COVID-19 Response Grants

Note: The grant application for our COVID-19 Rapid Response and Recovery grants is now closed.

Caring During COVID-19

Watch how the Mercy Drops Dream Center brings dreams into reality. With a COVID-19 Rapid Response Grant from the United Way of South Hampton Roads and the Hampton Roads Community Foundation, the Center provides 600 meals weekly to Portsmouth residents in need.

In April 2020, the Hampton Roads Community Foundation and United Way of South Hampton Roads jointly awarded $517,410 in initial rapid response grants to 34 nonprofits providing COVID-19 relief for people in South Hampton Roads.

Grant recipients are nonprofits working on the frontlines helping people with food security, emergency housing, household essentials and mental health counseling. The Community Foundation and United Way jointly provided funding, reviewed grant applications, and awarded grants.

Grant recipients are:

• An Achievable Dream Virginia Beach, $15,000 for food and other essentials for students and their families.
• Buffalow Family and Friends Community Days, $20,000 to feed people in South Norfolk.
• Children's Health Investment Program (CHIP), $25,000 for essentials to help families in 11 home visiting programs in the region.
• Communities in Schools of Hampton Roads, $10,000 for mental health services for parents and guardians of students it serves.
• Cover 3 Foundation, $5,000 for breakfast and lunch for area children.
• Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore, $50,000 for food distributed to residents in South Hampton Roads.
• ForKids Inc., $25,000 for rental assistance
• Friends of the Portsmouth Juvenile Court Inc., $18,300 to feed Portsmouth residents and to purchase essential items.
• The Genieve Shelter, $10,000 for emergency shelter.
• Greater Hampton Roads Diaper Bank, $5,000 for essential items for families.
• Hampton Roads Community Action Program Inc., $10,000 for needs for families in the region.
• Help and Emergency Response Inc., $10,000 for emergency shelter.
• Hope House Foundation Inc., $8,000 to feed individuals living with developmental disabilities.
• Isle of Wight Christian Outreach Program Inc., $25,000 for food and essential items for people in Isle of Wight County.
• Joy Ministries, $15,000 for food and essential supplies for clients in the region.
• Judeo-Christian Outreach Center Inc., $10,000 for food and emergency shelter.
• LGBT Life Center, $18,000 for meals for clients.
• Meals on Wheels of Chesapeake Inc., $5,000 to increase the number of older adults with limited income receiving meals.
• Mercy Chefs Inc., $25,000 to prepare meals for people in need.
• Mercy Drops Dream Center, $20,000 for food to help Portsmouth residents.
• Oasis Commission on Social Ministry of Portsmouth/Chesapeake, $3,500 for food to help Portsmouth residents.
• PIN Ministry, $7,560 for food and essential supplies for people experiencing homelessness in Virginia Beach.
• The Salvation Army Hampton Roads Area Command, $25,000 for food and essential supplies for people in Chesapeake, Norfolk and Virginia Beach.
• The Salvation Army Portsmouth Corps, $7,500 to feed people in Portsmouth.
• The Salvation Army Suffolk Corps, $7,500 to feed people in Suffolk.
• Samaritan House Inc., $20,000 for emergency shelter.
  
• Senior Services of Southeastern Virginia, $15,000 to help older adults with food and essential items.
• Survivor Ventures, $16,050 for emergency shelter for survivors of human trafficking.
  
• The Up Center, $25,000 for professional mental health care.
• Urban League of Hampton Roads Inc., $20,000 for emergency shelter and rental assistance.
• Virginia Supportive Housing, $6,000 for food and essential items for people permanently housed in South Hampton Roads after experiencing chronic homelessness.
• Wesley Community Service Center Inc., $5,000 for food to help Portsmouth residents.
• William A. Hunton YMCA, $10,000 for food to help Norfolk families.
• YWCA South Hampton Roads, $20,000 for emergency shelter.

“Our nonprofit infrastructure has been hit hard by this crisis and yet many are pivoting or increasing their services to respond,” said Michele Anderson, president and CEO of United Way of South Hampton Roads. “Together with the Hampton Roads Community Foundation, we are ensuring these human service agencies on the frontlines have the support they need to continue providing their critical services to our community.”

