The Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana Foundation has awarded a $50,000 grant for COVID-19 relief efforts in North Louisiana. The grant was made to Community Foundation of North Louisiana’s COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund, which has already granted $43,000 to Shreveport-Bossier nonprofits that are directly serving our community’s most vulnerable citizens.
“We are grateful to partners like the Community Foundation of North Louisiana who are keeping individuals and families going by seeing to immediate and urgent needs,” said Michael Tipton, president. “The work of the nonprofit community in Shreveport has been essential to the region’s resiliency.”
Both the BCBSLA Foundation and the Community Foundation are working to address immediate needs arising from the Pandemic – such as food, housing, and access to medical and mental health services – as these directly tie to the health, wellness, and wellbeing of our community in both the short and long term. Community Foundation of North Louisiana was selected for this grant because of its knowledge of community needs, partnerships with existing programs, and the ability to act quickly in times of crisis. This grant exemplifies how strategic partnerships amplify the reach and effectiveness of available resources.
“We are thrilled to partner with the BCBSLA Foundation to rapidly deploy funding to North Louisiana nonprofits who are working with our community’s most vulnerable citizens. We are humbled and honored to help BCBSLA carry out its mission in North Louisiana,” says Community Foundation CEO Kristi Gustavson. Recently, CFNLA announced $43,000 in grants during the first round of funding from the COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund. Grant awards for the second round of funding will be announced soon. Recognizing that Shreveport-Bossier needs will continue to grow and change over the coming weeks and months, the Community Foundation continues to work with local officials and other funders to create solutions for our community’s long-term recovery.
The COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund is made possible by generous donations from community members and area businesses. If you would like to make a contribution to the Fund please donate online at cfnla.org/covid19 or contact the Community Foundation at [email protected] or 318-221-0582.