The Rotary Foundation approves District 5790
Global Grant Request within 15 days of submission.
District 5790 Foundation committee distributing $160, 592.
Grant funds are being distributed this week to Hendrick Medical Center in Abilene, United Regional Foundation in Wichita Falls, and Texas Health Services for medical equipment and personal protective equipment (PPE). The Wichita Falls Area Food Bank, Food Bank of West Central Texas, and Tarrant Area Food Bank will also receive funds to support their expanded services to the food insecure members of our District 5790 community.
The project began when Rotarians were asked to support COVID-19 related needs in our community. Hoping to raise a modest $25,000 to restock local food pantries and provide medical supplies to local hospitals, Rotarians in District 5790 (North Central TX), 5870 (Austin), and global partner District 9810 in Australia put out the call to club members and friends, and raised a shocking $161,000 in ten days.
The Districts partnered through the Rotary Foundation Global Grant program. Global grants may be used to support humanitarian projects, scholarships for graduate-level academic studies, and vocational training teams. These types of grants are funded through our District Designated Fund (DDF) and are matched by the Rotary Foundation's World Fund. Your contributions to the DDF are matched at 100 percent and cash donations are matched at 50 percent. Global grants may also be funded with endowments and directed gifts.
Local hospitals receiving financial support include the Texas Health Resources Hospitals, Hendrick Health System in Abilene, and United Regional Hospital in Wichita Falls. The Hendrick Medical Center in Wichita Falls will use grant funds to purchase a non-invasive ventilator, the United Regional Foundation in Abilene will purchase boot covers, and Texas Health Services will acquire gowns, digital thermometers, and wipes. Although we have been fortunate throughout Texas to have a manageable number of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 to date, the need for PPE and equipment for intensive care units remains high.
Financial support will also go to the Tarrant Area Food Bank, Wichita Falls Area Food Bank, and Food Bank of West-Central Texas in Abilene. All agencies have had at least 50% increase in demand for food since the COVID-19 outbreak and provide service through distribution centers, mobile food delivery, emergency food boxes, and supplemental school feeding programs. The Tarrant Area Food Bank provided nearly 6 million meals in April alone, more than double what would be offered during a typical month. Need for services is anticipated to remain high for the foreseeable future.
Your continued support of District 5790 projects is appreciated and essential. Please consider a donation to the Rotary International Annual Fund at https://www.rotary.org/en/donate Your tax-deductible gift will provide help to those most in need today and into the future.