In a time of uncertainty, you shared the gift of hope.
The Champaign County COVID-19 Relief Fund is pleased to share that we have received $1,137,630 in contributions and grants. We are deeply grateful for the community's generosity. We would also like to express sincere gratitude to the Illinois COVID-19 Response Fund for providing $500,000 to our local Fund. Read more in the News-Gazette.
Transition to long-term recovery
The Champaign County COVID-19 Relief Fund was established in March 2020 to quickly respond to community needs. Two-thirds of all donations have been expended as of July 1, with a goal to exhaust the Relief Fund by August 1. Scroll down to see a full breakdown of how your gift has made a difference!
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, we must now transition our focus to long-term recovery.
COVID-19 has changed everything. The long-term recovery of our neighbors impacted by the pandemic will be a core part of United Way's Community Impact Fund in 2020. The Community Impact Fund is flexible and responsive, focusing on building equitable and more resilient communities through improved health, education, and financial stability.
The tough work that will be needed to help communities recover is the very work United Way does every day:
- We help feed those facing food insecurity;
- We prepare children for success in school, work, and life;
- We connect those in financial distress with resources to pay bills and stay in their homes.
Together we will help our communities respond, recover, rebuild, and reimagine for the long term. We aren't going back to normal - we are moving forward to better.
Give to the Community Impact Fund
COVID-19 Relief Fund Contributors
Thank you to the 559 individuals who made a contribution!
We appreciate the commitment of these generous organizations:
- AFL-CIO of Champaign County
- AFSCME Local 3700
- Alpha Controls and Services
- Alpha Omicron Pi
- Archer Daniels Midland Company*
- Barham Benefit Group
- BankChampaign, N.A.
- Busey
- Champaign Federation of Teachers #1925*
- Champaign Urbana Schools Foundation
- Church of the Advent Hope*
- CIBM*
- Citizens for Michael Marron
- Commerce Bank
- Community Foundation of East Central Illinois
- Copper Creek Church*
- Cozad Asset Management*
- CU Christian Church*
- Emmanuel Memorial Episcopal Church*
- Faith United Methodist Church*
- FarmHouse Fraternity
- First United Methodist Church*
- Good Shepherd Lutheran Church*
- Heartland Bank
- Hessel Park Christian Reformed Church*
- Illinois COVID-19 Relief Fund
- Iroquois Federal
- Jefferson Middle School PTSA*
- Kiwanis Club of Champaign-Urbana*
- Meijer
- Northwestern Mutual - McClure Financial*
- Pepsi-Cola CU Bottling Company*
- Phi Alpha Delta
- Schnucks
- State Farm - Kurt A. Lenschow*
- State Farm - Marcy McAnally*
- St. Patrick's Catholic Church*
- United Way of Champaign County
- The Vineyard Church*
- Windsor Road Christian Church*
- Unitarian Universalist Church*
- University Tees, Inc.
- U of I Community Credit Union
*CU-BetterTogether Gift
Updated 6/30/2020
FAQ
What programs are getting the funds?
FUNDING WAVE 1: HOUSING ASSISTANCE
Released March 23, 2020
$20,000 to Champaign Township and Cunningham Township to provide housing assistance.
FUNDING WAVE 2: HOME LEARNING SUPPLIES
Released March 30, 2020
$7,500 to Champaign Unit 4 Schools, Mahomet-Seymour Community School District #3, Rantoul City Schools 137, and Urbana Unit 116 for student home learning supplies.
FUNDING WAVE 3: FOOD, HOUSING, AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
Released April 9, 2020
$250,000 from the grant received from the Illinois COVID-19 Response Fund. As part of this grant's requirements, UWCC is acting as a regional hub and distributing a portion of grant funds outside of our service area to neighboring communities and United Ways. It also includes a new initiative: CU-BetterTogether.
