2020 COVID-19 Community Response Fund2020 was a year of challenges and changes.  Here at the Astley Family Foundation, we did some things the same as previous years and also made changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Astley Family Foundation, Lyle S. Hallman Foundation, United Way Waterloo Region Communities, Kitchener Waterloo Community Foundation, Social Venture Partners Waterloo Region, Fairmount Foundation and Cambridge & North Dumfries Community Foundation recently joined forces to maximize assistance for urgent and emerging community needs in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The funder’s collective worked together to raise and distribute funds to front line organizations that were striving to ensure our most vulnerable citizens and those that support them remain supported, safe and healthy.

The Astley Family Foundation contributed $56,650 to the total pool of over $800,000 that was distributed to 43 charities across Waterloo Region in response to applications to the COVID-19 Community Response Fund.

This funding was directed to charitable organizations working with vulnerable populations across Waterloo Region. It assisted organizations that expressed urgent need to continue providing front-line social services through essential programming as well as health and safety for charitable front line workers. Funded Organizations Adventure4 Change Anishnabeg Outreach Employment and Training Inc. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Waterloo Region Cambridge Self Help Food Bank Cambridge Shelter Corporation Canadian Mental Health Association Waterloo Wellington Carizon Family and Community Services Child Witness Centre of Waterloo Region Christian Horizons Community Care Concepts of Woolwich Wellesley and Wilmot (Rural Collaborative)Community Justice Initiatives of Waterloo Region Community Support Connections Family & Children’s Services of the Waterloo Region Foundation Family Counselling Centre Cambridge & North Dumfries House of Friendship Independent Living Centre Waterloo Region Interfaith Counselling Centre Kinbridge Community Association Kitchener Downtown Community Health Centre KW Counselling Services Langs Farm Village Association (Langs) Lisaard and Innisfree Hospice Lutherwood Child and Family Foundation Marillac Place Mennonite Central Committee Ontario (MCC)Mennonite Coalition for Refugee Support Monica Place Nutrition for Learning one ROOF Youth Services Reception House Waterloo Region Sanctuary Refugee Health Centre Sexual Assault Support Centre of Waterloo Region Shalom Counselling Services Inc. Sunbeam Centre Supportive Housing of Waterloo The AIDS Committee of Cambridge, Kitchener, Waterloo and Area The Food Bank of Waterloo Region The Kidney Foundation of Canada The Salvation Army Kitchener Waterloo Community and Family Services Waterloo Region Family Network Women’s Crisis Services of Waterloo Region Woolwich Counselling Centre YW Kitchener-Waterloo