In some instances, groups of people come to the Community Foundation for different forms of assistance. Many of these individuals are struggling with financial hardships, types of ailments, and other life adversities. While the Foundation has funds that can help some of these people, there are other individuals that are difficult to match up with the very assistance they need. The donors of the Community Foundation are very conscious of this issue and are always searching for ways to provide that needed assistance to underserved segments of the community. This is exactly what the newly created “Help for Kids Fund” aims to do.

 

Many of us probably take for granted the routine visits made to local doctors’ offices. Whether getting your teeth cleaned, eyes examined, or an annual physical, all are essential to maintaining good health. However, there are many families in the community that do endure financial hardship and, as a result, are unable to provide this full-range of medical care for their children. Also, considering the rising costs of healthcare makes providing these essential medical needs ever more challenging to acquire. The Help For Kids Fund hopes to meet this challenge. 

 

As stated by its name, the Help For Kids Fund sets out to simply help kids in need. Specifically, it has been created to assist youth, up to 18 years of age, with small-scale medical expenses. These expenses would be a result of financial hardship within the youth’s family. The types of expenses that would be considered under the fund’s criteria include: Teeth-related expenses, such as braces; eye-related expenses, such as glasses and contact lenses; ear-related expenses; and cosmetic-type issues. 

 

The Help For Kids Fund has been established as a Field of Interest Fund at the Community Foundation. Field of Interest Funds are unique in that they support specific passions or causes that are of interest to the donor creating the fund. Field of Interest Funds make monthly grant awards by matching grant requests with the purpose of specific funds. In the case of the Help For Kids Fund, those individuals with children in need of assistance to pay for different types of smaller-scale medical expenses would match up with this fund. The Community Foundation has many different types of Field of Interest Funds that serve to benefit many different donor passions such as the arts, culture, economic development, libraries, education, the disabled, and the physically ill, to name a few. The Help For Kids Fund will add one new donor interest to which the Foundation will be able to provide support.

 

To apply for a grant from the Help For Kids Fund, contact the Foundation staff at 661-3390. The staff will provide you with the necessary information needed for the application process.

 

The Help For Kids Fund is yet another example of the willingness of community-minded individuals to step in and make a difference for those in need. Furthermore, this new fund, and others like it, demonstrates the positive partnership that can be established by working with the Community Foundation. The Foundation is proud of all these partnerships, and, above all else, Chautauqua County and its people are better off for them.