Blue Mountain Community Foundation creates COVID-19 response fund

WALLA WALLA—The Blue Mountain Community Foundation has created a COVID-19 Response Fund and is organizing an advisory committee so that charitable resources can be directed to nonprofit organizations assisting people affected by the COVID-19 virus pandemic in the Walla Walla Valley. Other local philanthropies are creating funds either on their own, or in partnership with BMCF. The Sherwood Trust, a privately held Trust in Walla Walla, Wash., made a $10,000 grant to BMCF’s fund, and an anonymous donor gave $5000 to the Fund in addition to the $100,000 that the Community Foundation has set aside for this purpose.

The COVID-19 Response Fund will provide flexible resources to organizations working with people who are disproportionately impacted by coronavirus and the economic consequences of the outbreak. The Fund is designed to complement the work of local, state and Federal resources and programs, and expand local capacity to address the outbreak as efficiently as possible.

A local Advisory Committee will be reaching out to nonprofit organizations soon about current impacts and anticipated situations due to the pandemic.

Donations to the Fund are eligible for charitable income tax deductions. Online donations can be made at http://www.bluemountainfoundation.org or individuals can send checks made out to “BMCF – COVID-19 Fund” to PO Box 603, Walla Walla, WA 99362.

For more information BMCF staff can be reached at (509) 529-4371 or bmcf@bluemountainfoundation.org.