Thursday, April 9, 2020
COVID-19 Action Fund Update
Today, United Way Blackhawk Region (UWBR) is proud to announce the first round of grants awarded from the COVID-19 Action Fund. The fund was established to provide flexible resources to nonprofit programs in Rock County and northern Winnebago County that are directly supporting local, vulnerable residents and families. While the fund is not available to individuals, it will support local nonprofit organizations that are well experienced providing health and human services. Read the full media release here.

We anticipate there may be multiple phases of funding to address both the acute needs and the longer-term impacts of the outbreak and recovery. In this first phase, we are prioritizing community-based organizations that are serving communities and individuals who are immediately and disproportionately suffering from this crisis. We will continue to prioritize communities most impacted, recognizing deep and historic inequities that are likely to be magnified in times of crisis. United Way also understands crisis philanthropy balances the need to provide immediate resources for triage, as well as the importance of recovery resources to ensure community resilience.

Since launching the Action Fund on March 23, 2020, the generosity of more than 100 individual and corporate donors has almost matched UWBR’s initial investment of $100,000. While we are deeply grateful to everyone that has stepped up with gifts of all sizes, we believe the Blackhawk Region can do better than that. Our community is counting on us to. 

Take action today! Click here to make a gift online, Text “GIVECOVID” to 41444, or mail a check to: United Way Blackhawk Region, PO Box 2780, Janesville, WI 53547 and indicate “Action Fund” in the memo line. 
Individual Donors

$10,000
  • Dennis & Carol Alt
  • Mark & Kathy Bush
  • Tom & Arra Lasse

$1,000 - $9,999
  • Amy Lokrantz
  • Maribeth Miller
  • Mitch & Louise Pelsue
  • Nigella Ryan
  • Martin & Nancy Stabb

Up to $999
  • Milly Babcock
  • Tim & Kelly Bedessem 
  • Pam Bitter
  • Scott & Kaaren Bordwell
  • Jon Boumstein
  • Suzanne & Tracy Breneman
  • Donald & Lisa Brovick
  • Jordan Brovick
  • Michelle Brown
  • Wendy Bumgarner
  • Susan Burkart
  • Santo & Jeanne Carfora
  • Jan Carwardine
  • Darcy Christiansen
  • Annabelle Collins
  • Jeffrey & Diana Collins
  • Janice Compton
  • Sue Conley
  • Katie Crist
  • Tim Cullen
  • Richard Dahman
  • Maggie Darr
  • Bonnie Domingo
  • Devan & Jo Ann Dutra
  • Gina Erickson
  • Kelly Fanning
  • Mary Fanning-Penny
  • Scott & Toni Fischer
  • Mary Frederick
  • Maury & Kay Frey
  • Lynn Gardinier
  • Mark & Merry Beth Gliebe
  • Cynthia Grassl
  • Florence Haley
  • Tom Hatlen
  • Ian Hedges
  • Patricia Henry
  • C. David & Kayla Hiller
  • Derek & Cheryl Hilst
  • Elizabeth Hough
  • Candace Huber
  • Hayley Hughes
  • Al Hulick
  • Craig & Lisa Hurda
  • Raymond Jablonski
  • Robert & Mary Jacobson
  • Jim & Ann Johnson
  • Eric & Katie Kuznacic
  • David & Delores Lancour
  • Kim Lantta
  • Jim & Linda Lyke
  • Gloria Mathews
  • Elizabeth Matson
  • Tom & Allison McCawley
  • Michael & Susan Melton
  • Julie Michaelson
  • Marsha Mood
  • Huntur Munns
  • Tom Neuenschwander
  • Tyler & JoDee Nifong
  • Mike & Patty O'Brien
  • Dennis Pauli
  • Bruce Penny
  • Marc Perry
  • Denise Peters-Kauihou
  • Cheryl & David F. Peterson
  • James & Margaret Polglaze
  • Steve & Judy Pophal
  • Geoff & Gina Rand
  • Mark Rand
  • Doug & Christine Rebout
  • Theodore Rehl
  • Julie Reinhart
  • Gerald & Doris Roehl
  • Linda & Tony Ross
  • Tobin & Oakleigh Ryan
  • Verna Saladino
  • Daniel M. Sawyer
  • Jon & Lori Schlemmer
  • Shawna Schultz
  • Patty & Steve Schumacher
  • Josh & Heather Smith
  • Teresa & Gary Sommers
  • Larry & Cindy Squire
  • Sherri & Chris Stumpf
  • Beth & James Tallon
  • Robin Theisen
  • Shandra & Jared Thomas
  • Aimee Thurner
  • Katie & Andy Udell
  • Heidi Van Kirk
  • Rick & Lynn West
  • Brad Westness
  • Katie & Lucas Wheelock
  • Jennifer & Dan White
  • Lynn Wood
  • John Ziegler
  • Margaret Zweck
United Way Blog
Click here to read a COVID-19 Update from UWBR President & CEO Mary Fanning-Penny.

In case you missed it:
Special Note for Donors
United Way Blackhawk Region wants donors to be aware of a  $300 "non-itemizer" deduction for 2020 included in the federal CARES Act signed into law on March 27, 2020. Here are some details of this $300 Universal Charitable Deduction:
• Effective as of March 27, 2020 and will apply to donations made for all of 2020.
• Only for people who do not itemize their taxes.
• Donors who itemize their taxes are eligible for the existing charitable deduction.
• Only for financial donations (not in kind or materials).
• Can be used by the charity for any purpose (not limited to COVID-19 relief efforts).

#LiveUnited