“The reality is that the needs run deep throughout our entire community,” said Deborah M. DiCroce, president and CEO of the Hampton Roads Community Foundation. “Our nonprofit partners continue to be on the front lines of responding to the crisis, which challenges their already tight resources.”

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In June 2020, the community foundation awarded a second round of grants to these organizations:

• Jewish Family Service of Tidewater, $9,000 to feed individuals and families they serve.
• Mile High Kids and Community Development Inc., $7,000 to deliver food to four neighborhoods in Virginia Beach where children in their day care live.
• Sickle Cell Association, Inc., $1,500 for essential products for patients with Sickle Cell.

• YMCA of South Hampton Roads, $4,000 to support food distribution to individuals and families in partnership with the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore.

About the funding organizations

United Way of South Hampton Roads is the largest private funder dedicated to human service needs in South Hampton Roads. The Hampton Roads Community Foundation is the largest nonprofit grant and scholarship provider in the region.

Donations for additional coronavirus relief efforts can be made at unitedwayshr.org/coronavirus.

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In August 2020, the Hampton Roads Community Foundation provided an additional round of COVID-19 Rapid Response funding in the amount $227,908 to these organizations that previously received rapid response funding. The intent of the funding was to support a continuation of the services begun with the first round of funding.

• An Achievable Dream Virginia Beach (SAME Foundation), $4,263
• Buffalow Family and Friends Community Days, $10,000
• Children's Health Investment Program, $17,000
• Communities in Schools of Hampton Roads, $5,000
• ForKids Inc., $25,000
• Friends of the Portsmouth Juvenile Court Inc., $6,000
• Greater Hampton Roads Diaper Bank, $6,500
• Hampton Roads Community Action Program Inc., $5,000
• Help and Emergency Response Inc., $5,000
• Hope House Foundation Inc., $4,000
• Isle of Wight Christian Outreach Program Inc., $10,000
• Jewish Family Service of Tidewater - Virginia Beach VA, $4,500
• Joy Ministries, $5,000
• Judeo-Christian Outreach Center, Inc., $5,000
• LGBT Life Center, $3,500* (To provide professional mental health care for uninsured clients.)
• Meals on Wheels of Chesapeake Inc., $3,500
• Mercy Drops Dream Center, $10,000
• Mile High Kids and Community Development, Inc., $10,000
• Oasis Commission on Social Ministry of Portsmouth/Chesapeake, $3,500
• Samaritan House, Inc., $10,000
• Senior Services of Southeastern Virginia, $5,000
• Survivor Ventures, $3,645
• The Genieve Shelter, $5,000
• The Salvation Army Hampton Roads Area Command, $8,000
• The Up Center, $10,000
• Urban League of Hampton Roads, Inc., $30,000
• Virginia Supportive Housing, $3,500
• William A. Hunton YMCA, $10,000

*Denotes funding for a purpose different than organization’s initial grant focus.

Additionally, in September 2020, the Hampton Roads Community Foundation provided COVID-19 Recovery funding, including:

Arts & Cultural Organizations, Community Anchor Arts Groups: $175,000 was awarded to six organizations in June. They are:

• Chrysler Museum of Art, $36,000
• Virginia Arts Festival, $36,000
• VA Museum of Contemporary Art, $22,500
• Virginia Opera, $24,000
• Virginia Stage Company, $22,500
• Virginia Symphony Orchestra, $34,000

Arts & Cultural Organizations, Small and Mid-sized Arts Groups: $150,000 was awarded to 26 organizations in September. They are:

