Cordeiro Foundation awards nearly $30K in grants to local nonprofits

FALL RIVER — The Anthony F. Cordeiro Charitable Foundation announced that grants totaling $29,500 were awarded to three area nonprofit organizations for activities that support the organization’s mission and address unmet needs arising from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Anthony F. Cordeiro Charitable Foundation serves communities within Southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Its mission is to enrich the lives of families and children who are burdened by life’s challenges by providing access to vital resources including, but not limited to, health and mental health services, food and shelter. Funding is awarded twice annually to nonprofit organizations that provide vital services and programming.

Applications for the final cycle of the year are due on Dec. 31, 2020, and all applicants who applied for the first round of grant funding will also be considered in the December round as priority was given to organizations with demonstrated, urgent COVID-19 related needs.

The foundation’s grants are awarded through proceeds raised from its 15th annual golf tournament, which was held on Sept. 1 at Indian Pond Country Club in Kingston under safe and socially distant conditions.

“I want to personally thank the members of the Founders’ Circle, local business owners, our friends and neighbors who again stepped up in this time of uncertainty to ensure that we would raise the money to help individuals and families who need that support even more this year,” said Tony Cordeiro, founder of the nonprofit organization.

The first-round grantees are:

Child and Family Services (New Bedford): $25,000 will be used to support two programs: CFS’ Caring Network Program which helps children heal from the trauma of witnessing violence in their home, school, neighborhood and community; and the Adoption Journeys Program which provides support groups to both parents and adopted children, respite services to provide a brief break for families, family liaisons to share experiences and adoption competency training for professionals wanting to work with adoptive families.

United Neighbors of Fall River (Fall River): $2,000 will help assist the most vulnerable families with food and meals during the COVID-19 pandemic.

HopeHealth Hospice & Palliative Care (Providence): $2,500 for support of their community bereavement programs that serve family members who have lost a loved one to COVID-19 or have been impacted by the COVID-19 crisis.

“We appreciate our longstanding relationship with Child and Family Services and are pleased to once again support the incredible work they do to heal and strengthen the lives of children and families especially during these unprecedented and difficult times,” noted Melanie Cordeiro, executive director of the foundation. “Many area families that were struggling to make ends meet before the pandemic hit have experienced job loss, food insecurity and financial uncertainty which is why we prioritized our funding to help address some of those critical needs.”

The foundation is now accepting grant applications for its second round of funding for 2020. Applicants who submitted for the first round but did not receive funding due to the COVID-19 emerging priority, will be considered for this round of funding.

Applications from area nonprofit organizations in Southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island whose programs align with The Cordeiro Foundation’s mission are invited to apply. Full guidelines and application materials can be downloaded at cordeirocharitablefoundation.org. Applications are due on or before Dec. 31. Any pre-proposal questions can be directed to Melanie Cordeiro at melcordeiro@cordeirocharitablefoundation.org.