As Hurricane Irma threatened in Fall 2017, the Community Foundation of Tampa Bay and other local funders sprang into action. They joined to provide a trusted source to gather and disburse disaster relief and recovery funds.
Allegany Franciscan Ministries, Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg, the Pinellas Community Foundation, four area United Ways and others pooled their resources with the the Community Foundation of Tampa Bay, whose disaster fund had been established a decade earlier.
A special online donation site was built as the area was evacuating. As soon as the storm passed, the Relief and Recovery Fund began sending money to nonprofits helping those affected by the storm. Feeding Tampa Bay received the first funding of $100,000.
Meanwhile, the general public jointed the effort. ABC Action News launched a live telethon that took in $45,000 in two hours.
A total of $1,200,000 was raised by all the efforts.
The funding organizations worked collaboratively after Irma (which, thankfully, was not as destructive as predicted), to distribute the money to nonprofits and fill gaps in relief aid. A few weeks later, after Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico, the fund expanded its efforts to assist evacuees to the Tampa Bay area.
The Tampa Bay Disaster Relief and Recovery Fund committee continues to hone its strategy for future disaster relief and recovery as well as planning for the next disaster response.
Partners
Allegany Franciscan Ministries
Community Foundation of Tampa Bay
Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg
Pinellas Community Foundation
United Way of Citrus County
United Way of Hernando
United Way of Pasco
United Way Suncoast
Nonprofits that received grants
2-1-1 Suncoast Inc.
The Arc Nature Coast
The Arc Tampa Bay
Boys & Girls Clubs of the Suncoast
Catholic Charities
Center for Great Apes
CASA
The Circle of Veterans and Families
Community Coalition on Homelessness
Daystar Life Center
Disability Achievement Center
Early Learning Coalition of Hillsborough County
Farmworkers Self-Help, Inc
Feeding Tampa Bay
Florida Dream Center
Humane Society of Pinellas
Jericho Road Ministries
The Kimberly HomeMeals on Wheels of Tampa
Meals on Wheels Plus of Manatee County
New Beginnings of Tampa
The Pregancy and Family Life Center
Quantum Leap Farm
Recover Pinellas
Redlands Christian Migrant Association
Restored Hope of Dade City
Salvation Army Sarasota Command
Senior Friendship Centers
The Shepherd Center of Tarpon Springs
St. Petersburg Free Clinic
Tampa Bay Healthcare Collaborative
Tampa Bay Network to End Hunger
Tampa Underground Network
United Food Bank of Plant City
We Care Food Pantry
Women’s Resource Center of Manatee