• Norfolk Chamber Consort, $1,000
• Academy of Music, $2,000
• Virginia Beach Chorale, $2,000
• Virginia Beach Art Center, $3,000
• Zeiders American Dream Theater, $3,000
• Tidewater Winds, $4,000
• The Muse Writers Center, $4,000
• ViBe District Virginia Beach, $4,000
• Portsmouth Community Concerts, Inc., $4,000
• I. Sherman Greene Chorale, Inc., $4,000
• Isle of Wight Arts League, $4,500
• The Hermitage Museum and Gardens, $5,000
• Bay Youth Orchestras of Virginia, $5,000
• Virginia Children's Chorus, $5,000
• Virginia Musical Theatre, Inc., $5,000
• d'Art Center, $5,500
• Todd Rosenlieb Dance, $6,000
• Tidewater Arts Outreach, $6,000
• Little Theatre of Norfolk, $6,000
• Little Theatre of Virginia Beach, $6,000
• Virginia African American Cultural Center, $8,000
• Council of United Filipino Organizations of Tidewater, Inc., $10,000
• Mosaic Steel Orchestra, $10,000
• The Hurrah Players, Inc., $10,000
• Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts, $12,000
• Arts for Learning, the Virginia Affiliate of Young Audiences, $15,000

Essential Service Nonprofits: $428,742 was awarded to 67 organizations in September. Here's the list:

• Access College Foundation, $15,000
• Hampton Roads Community Health Center, $15,000
• Norfolk Senior Center, $15,000
• Places and Programs for Children, Inc., $15,000
• Seton Youth Shelters, $ 15,000
• Southeastern Virginia Area wide Model Program t/a Senior Services of Southeastern Virginia, $15,000
• The Planning Council, $15,000
• TWP-The Youth Movement, $15,000
• The Children's Center, $12,500
• The Up Center, $12,500
• Virginia Beach Community Development Corporation, $12,500
• Western Tidewater Free Clinic, Inc., $12,500
• Youth Outreach Urban Resources & Services, $12,500
• An Achievable Dream Virginia Beach (SAME Foundation), $10,000
• Catholic Charities of Eastern Virginia, $10,000
• Chesapeake Care, $10,000
• Nauticus Foundation, $10,000
• Norfolk CASA, Inc., $10,000
• Garden of Hope Inc., $9,250
• Park Place School, $9,250
• American Diabetes Association (HRLocal Chapter), $8,000
• Beach Health Clinic, $8,000
• Suffolk Meals on Wheels, Inc., $8,000
• Communities in Schools of Hampton Roads, $7,500
• Edmarc, Inc., $7,500
• Girl Scout Council of the Colonial Coast, $7,500
• Habitat for Humanity South Hampton Roads, $7,500
• Help and Emergency Response Inc., $7,500
• Louise W. Eggleston Center, Inc., $7,500
• Virginia Beach CASA, $7,500
• Ability Center of Virginia, $5,242
• Hampton Roads Community Action Program, Inc., $5,000
• LGBT Life Center, $5,000
• Mile High Kids and Community Development, Inc., $5,000
• Prevent Child Abuse Hampton Roads, $5,000
• REACH, Inc. (Reading Enriches All Children), $5,000
• The Sarah Michelle Peterson Foundation, $ 5,000
• Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center Foundation, $ 5,000
• Virginia Zoological Society, $ 5,000
• Walk In It Inc., $5,000
• Armed Services YMCA of Hampton Roads, $4,000
• Compassion Advocacy Network, Inc., $ 3,000
• Girls on the Run South Hampton Roads, $3,000
• Mercy Chefs Inc., $2,500
• Tidewater Wooden Boat Workshop, $2,500
• Virginia Beach Justice Initiative, $2,500
• Western Tidewater Tennis Association, $2,500
• The Living River Restoration Trust, $2,000
• Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Association, $2,000
• Community Alternatives, Inc., $2,000
• Families of Autistic Children of Tidewater, $2,000
• Hope U Inc., $2,000
• Joy Ministries, $2,000
• Judeo-Christian Outreach Center, Inc., $2,000
• United Jewish Federation of Tidewater, $2,000
• Oyster Reef Keepers of Virginia, Inc., $2,000
• Children's Assistive Technology Service, $1,500
• New Vision Youth Services, Inc., $1,500
• Nursing CAP, Inc., $1,500
• The Eliza Hope Foundation, $1,500
• Access Partnership, $1,000
• Commonwealth Catholic Charities, $1,000
• LIFT Fitness Foundation, $1,000
• Montero Medical Missions Inc., $1,000
• Roc Solid Foundation Inc., $1,000
• SEALKIDS, Inc., $1,000.
• United Methodist Family Services of Virginia, $1,000