New collaboration between 17 Baltimore businesses and non-profits provides over $1mn in contributions to address COVID-19 Food Insecurity for Baltimore City residents

BALTIMORE, March 27, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- In response to the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact in Baltimore, prominent local businesses and non-profit organizations are collaborating to help address the food insecurity of Baltimore City children, families and communities.

Two new funds have been established from over $1 million in generous corporate donations – one with Baltimore-based Fund for Educational Excellence and one with Baltimore Community Foundation. The funds will allow the businesses and their employees an opportunity to contribute directly to food insecurity solutions beyond those provided by state and federal funds. In addition, the collaboration will manage a volunteering platform coordinated by Volunteering Untapped and Baltimore Corps to support food distribution.

The collaborative effort was initiated by the philanthropic representatives of several local companies, including: The Baltimore Ravens and The Stephen and Renee Bisciotti Foundation, Bank of America, CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield (CareFirst), Comcast, Constellation, Excelon, BGE, Legg Mason, M&T Bank, T. Rowe Price, Under Armour and Wells Fargo.

Together, these organizations worked with Baltimore City leadership to identify food insecurity as one of the most immediate challenges resulting from COVID-19. 

The companies are collectively establishing a fund at the Fund for Educational Excellence and have created an avenue for their employees to contribute through a new fund at Baltimore Community Foundation.

Business Volunteers Maryland is serving as the liaison between the corporate donors, the City, and the participating nonprofit organizations.

"One of our key values at Under Armour is that working together makes us all better. During this unprecedented time, we must all work together and bring forward the best that each of us has to offer, to serve the pressing needs of our neighbors and community. We have united as one team, demonstrating the passion and commitment we all have for our city," said Stacey Ullrich, Head of Global Philanthropy and Community Affairs at Under Armour.

"We know that it is a tough time for many families," says John Brothers, president of the T. Rowe Price Foundation. "With our young people home from school during this crisis, many of them are without the breakfast and lunches they count on each and every day. We are proud to lock arms with our fellow members of the corporate community to support our neighbors through the great work of the Fund for Educational Excellence and also provide our associates an option for their giving at the Baltimore Community Foundation to assist Baltimore families in their abilities to feed themselves and their children."

"CareFirst is committed to addressing complex community health needs made more visible by the COVID-19 pandemic," said Dr. Destiny-Simone Ramjohn, CareFirst's Vice President of Community Health and Social Impact. "We must act with urgency, agility and compassion to ensure children, their families, and seniors across the city have access to healthy meals. As a as a not-for-profit, mission-driven company, we are proud to be a part of this coalition of philanthropy, business, government, and nonprofit partners galvanized to expand local capacity, to provide relief."

"We always are looking for ways to make a difference in the communities we serve – even more so at a time like this," said Augie Chiasera, M&T's Regional President for Greater Baltimore. "Helping to alleviate the impacts the coronavirus is having on the young and most vulnerable is where we felt we could make the greatest difference in collaboration with the City of Baltimore and our corporate partners."

Business Volunteers Maryland is a nonprofit organization that strengthens the community by making strategic connections between people, businesses and nonprofits.  Business Volunteers trains and places business professionals on nonprofit boards; develops civic leaders; matches individuals with meaningful volunteer opportunities; creates partnerships between companies, local nonprofits and schools; and provides volunteer management training to nonprofits.

The Baltimore Community Foundation is a private philanthropic organization created by Baltimoreans to serve the current and future needs of the Baltimore region. Representing the common interests of a diverse pool of donors who care about Baltimore, BCF uses grants, initiatives and advocacy to address issues facing the region today, while building a civic endowment to address the needs of future generations.

The Fund for Educational Excellence is a nonprofit organization that expands resources, identifies and accelerates solutions, and recognizes excellence so that all children in Baltimore City Public Schools experience an effective and equitable education.

Volunteering Untapped is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to improve Baltimore through increasing volunteerism. Through its community of thousands of young professionals, Volunteering Untapped partners with Baltimore City based nonprofit or community organizations to host monthly large-scale volunteer events, which are followed by networking, community building and socializing at a local restaurant or bar. Volunteering Untapped believes that volunteering should be easy. Now it is.

Baltimore Corps enlists talent to accelerate social innovation in Baltimore and advance a citywide agenda for equity and racial justice.

SOURCE The Fund for Educational Excellence