First grants awarded from Neighbor-Aid

Over $600,000 directed from emergency fund to families and individuals in need

PITTSBURGH, Pa., February 16, 2009 – The first phase of grants totaling more than $600,000 is on the way to nonprofit organizations from Neighbor-Aid, the emergency fund launched by The Pittsburgh Foundation to support the region’s front line providers of safety net services.

And as charitable agencies struggle to meet unprecedented demand from increasing numbers of families and individuals facing hardship, community leaders re-emphasized their call for a united regional effort to support the fund.

“Everyone is feeling the effects of the economic crisis but we are experiencing desperate human need in our community that is urgent and immediate,” said Grant Oliphant, President and CEO of The Pittsburgh Foundation. “We urge everyone who can contribute to make a commitment to those who are in real need right now.”

 Neighbor-Aid is a collaborative emergency relief initiative between The Pittsburgh Foundation, the United Way of Allegheny County, civic leader Elsie Hillman and other local foundations working in liaison with Allegheny County Department of Human Services.

“People are hurting and we are hearing compelling accounts of the dire circumstances in which individuals and families find themselves,” said Robert Nelkin, President and Chief Professional Officer of the United Way of Allegheny County. “Our nonprofit agencies are witnessing this struggle first-hand and additional donations are needed if we are to help them meet this upsurge in demand.”

At its first meeting, a special committee, comprising foundation and constituent supporters of Neighbor-Aid, approved grants totaling $601,000 from the fund to 10 nonprofits organizations serving the region’s four key areas of human need: housing, food, utilities and transportation. The funding was awarded from a total of $895,000 in the fund, contributed by foundations and individuals, leaving a balance of $293,000. The fund’s grantmaking committee is scheduled to convene again in March.

A summary of the grants and funding objectives are listed below.

Neighbor-Aid was launched in December 2008 to provide much-needed financial aid for nonprofit organizations struggling to meet the surge in demand from families and individuals for human services as the result of the economic crisis, many of whom are seeking charitable help for the first time.

Donors can contribute to Neighbor-Aid, on-line either through The Pittsburgh Foundation or the United Way of Allegheny County via a specifically designed web site to support the fund at Neighbor-Aid.org. Alternatively, contributions may be made by check payable to The Pittsburgh Foundation – Neighbor-Aid Fund and sent to the Foundation’s offices at Five PPG Place, Pittsburgh PA 15222 or to United Way – Neighbor-Aid Fund and sent to Box 640716, Pittsburgh PA 15264-0716.

“Nonprofit organizations form the bedrock of our social services infrastructure and we depend on them to deliver essential services to those in need,” said Grant Oliphant. “The grim reality is that without urgently needed supplemental funding, more and more nonprofits will fail, resulting in irreplaceable loss to our community, a loss of jobs, and further weakening of our social services safety net at a time of greatest need for more than a generation.”

Summary of grants awarded by Neighbor-Aid: February 2009

The Brashear Association received $15,000 to provide direct aid to families and individuals seeking help with housing, utilities and transportation services at its Family Assistance Program. The Association, which provides human and community services to low-income families and individuals who reside in South Pittsburgh neighborhoods, reported consistently increasing demand for assistance.

The Dollar Energy Fund received $100,000 to provide utility assistance grants to low-income families in Southwestern Pennsylvania. The grant will be used to leverage available 1:1 matching grants from utility suppliers. The Dollar Energy Fund has grown to become the largest hardship fund in Pennsylvania, and the fourth largest in the United States.

Focus on Renewal received $10,000 to help meet its “desperate need” for additional funding to serve increasing numbers of people seeking assistance from its Community Center and Emergency Food Pantry, where demand has spiked from 209 individuals in 2008 to 533 individuals in November, of whom 207 were children.

The Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank received $200,000 to sustain its inventory of food, providing an essential resource for its network of 380 charitable member agencies to which it distributes an average of 1.8 million pounds of food monthly. Overall demand has increased 300 percent between 2006 and 2008.

North Hills Community Outreach (NHCO) received $40,000 to provide food, utility assistance and emergency financial aid for other essential needs including housing and transportation. NHCO addresses the basic needs of individuals and families in crisis, hardship and poverty, serving 50 of the 130 municipalities in Allegheny County, and in the past five months saw 2,393 clients of whom 586 sought charitable help for the first time.

Community Auto received $22,000 to provide assistance for low-income individuals to purchase vehicles and to establish an emergency repair fund for buyers. Community Auto accepts donated vehicles, provides repair and inspection services and offers them to low-income buyers at below market value. Access to reliable and affordable transportation is critical for individuals in obtaining and retaining employment.

East End Cooperative Ministry received $69,000 to help meet rising costs resulting from increased demand from those seeking assistance from its Food Pantry and Men’s Emergency Shelter. In the wake of the economic crisis, the Ministry’s shelter is operating at over 133 percent of capacity with increased ‘first time users.’ Its Food Pantry has experienced an overall 20 percent increase in demand with a 300 percent spike in the number of clients from other neighborhoods who are not traditional pantry clients.

Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Pittsburgh received $80,000 to provide direct assistance to families and individuals in need.  The organization, which is experiencing an unprecedented volume of calls, provides basic needs programs for utility bills, emergency food, clothing, medication, furniture needs, disaster relief services for seniors and transportation assistance.

University of Pittsburgh Office of Child Development received $50,000 to provide emergency assistance to help keep family members in employment through its GAPS2 program, predominantly serving transportation, utility and housing needs. In its request for support, the organization stated: “The working poor, often described as one paycheck away from homelessness, have been forgotten by many safety net programs.”

Society of St. Vincent de Paul received $15,000 to purchase mattresses and bed frames for increasing numbers of first-time clients. The organization serves mostly low-income and at-risk families, and has experienced a 30 percent rise in demand since October 2008, with more people having immediate and extended family members move in with them.

For further information contact:
John Ellis
412-394-2647
ellisj@pghfdn.org