Montréal, July 30, 2020 – The applications portal for the Emergency Community Support Fund (ECSF) closed this Monday, but the Foundation of Greater Montréal (FGM) has already distributed all the funds it managed under the program. Distribution was completed a few weeks ago. In all, FGM supported 208 different community projects through the ECSF. They cumulatively represent an investment of $7.2 M to benefit vulnerable populations that have been further placed at risk by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in the metropolitan area. The projects supported are geographically distributed as follows, proportionately to the populations in the areas in which FGM allocated the funds disbursed by the Government of Canada in April:

  • Island of Montréal: 96 projects totaling $3.2 M;
  • Laval and the North Shore: 44 projects totaling $1.6 M;
  • South Shore and the Montérégie: 68 projects totaling $2.4 M.

“We want to thank every organization that submitted a request in this difficult period,” noted FGM’s President and CEO, Karel Mayrand. “The speed with which a sizeable number of requests were sent in – and processed by our team – is a powerful indicator of the pandemic’s impact, and of the number of emergencies that need to be attended to. We hope that every organization in our community, all of which have been working tirelessly for months to respond to the crisis, can get all the support they need. For its part, FGM will continue to be agile and to deploy its resources in order to be there for them in the best possible way,” he added. ECSF is the second emergency fund FGM has helped put into action, along with the COVID-19 Collective Fund it initiated in the spring.

The vast majority of the projects funded (74%) belong to the social development sector, where the level of need has skyrocketed due to the pandemic. In terms of issues addressed, food security is where the needs were the greatest. Support was also granted for providing social activities for isolated or vulnerable individuals, bolstering organizations’ hygiene and safety measures and creating preventive and promotional initiatives in health (physical as well as mental), based on the needs shown by requesting organizations. At the same time, several grants helped these organizations initiate or speed up a digital shift, which allowed them to adjust, and sometimes even enhance, their services to the public in the current context.

Many of the organizations FGM supported provide services to the population at large, but the projects funded through the ECSF had to specifically target groups that are more vulnerable and are hardest hit by the pandemic; Women, for example, as well as racialized individuals or immigrants, youth, disabled persons and caregivers, or the elderly. “We know that people in these groups, who are often marginalized, are more likely to experience situations that are worsened by the effects of the pandemic, such as social isolation, homelessness, poverty, or problems stemming from violence, addiction or mental health issues. The community organizations that assist them provide services that can prove to be vital for these vulnerable individuals,” Mr. Mayrand concluded.

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Source: Foundation of Greater Montréal
For more information: Simon Delorme, Project Manager for Communications – (438) 777-2776, simon.delorme@fgmtl.org
About FGM : The Foundation of Greater Montréal (FGM) helps individuals, families and organizations to get involved and support their community by creating funds for selected causes in all sectors. In addition to publishing the Vital Signs of Greater Montréal report, FGM manages the assets of about 650 funds, guides donors and supports community organizations. A member of the Community Foundations of Canada, a network of 191 community foundations, FGM encourages philanthropy as a major driver for well-being in Greater Montréal.

About the ECSF : The Emergency Community Support Fund (ECSF) is a $350 M emergency financial support program from the Government of Canada. Alongside the Canadian Red Cross, United Way Centraide Canada and Community Foundations of Canada, FGM is proud to participate in the distribution of these funds. The Fund aims to assist the most vulnerable populations in Canada, those less equipped to deal with the health, social and economic impacts of COVID-19. In doing so, ECSF provides much needed support to front-line organizations.