Community Recovery Fund makes bulk purchase for Personal Protection Equipment possible for 42 selected organizations on the frontlines in vulnerable communities

On Saturday, July 25, The Miami Foundation, Health Foundation of South Florida, Florida Blue Foundation and partners will put nearly 70,000 units of personal protection equipment (PPE) into the hands of essential and nonprofit workers fighting to protect their communities from the spread of COVID-19. Through the Community Recovery Fund, the collaboration secured bulk purchases of PPE at a lower cost than the organizations would have been able to secure independently. Forty-two small nonprofits, tapped for the program because they deliver basic human need services to residents vulnerable to this public health crisis, will collect items at a drive-thru event coordinated by Health in the Hood and Urban Philanthropies.

Nonprofit recipients will receive masks, thermometers, hand sanitizer by the gallon, disinfecting wipes, face shields and gowns from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at The Urban in Overtown: 1000 NW 2nd Ave., Miami.

The collaborative bulk purchase and distribution of PPE is one of the major investments made possible through the Community Recovery Fund, which to date has invested more than $2.8M in coronavirus pandemic relief. The Miami Foundation launched the fund in March, and it has been supported by individual donors and organizations that want to address immediate and long-term community needs created and worsened by the pandemic.

“This is the power of collaboration in philanthropy. By purchasing PPE together, we slashed costs and built a stronger recovery effort,” said Rebecca Fishman Lipsey, president and CEO of The Miami Foundation. “By working with Health Foundation of South Florida, Florida Blue Foundation, and the many Community Recovery Fund donors, we minimized duplication, reached farther across our region, and built something greater than any of us could have accomplished alone.“

The 42 nonprofits that will receive the PPE met the following criteria: employed approximately 50 people or fewer and focused on providing basic human needs services to vulnerable populations. Basic human needs services include accessibility and disability services, food security services, health and human services, housing; and legal services. Vulnerable populations include low-income individuals/families; people of color; undocumented individuals and families; victims of domestic violence; individuals with diverse abilities; older adults and immunocompromised individuals.

• Americans for Immigrant Justice
• Better Way of Miami
• Bridge to Hope
• Catalyst Miami
• Catholic Charities Legal Services
• CCDH
• The WOW Center
• Curley’s House of Style 
• Dade County Street Response
• Dade Legal Aid
• Easter Seals South Florida
• Evolve Med
• Family Action Network Movement (FANM)
• Federation of Families, Miami-Dade Chapter
• Gang Alternative
• Haitian Neighborhood Center, Sant La
• Haynes Harbour
• Health Council of South Florida
• Health in the Hood
• His House
• International Rescue Committee (IRC) in Miami
• Kristi House

• Latinos Salud
• Little Haiti Cultural Complex
• Mactown
• Miami Bridge Youth & Family Services
• Miami Diaper Bank
• Miami Rescue Mission Clinic
• Mothers Fighting for Justice
• MUJER
• New Hope CORPS
• Opa-Locka Community Development Center
• Rebuilding Together Miami-Dade 
• Richmond Heights Community Association 
• Showering Love 
• The Key Clubhouse of South Florida
• The Smile Trust 
• Thelma Gibson Health Initiative 
• Urban Oasis Project
• Urban Philanthropies, Inc.
• YMCA of South Florida 
• YWCA of South Florida

“Having access to and using personal protective equipment is crucial for our entire community, but especially for the many nonprofit workers who, everyday, are at the frontline of helping our most vulnerable neighbors withstand the pandemic crisis,” said Steven E. Marcus, president and CEO of the Health Foundation of South Florida. “We partnered with The Miami Foundation because we knew that, together, we could accomplish more. Ultimately, our goal is to help a greater number of nonprofits keep employees and clients safe, and continue to serve our community,”

Additional plans are in the works to provide $26,000 in PPE to local farmworkers and communities with a high number of migrant worker families.