Neighbor-Aid awards new grants of $357,000

PITTSBURGH, Pa., June 3, 2010 – New grants of over $357,000 have been awarded to nonprofit organizations by Neighbor-Aid, the collaborative emergency fund created by The Pittsburgh Foundation to support the region’s human services safety net.

This takes Neighbor-Aid’s total grantmaking to nearly $1.4 million since it was established in December 2008 to support the region’s nonprofit agencies struggling to meet an upsurge in demand from families and individuals in hardship as the result of the economic crisis.

With all money now distributed from the fund, Neighbor-Aid has suspended its activities pending a detailed evaluation of how nonprofits are coping. A study will be undertaken this summer among regional nonprofits to assess the continuing impact of the recession and members of Neighbor-Aid’s Advisory Committee plan to reconvene later this year to determine if the fund needs to provide on-going support.

 “We know that families and individuals in our community are still facing hardship, and nonprofits are dealing still with significant increases in demand,” said Grant Oliphant, President and CEO of The Pittsburgh Foundation. “We now need to clearly understand how our nonprofits are managing, and it is the appropriate time for us to take a ‘temperature check’ to help us and our partners decide how we should move forward.”

 Neighbor-Aid was formed as an emergency relief initiative by The Pittsburgh Foundation in partnership with the United Way of Allegheny County, civic leader, Elsie Hillman and other local foundations working with the Allegheny County Department of Human Services.

 A summary of Neighbor-Aid’s latest grants are as follows:

ACTION Housing received $45,000 to assist clients of the Homeless Prevention Rapid Re-Housing Program (HPRP) with utilities, rental arrears, legal fees and moving expenses.

Catholic Charities received $60,000 to provide direct assistance to benefit basic needs of individuals and families in Allegheny County who are struggling financially.

East End Cooperative Ministry (EEMC) received $50,000 to purchase additional groceries, kitchen supplies for EEMC's food pantry and to cover increased costs at the men's shelter.

Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank received $75,000 to sustain an adequate inventory of nutritious food. The Food Bank’s purchased food will be available at no cost to member agencies throughout Allegheny County.

Jewish Assistance Fund received $12,995 to increase financial assistance to clients.

North Hills Community Outreach received $40,000 to provide flexible funding for short-term emergencies, with priority given to first-time users.

Travelers Aid Society of Pittsburgh received $75,000 to provide Port Authority bus passes to financially struggling individuals and families not currently enrolled in formal employment and training programs.

For further information contact:
John Ellis
Vice President of Communications
The Pittsburgh Foundation
412-394-2647
ellisj@pghfdn.org