Community West Awards $100,000 Grant To Fairview Hospital

WESTLAKE, OH — The Westlake-based Community West Foundation is awarding a $100,000 grant to the Cleveland Clinic. The money will be used to help Fairview Hospital employees on the front lines of the new coronavirus pandemic.

The grant will specifically be used to cover expenses like gift cards for meals, comfort stations and temporary housing for caregivers, many of whom are staying away from their own homes to prevent exposure to their families.

“The gift from the Community West Foundation is significant and meaningful to us. We are grateful for the foundation’s support of our Fairview Hospital caregivers at this time when our caregivers are giving so selflessly to our community,” said Lara Kalafatis, chair, Cleveland Clinic Philanthropy Institute.

The Community West Foundation was once known as the Fairview/Lutheran Foundation. The organization has been offering support for hospitals and nonprofits since 1997.

“Many people don’t know about our deep history with Fairview and Lutheran Hospitals,” said Marty Uhle, president and CEO of Community West Foundation. “We are responding to COVID-19 emergency needs to support all of our partners during this crisis. Supporting Fairview Hospital is a no-brainer for us."

Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, many Northeast Ohio nonprofits have been felt the pinch of financial pressure due to increased demand, canceled fundraising events and diminished volunteer ranks.

To aid those nonprofits, Community West launched its own emergency response fund and has become a voting partner in the Greater Cleveland COVID-19 Response Fund, which makes emergency grants available to nonprofits. Community West also joined a similar collaborative in Lorain County.

“We need to be responding to community needs during this crisis. As a funder, that means providing as many grants as we can, as quickly as we can. Joining these larger community efforts allows us to leverage the giving power of many funders,” Uhle said.