The Knight Foundation today announced that it would contribute $500,000 to the Akron Summit County COVID-19 Emergency Support Fund. The fund was created through a partnership between United Way of Summit County, the City of Akron, the County of Summit, Akron Public Schools, the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank, Summit County Public Health and Job and Family Services to provide support to those impacted by or fighting the coronavirus pandemic. The contribution from the Knight Foundation brings the total size of the fund to nearly $1 million.
“Knight Foundation is deeply committed to Akron, its home city, and stands by Akronites in this challenging time. This fund represents a strong, unified response to the crisis by organizations that truly understand the needs of the community, and supporting it is the best way we can have an impact,” said Kyle Kutuchief, Knight Foundation’s Akron program director.
“This crisis represents a once-in-a-lifetime call to action for those who care about our community,” said Jim Mullen, president and CEO of United Way of Summit County. “The Knight Foundation has answered that call, and we thank them for their tireless dedication to the health and wellbeing of Summit County.”
Last week, the Akron Summit County COVID-19 Emergency Support Fund released its first round of funding totaling $170,000, and more will be distributed in the coming weeks. With the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 continuing to grow across the state, the organizations involved in the support fund continue to monitor the developing situation in order to meet the needs of Summit County residents.
“The crisis has revealed the heroism in every corner of this community – from the healthcare providers and first responders saving lives, to the grocery workers risking their health every day to ensure people have what they need to weather this pandemic,” said Mullen. “We can all play a part in helping our community succeed in the face of this emergency.”
To donate to the Akron Summit County COVID-19 Emergency Support Fund, visit uwsummit.org/covid-19.