Town of Palm Beach United Way gets new matching grants as Hurricane Ian fund tops $800,000
With its Hurricane Ian fund topping $800,000, the Town of Palm Beach United Way has received two new matching grants totaling $75,000 to support its effort to help Florida Gulf Coast residents affected by the storm.
Palm Beachers Dorothy and Sidney Kohl will match donations dollar for dollar up to $50,000, while Judy and Bob Snyder will match donations up to $25,000, the United Way announced Wednesday.
Previous coverage: Billionaires’ new matching grants boost Palm Beach hurricane relief fund above $600,000
Related coverage: Ian damages Palm Beach's Maus & Hoffman's sister store in Naples; owner says: ‘We're lucky’
Read more: 'We got a pass on this one': Palm Beach resumes normal operations after Hurricane Ian
To date, the United Way says it has raised over $800,000, thanks to 10 previous matching gifts from the Cathleen McFarlane Foundation, Sandy and George Garfunkel, Irwin and Ginny Edlavitch, Elizabeth and Jerome Levy, Danielle Moore, Claudia and Nelson Peltz, Laura and Isaac Perlmutter, Barbara and Richard Rothschild, Susan and Dom Telesco, and Norma and Bill Tiefel.
Dorothy and Sidney Kohl have been longtime supporters of the Town of Palm Beach United Way, where Sidney is an honorary life member of the board of trustees.
Related coverage: Repairs made to section of Palm Beach dock that detached during Hurricane Ian
“The Town of Palm Beach United Way always steps up when crisis hits,” Sidney Kohl said in a statement. “They’re able to distribute dollars efficiently and effectively to help the people who need it most. We hope our matching gift will continue to help raise much-needed dollars for recovery work.”
The Hurricane Ian Recovery Fund was created on Sept. 29 — the day after the storm made landfall near Cayo Costa in Southwest Florida — to help with short-term relief efforts along Florida’s Gulf Coast.
A total of $400,000 has been distributed to Americares ($75,000), Convoy of Hope ($50,000), Global Empowerment Mission ($105,000), NAACP Collier County ($20,000), Project HOPE ($50,000), Samaritan’s Purse ($25,000) and World Central Kitchen ($75,000).
The agencies are using the funds to provide food, water, health care, medicines, clothing, hygiene kits, baby supplies, and other emergency aid items to tens of thousands of residents in need.
The NAACP Collier County is supplying basic needs and temporary housing for families — many of whom are seniors — living in the predominantly historic African-American community of River Park in Naples.
“We are so grateful to the Town of Palm Beach United Way for your support of River Park, an underserved and overlooked community in the City of Naples,” said Vincent Keeys, president of NAACP Collier County. “This grant funding will help in our relief and recovery efforts.”
The United Way is in the process of identifying additional organizations providing direct aid to residents in the hardest hit areas of Lee, Charlotte and Collier counties, the organization said.
“We are honored to join our Palm Beach neighbors to help the United Way raise funds to support families recovering from Hurricane Ian,” Bob Snyder said in a statement. “It’s a difficult road ahead for thousands of Florida residents, but we hope additional grant dollars bring them relief and hope in the coming months.”
To donate visit www.palmbeachunitedway.org, call 561-655-1919 or send a check payable to Town of Palm Beach United Way with “Hurricane Ian” in the memo and mail to 44 Cocoanut Row, Suite M201, Palm Beach, FL 33480.
Carol Rose is a journalist at the Palm Beach Daily News, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach her at crose@pbdailynews.com. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Daily News: Palm Beach United Way gets new matching grants as Hurricane Ian fund tops $800,000
