DALLAS (WBAP/KLIF) – The Dallas Mayor’s Disaster Relief Fund is awarding $25,000 grants to 11 nonprofit groups for their COVID-19 response efforts.
According to Mayor Eric Johnson, the organizations receiving shares of the total of $275,000 in grants were selected by the Fund’s advisory committee based on six priority areas identified by Mayor Johnson. Those areas were:
- Public safety and domestic violence services
- Workforce development and childcare for working families
- Homelessness services
- Relief for small businesses and residents in need
- Equity in educational access
- Assistance for families experiencing food insecurity
“COVID-19 has affected seemingly every aspect of our lives. It has exacerbated existing inequities and threatened the health, safety and welfare of our city’s families,” Mayor Johnson said. “These 11 organizations are providing much-needed services as Dallas families recover and rebuild from this devastating pandemic. I am grateful to the donors who made these grants possible as we help our communities overcome the difficult circumstances created by this insidious virus.”
The Mayor’s Disaster Relief Fund, which is sponsored by The Dallas Foundation, was initially created to help the City shelter Hurricane Katrina refugees in 2005. This year, SMU Quarterback Shane Buechele and Miss Dallas USA Paige Vasquez teamed up to raise about $50,000 for the Fund. Goldman Sachs also contributed $110,000.
Former U.S. Ambassador and current Hunt Consolidated Senior Vice President Jeanne Phillips chairs the Mayor’s Disaster Relief Fund advisory committee.
“The Dallas community has come together to respond to the unique challenges posed by COVID-19,” said Phillips. “I am grateful to Mayor Johnson, to The Dallas Foundation, and to my fellow committee members for ensuring that these grants will help support critical initiatives that aid those most in need during the pandemic.”
The money in the Fund can only can be used in the event of a federally declared disaster in Dallas. The entire state of Texas received a federal disaster declaration for the COVID-19 pandemic on March 25.
Listen to Clayton Neville’s story:
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