FOOD - $131,000
| Arcola Food Pantry | Food and household supplies for Homebound Seniors | $5,000.00 |
| CRIS- Champaign & Danville | Food and household supplies for Homebound Seniors | $6,000.00 |
| Crisis Nursery | Supplies | $3,000.00 |
| Community Service Center of Northern Champaign County | Food Pantry | $5,000.00 |
| CU-Better Together- Food for School Families | Food | $65,000.00 |
| Daily Bread Soup Kitchen | Food | $8,000.00 |
| Family Service of Champaign County | Food and household supplies for Homebound Seniors | $2,000.00 |
| Hands of Christ Food Pantry - Ford County | Food | $3,000.00 |
| Hoopeston Multicultural Agency | Seniors, teen moms, food pantry, clothing | $3,000.00 |
| Piatt Willow Tree Missions | Food | $3,000.00 |
| Promise Healthcare | Food as Medicine Pantry | $2,000.00 |
| Salt & Light Ministries | Grocery Fund for households | $16,000.00 |
| Stonecreek Food Pantry | Food Pantry | $4,000.00 |
| The Dwelling Place - Danville | Food, laundry, drop-in services, showers |
$3,000.00 |
| The Giving Place - Tolono | Food | $3,000.00 |
HOUSING - $36,000
| Austin's Place | Emergency Shelter | $5,000.00 |
| C-U at Home | Emergency Shelter and Daytime | $10,000.00 |
| Courage Connection | Emergency Shelter | $6,000.00 |
| Habitat for Humanity of Champaign County | Mortgage Assistance | $15,000.00 |
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE - $27,000
| Community Service Center of Northern Champaign County | One-time financial assistance per household | $10,000.00 |
| Champaign County Healthcare Consumers | One-time financial assistance per household | $5,000.00 |
| Family Service of Champaign County | One-time financial assistance per household | $2,000.00 |
| New American Welcome Center | One-time financial assistance per household | $5,000.00 |
| The Refugee Center | One-time financial assistance per household | $5,000.00 |
OTHER UNITED WAYS
As required by the Illinois COVID-19 Relief Fund Grant, we are distributing to:
Danville Area United Way - $23,000.00
United Way of Coles County - $18,000.00
United Way of McLean County $15,000.00
FUNDING WAVE 4- ACCESS TO TECHNOLOGY
Released May 11, 2020
$22,750 to four organizations to increase access to technology and improve program delivery.
$5,000 – Developmental Services Center – Tablets for people with disabilities living in group homes, so they can stay connected with their families and access telehealth services
$2,500 – DREAAM - Laptops and printers, so staff can conduct education programming virtually
$5,250 – Rosecrance – Telehealth communication devices, so patients in mental health, substance abuse, and treatment programs can continue receiving services
$10,000 – Housing Authority of Champaign County – Computers for YouthBuild program participants, so they can complete their high school diploma and participate in career training
FUNDING WAVE 5 - ASSISTING COMMUNITIES WITH HIGH COVID-19 BURDENS
Released May 21, 2020
$250,000 from a grant awarded by the Illinois COVID-19 Response Fund. The aims of this grant are to get resources to communities with high COVID-19 burdens.
FOOD - $43,000
| Ford County Food Pantry / Hands of Christ | $3,000.00 |
| Hoopeston Multi-Agency | $5,000.00 |
| Piatt County Cares | $7,500.00 |
| The Dwelling Place | $7,500.00 |
| United Methodist Church Piatt County | $5,000.00 |
| Willow Tree Missions | $5,000.00 |
| Promise Healthcare | $10,000.00 |
GENERAL ASSISTANCE - $104,000
| Champaign County Healthcare Consumers | $10,000.00 |
| New American Welcome Center | $50,000.00 |
| The Refugee Center | $25,000.00 |
| CRIS Healthy Aging | $10,000.00 |
| Faith in Action | $5,000.00 |
| Family Service | $4,000.00 |
HOUSING & SHELTER - $103,000
| Habitat for Humanity | $30,000.00 |
| Austin’s Place | $10,000.00 |
| Courage Connection | $38,000.00 |
| CU at Home | $25,000.00 |
FUNDING WAVE 6 - SUMMER FOOD AND ESSENTIALS
Released by June 15, 2020
$172,439.86 to seven organizations working to provide summer food, as well as meeting an unmet need for diapers, toiletries, and school supplies.
| Bottom Line Diaper Bank | Diapers | $10,000.00 |
| CU Better Together | Food and Toiletries | $78,000.00 |
| Daily Bread Soup Kitchen |
Food |
$5,000.00 |
| Eastern Illinois Foodbank | Food Fund | $63,460.00 |
| Feeding Our Kids | Food | $10,000.00 |
| Promise Healthcare | Food Pantry | $5,000.00 |
| Champaign Unit 4 Schools | School Supplies | $979.86 |
FUNDING WAVE 7 - REOPENING SUPPLIES
Released June 25, 2020
$32,595 to 16 organizations to purchase cleaning supplies and equipment for safe reopening in Phase 4, as well as providing necessary safety equipment for staff and clients.
