In response to the health and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Park County Community Foundation launched the Park County COVID-19 Resilience Fund in March, 2020. Local organizations have proven themselves to be the backbone of the response to this unprecedented crisis.
The Park County Community Foundation has relied on its deep roots and existing community partnerships to strategically guide fund allocations. Our focus is on organizations working on the front lines to ensure the health and wellness of those being impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, including:
- Neighbors experiencing food insecurity
- Children and seniors
- Victims of the virus
- The homeless – and those at risk of becoming homeless
Early in the pandemic, people from across Park County, and beyond, sprang into action to contribute to the COVID-19 Resilience Fund. More than $210,000 was raised thanks to the generosity of the Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation, Willow Creek Ranch, PCCF’s Board of Directors, and many other donors. Over the last year, twenty-three individual grants have been given to seventeen organizations working on the frontlines of COVID-19 response in Park County.
Our allocation strategy has been consistent in its approach by being nimble, responsive, and judicious. We will continue to provide timely relief for urgent and emergent community needs.
Park County COVID-19 Resilience Fund grants:
- ASPEN was awarded funds toward their Emergency Hotel Fund to provide abuse survivors and victims a safe place to stay.
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of Big Sky Country was funded to receive training on a Mental Health First Aid program they will be rolling out in Park County.
- Child Care Connections received two grants to provide emergency tuition to families in need of childcare AND financial support for all licensed child care facilitates in Park to help reopen their doors.
- The Learning Partners program of Community Health Partners was given funding which they will make available as a mini-grants to client families with urgent financial needs.
- The City of Livingston received a grant to test its wastewater for the presence of COVID-19. This screening helped provide a better picture of the virus circulation in our community, particularly in the early days of the pandemic when widespread testing was limited.
- Farm to School of Park County, in collaboration with the Livingston School Food Services, received a grant to partner with local restaurants to help supplement the school food program as demand has significantly increased. Participating restaurants included Matt’s Old Fashioned Butcher Shop & Deli, Livingston’s Rib & Chop House, Mustang Fresh Foods, and Los Pinos Mexican Restaurant.
- HRDC received grant funds to support their Housing First initiative, a program designed to provide financial assistance and case management services to individuals and families experiencing or at risk of homelessness in Park County, along with general support to assist in their local COVID-19 response efforts.
- LINKS for Learning was awarded funding to help cover the additional costs incurred in providing summer camp activities that adhere to our current health mandates, including increased staffing, personal protective equipment, and sanitation supplies.
- Livingston Business Improvement District received funding to purchase hand sanitizer to refill the mobile hand sanitizer stations located throughout downtown Livingston.
- Livingston Food Resource Center received a grant to purchase and distribute food to people in need, as well as additional funding to support their innovative offering of on-the-spot mental health services.
- Loaves and Fishes received funding to help with operations and supplies needed to provide their meals in a to-go format.
- The Park County Senior Center was awarded a grant to enhance ventilation in their building, as part of their "Healthy Air, Healthy Seniors" renovation project.
- The Park County Public Health Department received funds to support their public education efforts to promote better compliance with recommended infection mitigation efforts, in addition to making masks and other supplies available to Park County businesses.
- The Park County Rural Fire Department has significantly enhanced their cleaning protocols to minimize crew exposure to COVID-19, and needed an on-site option for washing their gear. We were able to assist their purchase of a heavy duty extractor washing machine by providing grant funding.
- Matt Pierson/Highland Livestock Company received grants that launched The Producers Partnership, a group of area ranchers who are working to distribute ground beef to local food banks. The cattle were all donated and the COVID Fund grant helped cover the costs of processing. This program has subsequently expanded to provide beef throughout the state, and the Producers Partnership has obtained their own nonprofit designation. You can learn more about their activities by visiting www.producerpartnership.com/
- Snoopy Cooperative Preschool, serving the communities of Gardiner and Mammoth, was granted funds to enable them to hire a teacher's aide in order to address the additional logistic challenges of providing childcare during a pandemic.
- Windrider, Park County’s public transit service, received a grant to purchase additional sanitizing materials.
Fundraising for this campaign has closed.
The Park County Community Foundation has waived administrative fees for this fund so that 100% of all gifts will be directed to local nonprofits.
As of March 2021, all applications are by invitation only.
Organizations interested in applying for immediate relief grants should contact PCCF Executive Director Gavin Clark at gavin.clark@pccf-montana.org.
The Park County COVID-19 Resilience Fund was initially seeded thanks to the generosity of the Park County Community Foundation Board of Directors, The Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation, Willow Creek Ranch, Jean Keffeler and David Stanley, and multiple anonymous donors. We are grateful for their confidence and support.
