more information, visit www.unitedwayqc.org or call 563-355-4310.

To support United Way’s COVID-19 relief efforts and community impact fund, donate here.

About United Way Quad Cities

United Way is a community-based social change organization that puts opportunity in the hands of all Quad Citizens. Working with our determined partners, volunteers, advocates, and donors, we lead the charge to improve education, income, and health — the building blocks of opportunity. The result is a mobilized community where every Quad Citizen is living their best-possible life. unitedwayqc.org.

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