The Green Bay Packers have distributed five more Brown County grants through the Packers Give Back COVID-19 Community Relief Fund, a $1.5 million fund aimed at providing immediate support to Wisconsinites facing challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The five grants are the final funds that were distributed to Brown County groups through the Packers Give Back COVID-19 Community Relief Fund and add to the 74 grants that were distributed with earlier rounds of funds in the last six months. This number also includes three grants that were distributed to help the three local health systems acquire personal protective equipment.

In total, since the fund was established, 79 grants totaling $1 million have gone to 58 different Brown County groups that are on the front lines of helping those most impacted by the pandemic, including organizations addressing food and hygiene needs, housing assistance, transportation, medication and other basic needs. Recipients range from schools and food pantries to homeless shelters and organizations serving individuals with disabilities.

In addition to $1 million of support through the Fund earmarked for Brown County, the Packers Give Back COVID-19 Relief Fund also directed $500,000 to support initiatives in Milwaukee County. That portion of funding was distributed to a total of 31 Milwaukee County groups.

The latest rounds of Brown County grants are benefitting five groups, including:

• Boys & Girls Club of Greater Green Bay: the grant will go toward expenses related to pivoting from a traditional afterschool enrichment model to an expanded full-day program with a supervised learning environment.
• Cerebral Palsy Inc.: the funds will be used to support the warm water aquatics therapy program and increased staffing.
• Curative Connections: the grant will be used to purchase additional PPE resulting from increased use.
• Exceptional Equestrians: the grant will support staff needed for regular contact with those utilizing the organization's services.
• Salvation Army Green Bay: the funds will go toward support for basic needs, including the food pantry, noon lunch program, food delivery for seniors and the disabled and emergency services.

Other groups receiving grants since the Fund was established include: Ben's Wish, Brown County Oral Health Partnership, CASA of Brown County, Calvary Lutheran Church, Casa ALBA Melanie, De Pere Christian Outreach, Encompass Early Education and Care, Family Services of Northeast Wisconsin, First United Methodist Church, Foundations Health & Wholeness, Friends of Pals Youth & Families, Greater Green Bay YMCA, Green Bay Action Sports Organization, Green Bay Area Catholic Education, Green Bay First Food Pantry, Howard-Suamico School District Pantry, Innovative Services Inc., Jackie Nitschke Center, Inc., Literacy Green Bay, NeighborWorks Green Bay, NEWCAP; Northeast Wisconsin Technical College Educational Foundation, One Wrightstown, Options for Independent Living, Paul's Pantry Inc., School District of West De Pere, Stocked Shelf Food Pantry, The Gathering Place, Unity Hospice, Vivent Health, Volunteer Center of Brown County, Wise Women Gathering Place, YWCA of Greater Green Bay.

Some groups have received multiple grants for their causes, including: Ashwaubenon School District, Boys & Girls Club of Greater Green Bay, Cerebral Palsy Inc., Community Services Agency, Curative Connections, De Pere Unified School District, Ecumenical Partnership for Housing, Exceptional Equestrians, Freedom House Ministries Inc., Golden House, Green Bay Area Public Schools, House of Hope, Jake's Diapers, New Community Shelter, Salvation Army Green Bay, St. John the Evangelist Homeless Shelter, Transformation House Inc., and We All Rise: African American Resource Center.

The Greater Green Bay Community Foundation continues to identify community needs and to quickly and efficiently distribute resources. Funding will continue to reach the community through the work of local nonprofits who serve the community's most vulnerable. To learn more, please visit https://www.ggbcf.org/.