On behalf of the County of Santa Cruz, the Community Health Trust of Pajaro Valley has awarded $350,000 in federal coronavirus relief funds to area organizations, coalitions, and individuals to support COVID-19 messaging in Santa Cruz County.
Distribution of the funding, which is part of the CARES Act bill, was allocated with a focus on the South County region south of Aptos, which has 29 percent of the county population and 63 percent of the COVID-19 cases – 1,739 out of 2,753 overall.
“We are grateful to the County for the opportunity to distribute this funding,” said DeAndre’ James, Community Health Trust executive director. “With more than 60 percent of COVID-19 cases concentrated in South County, these funds will help alleviate the adverse and disproportionate impact on our community by promoting consistent, accurate, and culturally appropriate messaging.”
Following a rapid and competitive review process aimed at funding as many impactful messaging projects as possible, the Community Health Trust’s CARES Act Grant Review Committee awarded grants to the following entities, which will have until Dec. 15, 2020, to spend all the money:
Brent Haddad • Catherine S Forest • City of Watsonville • Community Action Board of Santa Cruz County, Inc. • Community Bridges • County of Santa Cruz- Health Services Agency- Behavioral Health • Digital NEST • El Pajaro Community Development Corp. • Ernesto Altamirano • Family Service Agency of the Central Coast • Gabriel J. Medina • Jacob’s Heart Children’s Cancer Support Services • Jaime Sanchez • Live Oak Cradle to Career • Margarita Carrillo • Pajaro Valley Arts Council • Pajaro Valley Prevention and Student Assistance Inc. • Pajaro Valley Save Lives Community Group • Power Broadcasting • Reiter Affiliated Companies • Santa Cruz Barrios Unidos • Santa Cruz Community Health • Santa Cruz Community Ventures • Santa Cruz County Black Coalition for Racial Justice and Equity • Santa Cruz Free Clinic • Second Harvest Food Bank Santa Cruz County • The Diversity Center of Santa Cruz County • United Way of Santa Cruz County • Urbani Cellar LLC • Volunteer Center of Santa Cruz County • Watsonville Campesino Appreciation Caravan • Watsonville Rotary Foundation