Changing lives through philanthropy
How is the Hispanic/Latinx Community faring?
Virtual Town Hall: November 13th, 12 pm
According to King County data, Hispanic/Latinx communities have some of the highest rates of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations as compared to whites. This is particularly true for people living in South King County.
Our COVID-19 Response Fund has supported several organizations working with the Latinx community. Two of these agencies are Centro Rendu, a program of St. Vincent de Paul, and Para Los Niños de Highline, located in Burien.
Join us on November 13th at noon for an hour of conversation with the executive directors of these two organizations, Mirya Munoz-Roach and Virginia Herrera-Páramo to learn more.
First Financial NW Fund grants more than $300K
This year the FFNW Fund is granting $330K to 20 organizations in our region! Wow!
Due to the current environment, the FFNW Board felt very strongly about supporting more organizations that were finding an increase in requests for program support as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. They specifically looked at those organizations that have the infrastructure and plan in place to respond quickly and efficiently to these increased needs.
New Funds
We are thrilled to showcase two new funds that have joined RRCF:
King County Employee Giving Campaign Mutual Assistance Fund: This short term Fund is dedicated to providing assistance to former and current employees of King County impacted directly or indirectly by the COVID-19 health emergency.
Skyway Coalition: We are proud to be a fiscal sponsor of Skyway Coalition: Using an anti-racist lens, the Coalition’s goal is to achieve equity for Skyway residents most impacted by systemic oppression and discrimination. Go here to learn more about their members and work.
Learn more about how to open a fund at RRCF.
COVID-19 Response Fund: Afghan Health Initiative
“Renton Regional Community Foundation was a key support for our immigrant-2-immgrant program and youth empowerment program to respond to our community urgent needs during this pandemic. Not only through the funding we received from them, but also through the support and connection with other organization responders we received during non-profit conversations. Our community is only strong and resilient when working together.”
Ariana Anjaz
Afghan Health Initiative
Since March RRCF has distributed $236,000 to 46 organizations working on the front lines with our area’s most vulnerable residents during this pandemic.
One of those agencies is the Afghan Health Initiative (AHI), a grassroots organization in South King County founded by current and former immigrants and refugees who were trying to navigate the complexities of their new lives.
AHI was founded to help immigrant and refugee communities maximize
their potential toward a better future while acculturating into their new lives in the United States. To help facilitate this vision, AHI provides a host of social service tools and programs to promote well-being, healthy life trajectories, and self-sufficiency.
Specifically, AHI provides culturally proficient and linguistically appropriate social support services and health promotion advocacy to low-income new refugees from Afghanistan as well as Iraqi, Arabic-Speaking, and Somali communities in King County.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, AHI has been at the frontline responding to the needs of our community. Their response includes helping families navigate systems and public assistance and job search assistance through their immigrant-2-immigrant program, hosting free COVID-19 pop-up testing sites, translating information, providing personal protective equipment, offering education and homework assistance for youth, and providing basic needs (diapers, wipes, clothing, fresh food, gift cards, rental and utility assistance and more). To date, Afghan Health Initiative has served hundreds of families through these services.
AHI is only one of many organizations supported by RRCF. You can go here to see a full list of grantee partners. If you are seeking funds, simply email LeAnne Moss at lmoss@rentonfoundation.org with your request.
These grants have been possible because of the support of more than 70 donors to the fund. If you would like to partner with us in this endeavor, thanks to All in Washington , every dollar is matched! You can go here to make a gift, and just put “All in WA” in the comments.
Staff and volunteers with Afghan Health Initiative.
2019 Community Report
Our 2019 Community Report is here! It’s filled with images like the one on the left of our supporters gathering together, and it also highlights our work throughout the year.
Consider A Bequest
Join our Community Legacy Society and leave a permanent legacy for yourself or a loved one by naming RRCF in your will.