GCCF makes fast grants to assist in hurricane relief and recovery

Gulf Coast Community Foundation has activated its Rapid Response Fund to provide fast, critical support in the wake of Hurricane Milton. The Rapid Response Fund has provided 18 grants totaling more than $500,000 in life-sustaining support nonprofit organizations that provide immediate shelter, food and water, case managers and case navigators, mental health services and humanitarian "muck and gut” efforts to those impacted.

“Our team began preparations the week before Hurricane Milton’s arrival, and our board met to pre-authorize additional funding for our Rapid Response Fund,” said GCCF President and Phillip Lanham. “We know the need in our community is tremendous and the road to recovery is long. We are a resilient community. Together, we will support each other through the revitalization and recovery process.”

Grants include support for:

• United Way of South Sarasota County
• Second Heart Homes
• Better Together
• Awaken Outreach Center
• Operation Warrior Resolution
• Sarasota County NAACP
• Gulf Coast Partnership
• Disaster Aid USA
• Healthy Start Coalition of Sarasota
• Second Chance, Last Opportunity
• Multicultural Health Institute
• One More Child
• Take Stock in Children of Sarasota County
• Harvest House
• Community Assisted and Supported Living
• EqualSRQ Inc.

National organizations have contributed to GCCF’s Rapid Response Fund, including support from Humana Foundation and Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Biloxi. Donors who wish to contribute to the fund to the fund can visit GulfCoastCF.org/rapidresponsefund.