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Phone: https://2020census.gov/en/ways-to-respond/responding-by-phone.html
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Springfield, IL (September 8, 2020) -- The Illinois COVID-19 Response Fund (ICRF) announced today it distributed its fifth and final round of funding, an additional $7.5 million to 7 nonprofit organizations across the state. The Fund, which was established by the United Way of Illinois and the Alliance of Illinois Community Foundations in collaboration with the Office of the Governor, focused this round of funding on organizations that serve primarily, but not exclusively, Black and Latinx communities, and that are led by, or in meaningful partnership with an organization led by a Black or Latinx leader.
With this most recent round, the ICRF has distributed all remaining funds for a total of $31.15 million granted to over 1,650 organizations in every part of Illinois supported directly by ICRF funds or regrant recipients from ICRF funded organizations. With the first three rounds of grants, ICRF grantees have served over 114,000 families, provided 27,000 nights in emergency shelters, and have funded over 11,000 health and mental health care visits to date. The impact continues as funds are currently being distributed by grantees from the final two rounds. The Illinois COVID-19 Response Fund, chaired by former U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker, worked swiftly to quickly deploy these funds to those most in need throughout the State during this crisis.
"Even in the earliest days of the COVID-19 pandemic, need was unfolding beyond a scale modern day government had ever seen – and the best response would be all hands-on deck, private and public efforts alike, to meet it," said Governor JB Pritzker. "The Illinois COVID-19 Response Fund answered the call when our state needed it most and before the federal government had begun to help. To all the Illinoisans who joined in this effort: Penny and the Response Fund team, large corporate donors, family foundations, small businesses who stepped up to help their neighbors and each other out, every individual who gave what they could spare to help out those in need: on behalf of a grateful state, thank you, thank you, thank you."
“During this terrible crisis, we are so grateful for the generosity of so many across our state who contributed to this important fund to serve those fellow Illinoisans who need help meeting their most basic needs,” said Penny Pritzker, chairman of PSP Partners. “Too many families have been decimated by this terrible pandemic and our fund has used a data driven approach to prioritize and target those communities and populations who have borne the disproportionate and tragic share of impact. It has been a great honor to chair this needed and critical effort and work with such a dedicated team to support more than 1,650 organizations on the front lines of compassion in every corner of Illinois.”
ICRF committed to allocating funds where the data indicated the COVID-19 burden was the greatest. As ICRF moved into its final round of funding, more information became available about the impacts of this pandemic. Black and Latinx communities were significantly and disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. The magnitude of this discrepancy grew, and racial equity emerged as a further focus of 2 ICRF’s grantmaking. For this final round of funding, ICRF held an open application process that sought to reduce longstanding barriers of traditional grantmaking, required proposals be designed and implemented by organizations that reflect the experiences, assets, and leadership of the communities in which they aimed to serve, and funded organizations that were led by, or are in meaningful partnership with an organization led by a Black or Latinx individual.
ICRF received over 100 applications, totaling $120 million in requests. Ultimately, ICRF gave grants to 7 organizations throughout the State, that provide basic needs for Illinoisans today and are expected to have a sustained, lasting impact beyond the life of the Fund.
The fifth-round grant recipients from the ICRF are:
Organizations:
• Community Health Partnership of Illinois
• Community Life Line
• DREAAM Opportunity Center
• Farmworker and Landscaper Advocacy Project
• mRelief
• PCs for People
• Springfield Urban League, Inc.

For more information about prior rounds and to learn more about the ICRF, visit the website: https://www.ilcovidresponsefund.org/