UPS Donates Nearly $500,000 In New Funding To Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio Nonprofits, University Of Louisville For Coronavirus Relief
The UPS Foundation today announced the donation of $481,100 to non-profits in the Louisville, Kentucky, regional area – including parts of Southern Indiana – who are supporting pandemic relief efforts. This is in addition to the $297,000 UPS donated locally earlier this year for Covid-19 relief efforts.
Some of the larger recipients of the 39 regional grants include University of Louisvillle, Dare to Care, WaterStep, Uspiritus, Ronald McDonald House - Kentucky, Volunteers of America, Association of Community Ministries, Scarlet Hope, SOS International, Family Scholar House, and Home of the Innocents. The money from the UPS donations will go to support their critical operations.
In the latest round of UPS funding, the University of Louisville received the largest grant to fund promising research into blocking the novel coronavirus from infecting human cells. The work was originally developed as a cancer treatment by researcher Paula Bates with co-researchers John Trent and Dr. Don Miller. "I deeply appreciate the gift from UPS that helps support my work," said Bates, a professor of medicine. "It is with gifts such as this that we will be able to advance our research and our ability to treat the novel coronavirus."
Grant receipients saw a surge in need for services directly associated with the impact of the pandemic. With the concern that some of these important community resources were underfunded and unable to meet the growing needs, UPS was able to lend a hand. "Being a good corporate citizen is about helping our community with purposeful giving. Working with these community organizations to identify immediate needs allows us to provide resources that give the largest impact," UPS Public Affairs and Community Relations Supervisor Justin Heckel said.
Dare to Care, which helps feed the hungry in 13 counties in Kentucky, Indiana and Ohio, is one organization tightening its belt. "Dare to Care is so excited to be a recipient of a grant from UPS, helping us supply thousands of meals to those in the community. UPS employees donated more than 7,000 volunteer hours last year to help us with our cause," Annette Ball, Chief Programs Officer of Dare to Care said. For every dollar of the grant, 3 meals were donated, helping to serve 75,000 meals to local families.
Designated by the governments of countries around the world as a "critical infrastructure business," UPS deliveries are saving lives and livelihoods. The company offers its heartfelt thanks to the 495,000 UPSers around the world, whose work is essential during the pandemic, and who continue to deliver safely every day.
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