As it became apparent that the COVID-19 virus would threaten the health and economic well-being of the nation’s most vulnerable, Brandywine Health Foundation took quick action and announced the creation of its Healthcare & Economic Relief Fund. The goal of the fund is to rapidly identify and address the urgent needs of the Coatesville community and BHF’s nonprofit partners. To double the impact of each donation to the new fund, BHF committed to match each contribution, dollar for dollar, withholding nothing additional for administrative costs.

Donations in Solidarity with Greater Coatesville

Thanks to the generous donations of more than 100 local and regional contributing partners, more than $100,000 began quickly flowing into the Greater Coatesville community. Initial donations were boosted further by the decision of many Garden Party sponsors to transfer their sponsorship dollars to the new fund.

Thus far, community need has far exceeded projections, and BHF is compelled to surpass its original fund goal of $350,000. BHF is committed to doubling its fundraising efforts so that its partner organizations can continue to address the growing hardship that so many of its neighbors, friends, students, relatives, and colleagues now face.

Community Impact

To date, 19 organizations have received funds, with the average grant size $6,700, to address varied community needs identified as life-sustaining and essential during the initial stages of this pandemic. Below are a few of BHF’s grant partners:

• Bridge Academy and Community Center: Assisting single-parent households or guardians facing financial hardship through rental and utility assistance in the City of Coatesville.
• Coatesville Senior Center: Addressing life-sustaining food access by supporting freshly prepared, grab-n-go lunches to approximately 100 residents daily.
• Community Volunteers in Medicine (CVIM): Filling the gap with additional staff due to the decrease of 500 clinical support volunteers to continue to provide free healthcare to patients and to purchase prescription medications no longer available through free Patient Assistance Programs.
• Community, Youth & Women’s Alliance: Supporting the necessary daily needs of homeless women and children such as food, personal hygiene, and cleaning supplies.
• Good Works: Enabling low-income Coatesville families in need of urgent home repairs during this time to live in safe and healthy homes, while improving the quality of life for those at risk of falling further behind socially and economically.
• Keystone Valley and Modena Fire Departments: Supporting the purchase of PPE and infection control kits for first responders of Emergency Medical Services serving the Greater Coatesville community.

As BHF looks to its role and mission in a post-pandemic world, Rick Clark, the incoming board chair, said that “the Brandywine Health Foundation will continue to be flexible in its daily work to improve the lives of the region’s most vulnerable.”

Click here to donate to the Brandywine Health Foundation’s Healthcare & Economic Relief Fund.

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