Nevadans in need can now access immediate assistance from 27 nonprofits across the valley
LAS VEGAS – With community needs escalating, United Way of Southern Nevada (UWSN) has expanded its support of families impacted by COVID-19 through Phase 2 funding of $955,277 through its UWSN Emergency Assistance and Community Needs (EACN) Fund. UWSN increased its reach to support organizations that are providing direct assistance for veterans, families of children with cancer, survivors of human trafficking, and others who are on the brink of homelessness and in desperate need of food and shelter assistance. This funding includes generous support from the Nevada Attorney General’s office for rent and mortgage assistance.
“Our hearts go out to those who are struggling right now to keep a roof over their heads and food on the table. We are focusing all of our resources to expand our support to help Nevadans who need it most,” said Kyle B. Rahn, United Way of Southern Nevada President & CEO. “We urge our community to donate to the EACN fund that goes directly out to provide help and healing to the most vulnerable.”
With total community funding of $1,884,145, UWSN is mobilizing its resources to provide food, shelter and utility assistance to those who need it most. 50 organizations requested over $5 million in funding from the UWSN Emergency Assistance and Community Needs Fund. With nearly $2.1 million currently in the fund, UWSN needs the community’s support to help raise $3 million more to provide immediate needs assistance. UWSN is encouraging organizations and individuals to donate at uwsn.org/donate or by texting “UWSNFUND” to 313131.
Individuals can contact Nevada 2-1-1 at 1-866-535-5654 to find the needed resource for assistance from the Phase 1 and Phase 2 funding recipients. The UWSN is in the process of disbursing funds to the following 14 community organizations to meet the immediate needs of families.
Al-Maun (Neighborly Needs)
Providing rent and mortgage assistance.
Ayden’s Army of Angels
Providing rent, mortgage, and utility assistance to families impacted by childhood. cancer.
Candlelighters for Childhood Cancer
Providing rent and mortgage assistance to families impacted by childhood cancer.
Cappalappa Family Resource Center
Providing food, rent/mortgage, and utility assistance to residents in Moapa.
CSN Foundation
Providing rent and utility assistance to CSN students impacted by COVID-19.
Economic Opportunity Board (EOB)
Providing rent, mortgage, and utility assistance.
Helping Hands of Vegas Valley
Providing food assistance for seniors in need.
Kline Veterans Fund
Providing rent, mortgage, and utility assistance to veterans and their families.
Las Vegas CHIPS
Providing rent, mortgage, and utility assistance to seniors and disabled populations impacted by COVID-19.
Olive Crest
Providing food, rent, and utility assistance for transitioning foster youth who are unemployed and have a high risk of homelessness.
Project 150
Providing food assistance for homeless, displaced, and disadvantaged high school students and their families.
Senior Center of Boulder City
Providing food assistance for seniors.
The Center
Providing rent, mortgage, and utility assistance.
The Cupcake Girls
Providing rent, mortgage, and utility assistance to sex trafficking survivors and individuals employed in the adult industry.
UWSN nonprofit partners shared their gratitude for the support and how the EACN funding has helped their organizations meet the mounting community needs.
“The money that United Way of Southern Nevada is providing through its Emergency Assistance and Community Needs fund is keeping thousands of individuals from becoming homeless,” said Maggie Carlton, Executive Director of United Labor Agency of Nevada. “Our members who receive help can be secure knowing that they have a roof over their heads for another month.”
“Due to COVID-19, young people experiencing homelessness are more vulnerable than ever,” said Arash Ghafoori, Executive Director of Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth. “Thank you, United Way of Southern Nevada, for helping us to meet more homeless youths’ urgent survival needs at this critical time.”
“We are proud to team up with United Way of Southern Nevada to provide COVID-19 relief to our most vulnerable veterans, including disabled individuals, senior citizens and families with young kids,” said Stephanie Helms, Executive Director of Kline Veterans Fund.
“The Cupcake Girls are honored to be linking arms with United Way and our Southern Nevada community as we work to ensure everyone is safe during this time of uncertainty. Together we are building bridges for folks in our communities that are overlooked, and we are privileged to show up even more powerfully for our clients with this invaluable support,” shared Joy Hoover, CEO and Founder of The Cupcake Girls.
