As we approach the one year mark of the global pandemic, the Hendricks County Community Foundation is continuing to work hard to help the county meet the challenges of COVID-19. In March 2020, HCCF launched the All In, Hendricks County Rapid Response Fund in partnership with Duke Energy Foundation and Hendricks Power Cooperative to support nonprofits that serve those most directly impacted by COVID-19. All In, Hendricks County came from our partnership with Visit Hendricks County’s focus on the good things happening in Hendricks County.
The Community Foundation has awarded COVID-19 response grants in three phases. Phase 1 provided unrestricted grants to organizations providing the front-line response to the pandemic. In Phase 2, HCCF provided a matching grant opportunity to seventeen local nonprofits struggling to meet their year-end fundraising goals due to COVID restrictions. The grants were unrestricted but required a $1 to $1 match to encourage charitable giving from our community.
Phase 3 grants, approved by the HCCF Board of Directors in December 2020, provided $40,000 ($10,000 each) to four local nonprofits: Family Promise of Hendricks County, the Hendricks County Food Pantry Coalition, Hendricks County Senior Services, and WorkOne. These grants were designed to support areas of need in our community still impacted by the coronavirus, including food insecurity, homelessness, support for seniors, and unemployment. Because of generous donors, both individuals and organizations, the Community Foundation has been able to provide grants of over $575,000 to support our community in dealing with the difficulties of COVID-19. Eric Hessel, HCCF Vice President of Programs said, “Over the last year our community has shown just how giving they are. Because of these donors, HCCF was able to meet critical needs in our community. Whatever the future holds, the Community Foundation will be here serving Hendricks County.”
The Hendricks County Community Foundation partners with generous people to realize their charitable goals while addressing community needs in meaningful and lasting ways. The Community Foundation manages assets of over $19 million in a collection of funds created by individuals, families, businesses and organizations for charitable purposes. In 2020, the Community Foundation awarded over $1.6 million in grants to charitable organizations and scholarships to local students. For more information, call 317-268-6240 or visit www.hendrickscountycf.org.
