The C.D. Spangler Foundation and National Gypsum announced a $1 million commitment to the COVID-19 Response Fund, a community-wide effort to assist those affected by the coronavirus pandemic. The donation raised the fund total to $10 million in a little over a week.

Foundation For The Carolinas and United Way of Central Carolinas launched the fund on March 16 to support a range of nonprofit organizations assisting members of the community, particularly those most vulnerable. Donations have come from various sectors: corporations, local governments, individual philanthropists and foundations.

“Our family felt it was very important for the C.D. Spangler Foundation to commit to this humanitarian effort,” said Anna Spangler Nelson, “and we are grateful that so many in our community are coming together in support of one another.”

“Because National Gypsum is headquartered in Charlotte, this community campaign is important for our company and our employees,” said National Gypsum Chairman and CEO Tom Nelson. “It is encouraging that the COVID-19 Response Fund will be working quickly to help those that need it most.”

Community members are urged to donate at HelpCharMeck.org. Local agencies and nonprofits are already feeling the strain to deal with increased needs as the economy tightens, local unemployment rates increase, longer school cancellations cause disruptions and those without insurance face additional challenges getting the care they need.

“The Spangler and Nelson families, along with National Gypsum, have long shown their generosity toward important community causes; today is no different,” said Foundation For The Carolinas President and CEO Michael Marsicano. “We are seeing the best of the human spirit through such extraordinary gifts. I am so grateful to these philanthropists.”

Donations to the COVID-19 Response Fund have ranged from a two-dollar commitment from an anonymous online donor to $1 million gifts from LendingTree, the City of Charlotte, the Howard R. Levine Foundation, Truist Financial Corporation, Bank of America and Lowe’s Home Improvement, with the largest gift from Mecklenburg County totaling $1.3 million.

“That we’ve already raised $10 million in a little over a week is a testament to the generosity of those who have given so far – governments, private businesses, foundations and philanthropists,” said United Way of Central Carolinas President and CEO Laura Yates Clark. “We are so grateful for their compassion and commitment to this cause. But much more is needed to assist our nonprofits in providing critical relief to thousands of residents already suffering from the impacts of this pandemic.”

The COVID-19 Response Fund is administered through a partnership between Foundation For The Carolinas and United Way of Central Carolinas, in close coordination with the City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County. Grants are awarded by an advisory group of community members and will be open to any agency that meets the eligibility criteria. The advisory committee may elect to make grants directly to organizations based upon the urgency of the need or through a competitive grantmaking process.

The COVID-19 Response Fund is administered through a partnership between Foundation For The Carolinas and United Way of Central Carolinas, in close coordination with the City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County. Grants are awarded by an advisory group of community members and will be open to any agency that meets the eligibility criteria. The advisory committee may elect to make grants directly to organizations based upon the urgency of the need or through a competitive grantmaking process.

Interested 501(c)3 nonprofits in Mecklenburg County can visit uwcentralcarolinas.org/grants/COVID for more information.

To contribute to the COVID-19 Response Fund, visit HelpCharMeck.org.

Several teachers and students at Charlotte Latin School have just launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise funds to 3-D print face shields for every hospital in the Charlotte area. They launched their campaign on Sunday afternoon with the goal to raise $50k to 3D print 10,000 face shields.

According to their campaign:

“100% of the funds will go directly towards the manufacture of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). We will start by producing face shields using FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling) 3D printers. Charlotte Latin and University of North Carolina at Charlotte have generously offered use of their 3D printers, enabling the funds to go towards the purchase of PLA and PTEG filaments, elastic, and sanitizing supplies.”

In just 2 days, the campaign has already exceeded its goal, raising over $52,000 as of Tuesday morning:

Now that they have exceeded their goal, they will continue raising funds to 3-D print even more face masks for hospitals outside of Charlotte.

Please help spread the word!