East Village Association to donate $3,000 to COVID-19 relief efforts
Organizations supporting local healthcare professionals, hospitality workers and artists to receive $1,000 each from neighborhood group
The East Village Association, an organization of residents in the East Village neighborhood of Chicago, today committed $3,000 to help alleviate the economic impacts of the fight against the COVID-19 virus.
The donation is to be split among three charities:
- Arts for Illinois: The Arts for Illinois Relief Fund provides support for artists and performers impacted by COVID-19;
- The Lee Initiative: Working in collaboration with the Fifty/50 Restaurant Group Charities, The Lee Initiative is providing food support for Chicago-based restaurant and foodservice workers unable to work during this crisis; and
- iBIO COVID-19 PPE Response Fund: The iBIO COVID-19 PPE Response Fund coordinates direct purchase of protective medical products to support Illinois-based healthcare workers and first responders.
“We selected these charities for their direct impact on those most impacted by this crisis,” said John Gantner, president of East Village Association. “Our mission as an organization is to ‘to work together for the common good of the community with a positive community spirit’ and this seemed like the best way to achieve that goal in these challenging times.”
Scott Weiner, co-founder of the Fifty/50 Restaurant Group, was appreciative for the donation: “East Village has been home to Roots and West Town Bakery for years and we’ve developed a great relationship with our neighbors. Their financial support for our program to feed restaurant workers will go a long way in ensuring we are able to continue for the duration of this crisis.”
The funds to make these donations were raised through membership fees over previous years. Membership in the organization is $15 a year for an individual or $20 for a household. More information can be found at eastvillagechicago.org
About East Village AssociationFounded in 1982, East Village Association is an organization of neighbors in the East Village neighborhood of Chicago, bounded by Milwaukee Avenue to the east, Damen Avenue to the west, Chicago Avenue to the south and Division Street to the north. The organization was founded to provide an opportunity for those who live in, work in, or identify with the social or business interests of the area, to work together for the common good of the community with a positive community spirit; to work for a cleaner, safer neighborhood; to assemble and disseminate information about neighborhood conditions, ways to eliminate unwholesome or blighting features, quality and availability of public and private community services, the law pertaining to these matters, and resources available for developing plans for conservation, redevelopment and general improvement of the community; to plan for the maintenance and improvement of both the physical and social environment of the community; and to promote community discussion of these matters to empower members to solve community problems. More information can be found at eastvillagechicago.org.
