Caring for Communities Far and Wide: Responding to COVID-19

As the world responds to the effects of COVID-19, we’re finding opportunities to step forward in new ways, innovating and collaborating to uplift and strengthen communities across the world during this time of uncertainty. The Patterson Foundation is strengthening people, organizations, and communities by leveraging its existing partnerships with philanthropic networks and encouraging continued generosity locally and globally. This support includes contributions to longstanding initiatives and organizations using proven platforms to care for people affected financially by COVID-19 while connecting nonprofits with resources to help them learn, share, and build capacity in ways that strengthen their philanthropic missions to meet the evolving technology needs of communities around the world.

The Patterson Foundation is supporting these caring partners and creative initiatives focused on responding to COVID-19:

• Season of Sharing: an initial $500,000 contribution to help individuals and families in Charlotte, DeSoto, Manatee, and Sarasota counties financially affected by the pandemic with emergency assistance for immediate basic needs such as payments for utilities, childcare, and rent. In addition, TPF is providing a dollar-for-dollar match up to $500,000 to strengthen this effort and catalyze additional support. Click here to support Season of Sharing.
  
  
• 2020 Giving Challenge: The Patterson Foundation affirms its previously announced commitment to provide a 1:1 match for all unique donations to regional nonprofit organizations participating in the 24-hour event from noon April 28 to noon April 29 between $25 and $100 per donor, per nonprofit organization. There is no limit to the number of unique individual matches a nonprofit organization can receive during the 2020 Giving Challenge. Additionally, The Patterson Foundation is sharing daily tips through social media that nonprofit organizations and donors can use to strengthen their opportunities to connect through the event. Click here for more information on the Giving Challenge.
  
  
• NetHope: a $100,000 gift to catalyze contributions from additional funders to strengthen NetHope’s international COVID-19 response effort and support its 57 member organizations with technology solutions developed in partnership with leading technology companies. To support NetHope’s efforts, please visit nethope.org.

“The Patterson Foundation’s commitment to creating stronger futures for communities recovering from disasters is guiding our approach to the uncertainties created by COVID-19,” said Debra Jacobs, president and CEO of The Patterson Foundation. “This region is fortunate to have time-tested, sustainable models to connect with and build upon when people, organizations, and communities are faced with a crisis. Through further connections with global networks, The Patterson Foundation is also strengthening communities in the developing world — many of which are facing some of the same issues being felt in our four-county region. The creative conversations fostered through these contributions and the work they will fuel will help experts identify innovative ways to meet the rising technology needs of people, organizations, and communities across the world.”

Season of Sharing, the region’s annual campaign caring for people on the verge of homelessness, has been reactivated by the Community Foundation of Sarasota County and the Herald-Tribune Media Group to meet the emerging needs of individuals and families facing unforeseen financial hardship from COVID-19. The campaign has been held annually since 2000. The staff of the Herald-Tribune Media Group, the Community Foundation of Sarasota County, media partners, and more than 60 nonprofit organizations donate their time and resources to ensure that 100 percent of the funds raised through Season of Sharing serve those in need.

The Community Foundation of Sarasota County’s 2020 Giving Challenge, a 24-hour online giving day connecting donors with more than 700 regional nonprofits, will help organizations raise unrestricted funds to build capacity in ways that strengthen their ability to fulfill their philanthropic missions and meet the evolving needs of the community. The digital nature of the Giving Challenge makes it one of the most effective ways for people to connect with and strengthen the nonprofit community amid COVID-19.

NetHope, a collaboration of 57 international nonprofits, works to apply information technology solutions to challenges in the developing world. Currently, it is raising funds to support its member organizations responding to the coronavirus while convening and managing task forces that are exploring ways to optimize remote working tools and practices, supply chain management, and information sharing and management. The Patterson Foundation has previously supported NetHope during global response efforts, contributing more than $2.1 million for major disasters such as the Indonesian earthquake, the Venezuelan Refugee Crisis, and Hurricane Dorian.