“Over the past two weeks, we have assisted 37 families, spending roughly $40,000 to keep them housed, utilities on, and food in the fridge and on the table. We’re able to do it because of the generous donations made to United Way, that they pass on to organizations like ours. We will continue to be here to help our community through this until they’re back on their feet, able to work, and self-sufficient once again,” said Stacey Lockhart, Executive Director of HopeLink of Southern Nevada. “Thank you to all of the generous donors who have made gifts to United Way!”
“Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation of Nevada is so grateful to United Way for springing into action and making available this tremendous support for our families in such a time of need,” shared Kimberly Kindig, CEO of Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation of Nevada. “This assistance gives them a reprieve from having to think about how they are going to keep a roof over their families’ heads while they also worry about how they are going to continue to pay for life-saving treatment for their child. This is more than money for so many of them. It is truly a light in the darkness. Thank you, UWSN, for partnering with us to help Candlelighters families while they fight cancer.”
“Each gift represents a lifeboat to so many seniors adrift in a sea of uncertainty,” shared Victoria Mason, Executive Director, Senior Center of Boulder City.
“United Way funding has allowed us to serve hundreds of Southern Nevada households that are abruptly without income and employment and enveloped in uncertainty. These clients include intact families, single parents, and three-generation households. Many have never needed our services before, but we know our work isn’t done with so many more still in need,” shared Fuilala Riley, President and Chief Executive Officer of Help of Southern Nevada.
“United Way of Southern Nevada’s prompt funding opportunity helped Lutheran Social Services of Nevada to immediately mobilize our strengths to serve our hurting community, even in the time of shock, despair and the unknown,” said Lutheran Social Services Executive Director, Armena Mkhitaryan.
“Thank you, United Way, for supporting veterans during this COVID-19 pandemic. This relief funding will allow us to meet the demand of providing more meals and homeless prevention services,” said U.S.VETS – Las Vegas Executive Director, Shalimar Cabrera. “We appreciate the partnership with United Way so that together we can provide essential services to our nation’s heroes.”
A local board made up of community leaders determined how the funds were distributed among the emergency food and shelter programs run by local nonprofit direct service agencies in the area.
As a community leader with over 60 years of experience uniting individuals, companies, nonprofit organizations, and governmental agencies to create positive change in Southern Nevada, United Way of Southern Nevada (UWSN) has mobilized the community and acted quickly to develop solutions for those in need. United Way of Southern Nevada’s immediate actions to address the COVID-19 crisis include: providing basic needs funding, convening nonprofit and community stakeholders, serving as a hub for volunteers, and creating an asset map of available resources and referrals for the most vulnerable which is accessible at UWSN.ORG/COVID19.
For more information about the UWSN Emergency Assistance and Community Needs Fund, please email COVID19@uwsn.org.
About United Way of Southern Nevada:
United Way of Southern Nevada unites our community to improve people’s lives. We bring donors, volunteers, nonprofits, and businesses together to help children enter school ready to learn, help high school students reach graduation day, and support individuals working to earn a degree or certification, all while creating stability for their families. Together, we step into the ring and invite others to stand with us as a united front against social injustices and forces keeping our community’s most vulnerable residents from a good life. We are bold and innovative to solve our toughest problems. Together, we fight for the future of our community – and we will win. Join us at uwsn.org.
About the UWSN Emergency Assistance and Community Needs Fund
Through the support of the Nevada Attorney General, NV Energy, Bank of America, the Wells Fargo Foundation, Barclays, Charles Schwab, Washington Federal Bank, Target, Las Vegas Billboards, United Way Worldwide, Bank of Nevada, City National Bank, US Bank, Homie, Vegas Golden Knights Foundation, State Bar of Nevada Gaming Law, Korte Construction, CenturyLink, Las Vegas Review-Journal, Paccar and Noah Gragson Racing, United Way of Southern Nevada launched the UWSN Emergency Assistance and Community Needs Fund. With over 30 years of experience in distributing emergency funding, help will be available through nonprofit organizations who are experienced in providing direct service assistance. To ensure accountability of the distribution of funds, UWSN is following the same stringent guidelines it utilizes for the administration of Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP) funds through Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). To ensure all donated funds are distributed to needs resulting from the COVID-19 virus and this state of emergency, Bank of America is covering all of their administrative fees and underwriting expenses related to the Emergency Assistance and Community Needs Fund account so that 100% of the donations go to local needs.