Local nonprofits receive grants from Communities Foundation of Texas to support Brazos Valley COVID-19 Relief Efforts

May 14, 2020 – The Community Foundation of the Brazos Valley today announced that its state partner, the Communities Foundation of Texas (CFT), has awarded $28,500 to 4 local nonprofit organizations for COVID-19 relief efforts through funding from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX).

The grant funding is part of a $1 million donation from BCBSTX’s COVID-19 Collaborative Grant Fund to support community foundations and nonprofits throughout Texas providing critical services such as personal protective equipment (PPE) for first responders, childcare for first responders and healthcare professionals, and services for senior adults, including meal and grocery delivery.

Local nonprofits receiving funding include the Brazos Valley Council of Government, the Brazos Valley Area Agency on Aging, the Brazos Valley Food Bank, and St. Joseph Hospital.

The Brazos Valley Council of Government received a $10,000 grant to further its efforts in distributing PPEs to medical facilities within the 7-county region of the Brazos Valley. In receiving this grant, Executive Director Tom Wilkinson noted “BVCOG is honored and excited to receive a grant for $10,000 from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas through the Communities Foundation of Texas. As our communities are opening up, the need to protective equipment will help prevent the spread of COVID-19 -- Thank YOU!”

The Brazos Valley Area Agency on Aging also received a $3,000 grant to support its efforts in providing Brazos Valley elderly residents with meals and grocery delivery. In accepting the grant, Program Manager Ronnie Gipson shared “The Brazos Valley Council of Governments Area Agency on Aging thanks the Communities Foundation of Texas and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas for recommending our organization to receive COVID-19 relief funding to expand our Senior Nutrition Programs and needed Services to our senior population.”

The Brazos Valley Food Bank received a $3,000 grant to further its COVID-19 relief efforts in serving low-income and home bound seniors including meals and grocery delivery. In accepting the grant, Executive Director Theresa Mangapora shared “BVFB is very thankful for the support for feeding vulnerable seniors in our area. Many times, the elderly community are forgotten in crisis situations. We are very happy to be the recipient of this generous donation.”

St. Joseph received a $12,500 grant to assist healthcare workers with childcare throughout its Brazos Valley health care network. “The Community Foundation is a huge supporter of nonprofits in our community and we are proud to partner with them to support the growth and improvement of the Brazos Valley,” said Theron Park, Chief Executive Officer, St. Joseph Health. “We are incredibly thankful for the generous donation we received from Blue Cross and Blue Shield’s COVID-19 relief grant as these funds will support our staff with childcare assistance during this time of need.”

In recommending these organizations for COVID-19 relief funding, Community Foundation President Patricia Gerling shared “the Community Foundation is pleased to partner with CFT and Blue Cross and Blue Shield to support important COVID-19 relief needs within the Brazos Valley. It’s all about “people coming together” to support and serve the communities and State that they love.”

“Now, more than ever, it’s important to support the areas where our communities need it the most, which is why we established the Collaborative Grant Fund,” said Dr. Dan McCoy, president of BCBSTX.

“Through these grants, we are working to move resources to community-based organizations that are directly supporting local residents and families who are most impacted by the emerging health, economic, and social impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic.”

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About the Community Foundation of the Brazos Valley

Established in 2003, the Community Foundation of the Brazos Valley serves as a trusted partner for everything charitable through its work with donors, businesses, and nonprofit charities to build and sustain vibrant communities. At its core, the Foundation is a nonprofit organization created with gifts from generous people who are committed to local causes. For donors, the Foundation serves as a philanthropic advisor. For the communities it serves, the Foundation serves as a grant making and civic leader. With over $9M in assets under management, the Foundation has invested more than $1.7M in grants and scholarships to support local causes that change lives and impact the communities it serves. For more information, visit www.cfbv.org or call 979.589.4305.