$400,000 in Community Relief Fund Dollars Distributed to Community

United Way of the Columbia-Willamette distributed $400,000 in the first installation of Community Relief Fund dollars to help families with emergency food, rent, and utility assistance.

To learn more about the Community Relief Fund, visit www.give10tell10.org

The Community Relief Fund is an emergency fundraising effort initiated by United Way, the Oregon Food Bank, and Community Action Programs in all four metro area counties and will continue through mid-June. One of the goals of the initiative is to get funds on the street as quickly as possible to help families in crisis.

The $400,000 represent donations from individuals, businesses, and foundations. Major funding partners include: Oregon Community Foundation, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Providence Health System, Bank of America, and Wells Fargo. Meyer Memorial Trust has also provided a challenge grant that will match individual donations up to $100,000.

$400,000 was distributed to community action programs in Clackamas, Clark, Multnomah and Washington counties.

In addition to community action programs, culturally-specific agencies serving ethnic, racial and tribal communities also received funding, among them: SEI (Self Enhancement Inc.), IRCO (Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization), NARA (Native American Rehabilitation Association) and NAYA Family Center.