Cleveland Foundation African American Philanthropy Committee commits $25,050 to support COVID-19 relief

← Back to Blog July 16, 2020 by At the Foundation, COVID-19 Response, Grantmaking, Nonprofit, Strengthening Cleveland
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The Cleveland Foundation African American Philanthropy Committee has announced $25,050 in grants from the African American Philanthropy Committee Legacy Fund to support three Northeast Ohio nonprofit organizations working to help communities most impacted by COVID-19 recover from the effects of the pandemic: Cleveland VOTES, the Northeast Ohio Black Health Coalition and Peel Dem Layers Back.

“Our community needs us now more than ever, and it’s important that we step up,” said Cleveland Foundation African American Philanthropy Committee (AAPC) Co-Chair Ronald V. Johnson, Jr. as he announced the commitment during the first all-virtual version of the African American Philanthropy Summit on May 30.

Grants were awarded to:

Cleveland VOTES ($8,350) – This year-round, nonpartisan voter mobilization initiative works with a network of trusted nonprofit organizations, including housing providers, health care centers, multi-service centers, food pantries, and community action and homeless programs, to increase voter participation and promote fair elections. The funding will support its efforts to help people exercise their right to vote and stay engaged in civic debate even through the pandemic.

The Northeast Ohio Black Health Coalition (NEOBHC) ($8,350) – The NEOBHC works across multiple sectors using unified approaches regarding education, advocacy and empowerment to meet the unique needs of African Americans in Northeast Ohio. The organization will use the grant to help address disparities in health, employment, housing and education in the region.

Peel Dem Layers Back ($8,350) – The mission of Peel Dem Layers Back is to educate, empower and equip individuals with basic tools to live a mentally healthy life, using the culture of hip-hop as a vehicle to create space for predominantly Black and Brown communities to publicly share personal testimonies. Funding will support the organization’s efforts to break the stigma around mental health and promote wellbeing in these communities.

For more information or to give to the AAPC Legacy Fund, visit www.ClevelandFoundation.org/AAPC.