United Way of Central Maryland Aims to Raise $1 Million for Emergency Food, Shelter and Utility ...( Regional nonprofit and corporate and ...),Health

Regional nonprofit and corporate and foundation partners launch Emergency Response Fund to meeting growing need during economic crisis

BALTIMORE, Jan. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- United Way of Central Maryland today launched an Emergency Response Fund to meet the growing demand nonprofit organizations are facing from individuals desperate for basic needs.

"The current economic climate is one of the worst we've ever seen," said Larry E. Walton, president of United Way of Central Maryland. "There is an urgent need to help frontline nonprofit agencies meet the ever-increasing demand for food, shelter and heat."

The United Way of Central Maryland Emergency Response Fund is designed to do exactly that. Every dollar raised will be distributed directly to agencies with the explicit expectation that these will be used only for direct service to clients in central Maryland. There will be no administrative fees taken.

The first round of grants will be distributed in early February. Grant amounts will range from $10,000 to $25,000.

United Way's overall goal is to raise $1 million. These funds are above and beyond United Way's annual campaign.

"Our mission is to mobilize the caring power of our communities - the tumultuous state we're in now means we needed to go beyond the scope of our day-to-day work," said Walton. "Helping our neighbors when they are in crisis is something that makes the entire region stronger. Because of that, we call on every individual in central Maryland to join us in this effort."

So far, United Way has raised nearly $200,000 thanks to the generosity of the Annie E. Casey Foundation, Baltimore Community Foundation, CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, Citi, France-Merrick Foundation, Lord Baltimore Capital Corporation, among others.

For more information on the fund, or to donate, visit