The LCCF Establishes Permanent Community Crisis Relief Fund

Waukegan, Illinois (April 1, 2020) – The Lake County Community Foundation (LCCF) recently launched the Lake County Community Crisis Relief Fund to respond to critical needs that will arise in Lake County as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, and also to serve as a permanent countywide funding resource in times of future emergencies. As the Foundation works quickly to build this critical fund, it recently received a generous $300,000 commitment from the Julian Grace Foundation and a $100,000 commitment from Horizon Therapeutics in support of the effort.

Our communities, the nation and the world are facing an unprecedented crisis as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to unfold. Given the continuously changing nature of the pandemic and the local needs that will undoubtedly arise, LCCF believes that a multi-faceted approach will be required—one that focuses on immediate crisis response, intermediate stabilization and long-term community revitalization. The long-term strategy to create a permanent Community Crisis Relief Fund will ensure that our nonprofit health and human service providers have access to quick and well-coordinated funding to alleviate financial hardship during this crisis as well as in the event of future community or countywide emergencies.

LCCF Executive Director, Maggie Morales, said the flexibility of a broader emergency fund is beneficial as a permanent support to help our most vulnerable neighbors in the county, regardless of the nature of the emergency that may arise. Establishing the fund now will allow for immediate response to future crisis events in Lake County. LCCF is also working closely with colleagues from The Chicago Community Trust as well as the Alliance of Illinois Community Foundations to partner and coordinate in distributing regional and state-wide emergency relief funds to local nonprofit agencies.

“We anticipate the impact of COVID-19 will be felt in a myriad of ways beyond the next 6 months,” said Morales. “Establishing this essential resource will not only provide our nonprofit partners with the funding they need to respond to urgent needs that our Lake County residents are facing right now, but will also ensure that we can respond quickly and efficiently when crises emerge throughout the county well into the future.”

Funds will be granted to nonprofit health and human service organizations, in good standing with the IRS, that are addressing basic needs of Lake County residents during a community or countywide emergency. Applications for grants from the Lake County Community Crisis Relief Fund will be made by invitation only. Grants through this fund will support: emergency food and basic supplies, interim housing and shelter, primary health care services, utility and financial assistance, supports for school children and other vulnerable populations, nonprofit safety and operations assistance and more.

The fund will be administered through The Lake County Community Foundation with guidance from a core crisis response team comprised of representatives of LCCF, the Healthcare Foundation of Northern Lake County, the Lake County Health Department, Lake County Community Development Division and community residents identified by our nonprofit partners. In the event of a municipal emergency, the response team will work directly with community leaders to further inform grant making.

LCCF has secured vital partnerships to seed the fund, notably from the Julian Grace Foundation, which has committed $300,000 in support.

"As a resident of Lake County and someone who deeply cares about and understands the immense needs of the county, I'm pleased to support the Lake County Community Foundation Crisis Relief Fund with a leadership gift from our family foundation," said Steve Sarowitz, President of the Julian Grace Foundation and Chairman of Paylocity. “What this crisis is teaching us is that we are one human family and that we are all in this together. Now is the time for those of us in Lake County who have been blessed to stand up for our neighbors who are in need.”

Community partner, Horizon Therapeutics of Lake Forest has also generously committed $100,000 in support of the fund.

“We are proud to partner with The Lake County Community Foundation to provide critical support to our local nonprofit agencies as they work to care for our neighbors throughout the county during this time of crisis,” said Timothy Walbert, chairman, president and chief executive officer, Horizon. “We hope that businesses and people throughout the county will join us in supporting this urgent need.”

To donate to the Lake County Community Crisis Relief Fund please visit here. If you wish to make a gift by check to support the fund, please make your check payable to: The Lake County Community Foundation, 114 S. Genesee, Suite 505, Waukegan, IL 60085 and please indicate “The Lake County Community Crisis Relief Fund” in the memo.