The Tornado Relief Fund for Western Mass. has $145,000.
SPRINGFIELD – Square One and the YMCA of Greater Springfield are the first non-profit agencies to be the recipients of grants as part of the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts tornado-relief and recovery effort.
The grants, $20,000 to Square One and $5,000 to the Y, were announced on Tuesday by foundation president Ronald Ancrum.
Ancrum said in total they received donations from 60 donors including People’s United Bank, which donated $30,000, and PeoplesBank, which donated $25,000. The foundation also donated $50,000. The initial total in the fund was $145,000.
The Tornado Relief Fund for Western Mass. offers grants that go to non-profit organizations that were directly impacted by the tornado either through an increase in service needs or damage to their facilities, Ancrum said.
He said Square One not only lost several of their buildings on Main Street, but also a vehicle to transport children. The organization will use the $20,000 to purchase a new vehicle.
Square One president Joan Kagan said the foundation has always been a supporter of the organization.
“The grant process is usually long and we appreciate that the Community Foundation expedited the process understanding the immediate needs of the community,” she said.
Ancrum said the foundation developed a system to process any application in three weeks.
Kirk Smith, the president of the YMCA of Greater Springfield, said the $5,040 grant will be used to send about 20 children who were affected by the tornado and lived in emergency shelters to summer camp.
“Camp is about exposing young people to different aspects of life and to give these kids a chance to have good time and get away,” he said.
While they did not suffer physical damage, the organization opened their doors to more than 500 people after the tornado.
“We provided a space for them to take showers, play basketball, work out and get their mind off things,” he said.
Smith said they are grateful for the grant and it will be put to good use.
The foundation is still accepting applications from non-profit organizations. They are also accepting donations for the fund. For more information visit www.communityfoundation.org