Henry L. Hillman Foundation giving more than $4 million in emergency grants to help fight covid-19

The Henry L. Hillman Foundation has released more than $4 million in emergency grants since mid-March in response to the unfolding covid-19 pandemic.

More funds are anticipated to be released in the coming days and weeks, foundation officials said Friday.

“Our board convened right away wanting to offer what we could to assist with the immediate medical, health, safety, and human services needs in the community,” said David K. Roger, president of Hillman Family Foundations, of which the Henry L. Hillman Foundation is the largest. “We can’t say enough to thank the Allegheny County Executive (Rich Fitzgerald), (the) departments of Health and Human Services, our hospital systems, the United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania, and nonprofit organization partners who have been working 24/7 to respond to covid-19.”

One of the first and largest contributions was $1 million given to The Pittsburgh Foundation’s Emergency Action Fund, along with The Heinz Endowments and Richard King Mellon Foundation.

The Heinz Endowments announced earlier this week an “initial wave” of emergency grants totaling $2.34 million.

“Working closely with our foundation partners, it was clear that Pittsburgh’s philanthropies needed to send a message to the region that we are here to support the emergency response efforts and that we will remain here for the long-run to help communities recover,” said Roger.

Contributions and other actions include:

• $350,000 to Allegheny County for immediate needs.

• $335,000 to the United Way of Southern Pennsylvania to bolster 211 and the Emergency Basic Needs Fund.

• $350,000 to 412 Food Rescue for equipment and technology to expand home delivery and other types of needed food transportation.

• $350,000 to Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank toward emergency food purchases to meet rising demand.

• $250,000 to Community Human Services to expand basic needs and housing support and assistant for low income, seniors, children and other vulnerable individuals.

• $250,000 to Trying Together to provide emergency support for childcare organizations to assist front line responders and other essential workers.

• $250,000 to Global Links to coordinate personal protective equipment supply/distribution and other equipment needs for front-line nonprofit responders.

• $250,000 to Bridgeway Capital for its emergency fund to provide gap credit to small businesses and nonprofit organizations.

• $250,000 to the City of Pittsburgh Urban Redevelopment Authority for loans and other support to small businesses and nonprofits.

• $115,000 to the University of Pittsburgh Center for Vaccine Research.

• $100,000 to New Sun Rising for its Rapid Response Fund.

• $100,000 to Hebrew Free Loan for its emergency small loan fund.

• $50,000 to Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Pittsburgh to expand basic needs support.

• $50,000 to JFCS Pittsburgh to expand basic needs support.

Foundation officials said they are working with nonprofit partners with active grants to remove designations and repurpose grants if needed. Payments on previously scheduled grants are being advanced for earlier distribution to provide cash on hand for impacted nonprofits.

Its board of trustees originally approved a $2 million allocation at an emergency meeting on March 16.

“While we are grateful to be in a position to provide this support, the real work is being done by our critical government leaders and the extraordinary efforts of our regional hospital systems and so many nonprofit organizations and their staff and volunteers,” said Roger. “At times like this, you can really see what Pittsburgh and Pittsburghers are made of.”