| Champaign County Children's Advocacy Center | Cleaning Supplies | $3,000.00 |
| Champaign County EDC | Masks | $3,500.00 |
| Champaign Urbana Schools Foundation | Cleaning Supplies | $90.00 |
| Don Moyer Boys & Girls Club | Cleaning Supplies | $3,000.00 |
| DREAAM Opportunity Center | Cleaning Supplies | $3,000.00 |
| Habitat for Humanity of Champaign County | Cleaning Supplies |
$1,000.00 |
| Mahomet Area Youth Club | Cleaning Supplies | $400.00 |
| Sola Gratia Farm | Cleaning Supplies | $3,000.00 |
| Stephens Family YMCA | Cleaning Supplies | $2,710.00 |
| The Land Connection Foundation | Cleaning Supplies | $495.00 |
| The Reading Group | Cleaning Supplies | $500.00 |
| The Refugee Center | Cleaning Supplies | $3,000.00 |
| The Salvation Army | Cleaning Supplies | $2,000.00 |
| Urbana Adult Education | Cleaning Supplies | $3,000.00 |
| Urbana Neighborhood Connections Center | Cleaning Supplies | $3,000.00 |
| YMCA of the University of Illinois | Cleaning Supplies | $2,400.00 |
FUNDING WAVE 8 - EDUCATION
School Supplies
Essentials such as markers, crayons and paper.
| Champaign Unit 4 Schools | School Supply Kits | $9,250.00 |
| Champaign-Ford Regional Office of Education | Hygiene and personal care products for teens | $2,200.00 |
| Hoopeston Multi-Agency | School Supply Kits | $3,000.00 |
| Mahomet-Seymour School District | School Supply Kits | $1,250.00 |
| Rantoul City Schools | School Supply Kits | $6,500.00 |
| Urbana Unit 116 | School Supply Kits | $9,500.00 |
Education Technology
Tools to help students succeed in distance learning.
| Big Brothers Big Sisters | Technology support for kids/mentors | $3,000.00 |
| Don Moyer Boys and Girls Club | Headsets with microphones | $2,875.00 |
| DREAAM | Headsets with microphones | $1,000.00 |
| Life Line of Champaign | Headsets with microphones | $1,000.00 |
| Mahomet Area Youth Club | Headsets with microphones | $400.00 |
| The Reading Group | Safety equipment cameras and speakers | $2,806.60 |
| Stephens Family YMCA | Headsets with microphones | $1,000.00 |
| Stephens Family YMCA | Learning Supplies, Chromebooks | $10,000.00 |
| Urbana Neighborhood Connections Center | Headsets with microphones | $1,575.00 |
Out of School Support
Providing a safe environment for students who are in distance learning.
| Boys and Girls Club of Danville | COVID-19 Sanitizing Supplies | $1,530.00 |
| Don Moyer Boys and Girls Club | All day care, academic support and child care for students at the Champaign location | $52,524.00 |
| Life Line Champaign | All day care and academic support for K-5 at Mt Calvary Church in Garden Hills neighborhood | $10,000.00 |
| Mahomet Area Youth Club | All day care and academic support for Junior High students | $11,100.00 |
| Stephens Family YMCA | Scholarships for families who cannot afford weekly rate | $20,000.00 |
| Urbana Neighborhood Connections Center | Supplies and staffing to support all day learning and care | $10,000.00 |
I/my family have been impacted by COVID-19. How will this fund help me?
Our latest blog post features resources for those impacted by the pandemic.
While the Fund is not able to provide grants to individuals, we are funding community-based organizations that have experience and history of providing people and families with services and support. These are organizations that are already working to help you. Please call 211 for information on local services and connect with local programs.
My organization is interested in resources from this fund. Can we be considered?
We will proactively identify potential grant recipients, solicit guidance on potential recipients from community advisors, our Board of Directors, and local units of government, and recommend final awards.
In order to move resources quickly and not further burden organizations on the frontlines of the pandemic, we are not hosting a formal application process at this time.
How can I give back in other ways?
Volunteer with local nonprofits - CUVolunteer.org
Donate items or offer help to individuals - Champaigncountyil.recovers.org