Press Release
April 12, 2021

Media Contact
Macy Whitener

mwhitener@arrasfoundation.org

Analysis of Grants Shows Trends Across Chester and Lancaster Counties

LANCASTER, S.C. – Today, the Arras Foundation, the United Way of Chester County, and the United Way of Lancaster County released an initial Catawba Connect impact report showcasing the work of fourteen nonprofit organizations supporting area residents over the past year.

Launched in March 2020, the Catawba Connect COVID-19 Relief Fund was designed to help Chester and Lancaster Counties meet needs during the pandemic. Over two rounds of grantmaking, 24 organizations received a total of $150,000 in funding. The new impact report shows initial results from the first 14 grantees. These organizations served over 42,000 individuals (26,013 in Chester County, 16,908 in Lancaster County), with a focus on (1) Access to Healthcare, (2) Strengthening & Supporting Families, and (3) Healthy Economy.

Round One Grantees expended Catawba Connect funds to help families, individuals, and organizations in the following areas: food, shelter, utility assistance; pandemic information or resource distribution; personal protective equipment, cleaning supplies; general public health information and assistance.

“Resilient communities stay connected during times of crisis,” said Susan DeVenny, President & CEO of the Arras Foundation. “We are grateful for Catawba Connect donors, grantees, and volunteers -and especially our frontline workers- for pulling together to help residents stay safe and healthy during the pandemic. Together, we will always be stronger.”

Catawba Connect leadership and grantmaking volunteers included over 40 members of Chester and Lancaster Counties. Catawba Connect COVID-19 overarching goals include:

  • Improving local attitudes regarding healthy behavior during the pandemic
  • Connecting local people to resources to help mitigate negative effects of the pandemic
  • Leveraging funding and local philanthropy to support our residents
  • Advocating for policies to improve conditions for our residents

Ten additional nonprofit organizations with Catawba Connect grant awards are currently completing their community impact work. Additional impact analysis will be made available to the public in summer 2021. For additional information about Catawba Connect, please see https://www.catawbaconnect.org/. To view the full report, please visit: https://www.catawbaconnect.org/info/news-and-updates#march.

Round One Catawba Connect Nonprofit Grantees:

  • Children’s Attention Home
  • Christian Services
  • Counseling Services of Lancaster
  • Good Samaritan Medical Clinic
  • GRASP
  • Hazel Pittman Center
  • HOPE
  • KARE
  • Keystone
  • Lancaster County Council on Aging
  • Lancaster County Partners for Youth
  • Turning Point of Chester
  • Unique Hair Design
  • Upper Midlands Rural Health Network

About the Catawba Connect Partners:

Arras Foundation
Dedicated to the health and wellness of all residents of Lancaster County, Fort Lawn, and Great Falls, SC for 25 years, the Foundation joins with partners to work together so that all people can thrive. 
www.arrasfoundation.org

United Way of Chester County
The mission of United Way of Chester County is to help people by uniting contributors, citizens and agencies in a common effort to determine, develop, support, deliver and monitor effective human programs and services that are responsive to current community needs and wants in Chester County.

United Way of Lancaster County
The mission of United Way of Lancaster County is to improve lives by bringing citizens and resources together to identify and respond to human service needs in Lancaster County.