The Golisano Foundation has awarded $416,000 to 11 organizations in western New York and southwest Florida in another round of grants designed to help people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
The foundation has now issued three rounds of grants to help agencies that have urgent needs due to the COVID-19 pandemic. That brings the total COVID-19 response grant funding to date to $1.1 million.
Grants announced on Monday include those going to the Arc agencies in Ontario, Wayne, Genesee and Orleans counties.
Other funds include grants for Lifespan and Lifetime Assistance.
"The most recent round of applications has signaled a change from emergency preparedness to careful planning for reopening programs and services according to NYS guidelines," said Ann Costello, executive director of the Foundation. "As much as everyone would like things to get back to normal, agencies are proceeding with caution given the vulnerability of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and the reality that the COVID-19 virus is still with us.”
Now through the end of October, the Golisano Foundation is redirecting about $2 million in grant funding to help organizations in western New York and southwest Florida cope with pandemic-related issues. Grants can be used for items such as short-term operating expenses, the purchase of personal protective equipment, and technology for virtual commuting and telemedicine.
This story is reported from WXXI's Inclusion Desk.
