Schools, community foundations, and arts and grassroots organizations are among the dozens of groups receiving a share of $1.6 million in grants distributed in the first round of funding from the Baton Rouge Area Foundation’s Louisiana Flood Relief Fund.
The fund was established days after historic flooding engulfed the Capital Region. Donors—individuals, businesses and organizations from around the country—contributed more than $2.5 million to help with flood relief in Louisiana.
“We’ve received more than 14,000 individual contributions, and we are making grants as quickly as possible,” says BRAF President and CEO John Davies in a statement.
Many of the organizations receiving grants provide support for schools and the families of displaced students. Both The Foundation for East Baton Rouge Parish Schools and New Schools for Baton Rouge are receiving $50,000, as are Livingston Parish Public Schools, Ascension Parish School System, City of Baker Public Schools and Central Community School System.
Cristo Rey Franciscan High School, which took on about four feet of water, received $100,000 for recovery efforts. BRAF also granted $100,000 to SBP, formerly the St. Bernard Project, to support the opening of a rebuilding and training center in Baton Rouge. The center will provide technical assistance and ongoing resources to southeast Louisiana communities affected by flooding.
“Some of the grants have gone to meet needs that easily get overlooked in a crisis, like providing money to house families with children who have autism and cannot live in noisy shelters,” BRAF says in a prepared statement.
Grants of $50,000 are also going to the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge to provide enrichment programs for children and families in area shelters, and the The Society of St. Vincent de Paul to provide free and reduced medication to low-income residents.
