{"id":458919,"date":"2021-03-16T11:28:07","date_gmt":"2021-03-16T15:28:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.marketnewsdesk.com\/?p=458919"},"modified":"2021-03-16T11:28:07","modified_gmt":"2021-03-16T15:28:07","slug":"robin-hood-awards-over-73-million-in-covid-19-relief-convenes-leaders-to-inform-strategy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.marketnewsdesk.com\/index.php\/robin-hood-awards-over-73-million-in-covid-19-relief-convenes-leaders-to-inform-strategy\/","title":{"rendered":"Robin Hood Awards Over $73 Million In Covid-19 Relief; Convenes Leaders to Inform Strategy"},"content":{"rendered":"

\nRobin Hood Relief Fund Supports New Yorkers Through Cash Assistance, Emergency Food, Housing Support, Benefits Access, and More
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NEW YORK, March 16, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Today marks one year since Robin Hood<\/a>, New York City\u2019s largest poverty-fighting organization, reactivated its Robin Hood Relief Fund<\/a> to address the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the past year Robin Hood has awarded over $73 million to more than 600 nonprofit organizations across all five boroughs to meet the urgent needs of those impacted by the pandemic and its economic fallout, $35 million in the form of cash assistance to empower New Yorkers. The Robin Hood Relief Fund remains one of the only citywide relief funds still in operation one-year after the shut-down was declared.<\/p>\n

To maximize the fund\u2019s impact in real time, Robin Hood has regularly convened the city\u2019s top philanthropic funders and policymakers over the past year to track the changing needs of New Yorkers and drive rapid-response investments through cash assistance, emergency food, benefits access, and medical and mental health services. The funders calls have also been a place for Robin Hood to share its own roadmap to navigating relief efforts in New York City. On average, the calls attract about 100 participants, including notable philanthropic and corporate entities.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen the pandemic hit New York, we knew it would be devastating to the communities we serve. That is why we reactivated the Robin Hood Relief Fund so quickly, immediately began raising money, and distributed our first grants within two days,\u201d said Victoria Bjorklund, chair of the Robin Hood Relief Fund and a board member since 2001. \u201cRelief is in the DNA of Robin Hood. We were there for New Yorkers after 9\/11, Superstorm Sandy, and now COVID-19, and we show up before government assistance is available because we know people in need can\u2019t wait. Our weekly funders calls serve as a source for idea incubation and R&D for philanthropists who dial in regularly to consider ways to shape and expand their relief funding in New York City.\u201d<\/p>\n

Previously deployed to respond to September 11th<\/sup> and Superstorm Sandy, Robin Hood relief grants prioritize New Yorkers left out of early federal aid responses, such as low-income children and families, immigrant communities, college students, and low-wage workers. Since the onset of the pandemic, the\u00a0Robin Hood Relief Fund<\/a> has provided more than $35 million in emergency cash assistance, empowering New Yorkers to make the best financial decisions for themselves and their families. Over $11 million has gone to provide emergency food, $7 million for education, and the remaining $18.5 million has helped to support medical and mental health services and programs that support housing, safety, benefits access, and education for vulnerable New Yorkers.<\/p>\n

\u201c2020 was a year of overwhelming adversity for all of us, but it was particularly hard for our most vulnerable neighbors. The systemic failures that condemn so many Americans \u2013 particularly communities of color \u2013 are not new. And we had to respond with speed and love to address these issues,\u201d said Wes Moore, CEO of Robin Hood. \u201cWe had to enter with humility, work with our community partners, and focus on building a better infrastructure that doesn\u2019t so repeatedly and heartlessly leave people behind. Focusing on direct cash assistance, investing in leaders of color, involving community members in our grantmaking decisions, and focusing on learning loss were just some of the areas that we are proud to have moved quickly to address.\u201d<\/p>\n

Throughout the past year, Robin Hood has been a resource, convener, and catalyst for funders, nonprofits, and political leaders responding to the pandemic in New York City. Robin Hood\u2019s weekly funders calls include featured guest speakers to help call participants better understand the ever-shifting landscape of relief.<\/p>\n

The March 16th<\/sup> funders call features seven relief grant partners sharing their reflections and lessons learned from the last year, including:<\/p>\n