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NATICK – The Foundation for MetroWest, the community foundation serving the cities and towns of the MetroWest region of Massachusetts, today, March 17, announced the creation of the MetroWest Emergency Relief Fund.
The Fund will enable the rapid delivery of financial resources to MetroWest-based non-profits working with communities significantly impacted by unforeseen crises such as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
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One hundred percent of funds donated to the MetroWest Emergency Relief Fund will be used to provide one-time operating grants to non-profits that are addressing critical needs or have experienced financial challenges due to closures as a result of any broad-based community emergencies, including natural disasters, financial crises, and public health emergencies like COVID-19. During the current emergency and all future emergencies, the Foundation will determine the best process to distribute funds on a rolling basis as quickly and effectively as possible in order to expand local capacity to meet expected surges in need.
The Fund will be activated immediately for the COVID-19 pandemic, and during any future community-wide crises.
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“We know that our communities in MetroWest are facing significant challenges that are likely to continue over the next few months”, states Judith Salerno, Executive Director of the Foundation for MetroWest. “This fund is intended to be a rapid response vehicle to enable us to quickly get resources to where they are needed most. It will support nonprofits working on the frontline assisting our most vulnerable neighbors and those who are working to redirect and rebuild due to program cancellations and revenue loss.”
For COVID-19, the Foundation for MetroWest will convene a committee of other stakeholders in the region to ensure that the Fund is maximizing its impact and effectiveness.
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The Foundation hopes that other funders, businesses and generous donors will join them in supporting the Fund to ensure that demand for critical services can be met now and in the foreseeable future.
“The Foundation hopes that donations to the Emergency Relief Fund will continue for the duration of the outbreak so that needs are addressed as they evolve now and during the eventual rebuilding phase after this crisis subsides,” Salerno added.
Additionally, the City of Framingham, in partnership with the Foundation for MetroWest, has set up the Feed Framingham COVID-19 Fund to help ensure food access to vulnerable populations across the city during this unprecedented time. All proceeds of this emergency fund will go directly to organizations working to facilitate direct access to hunger relief efforts in Framingham.
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Both Funds are available to accept donations immediately:
MetroWest Emergency Relief Fund: www.foundationformw.org/emergency
Feed Framingham COVID-19: https://foundationmw.org/give/framingham
The Foundation expects to make an initial round of grants from the Emergency Relief Fund within the next few weeks.
Details on how nonprofit organizations can submit grant requests to the MetroWest Emergency Relief Fund will be available shortly.
SMILE Mass 
MetroWest Medical Center