Bottom row (left to right): Richard Abbott, Walworth County; Tammy Dunn, United Way of Walworth County; Dawn Fiedler, Join the Movement; Bernadette Russow, Dementia Friendly Community Initiative; and Mark Luberda, Walworth County. Second row: Michelle Lussmyer, Safe Families for Children Southeastern Wisconsin; Gretchen Burgess, Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Central Wisconsin. Third row: Heather Rockwell, Boys & Girls Club of Walworth County; Jamie Stilling-Stepp, Seeds of Hope; Sara Nichols, Open Arms Free Clinic; and Tabitha Schrock, United Way of Walworth County. Fourth row: Lilly Barrett, Walworth County Literacy Council; Kim Good, Smiles; Sherry Leka, Circle of Friends; Gina Dingman, United Way of Walworth County; and Suzi Schoenhoft, New Beginnings APFV. Fifth row: Charles Saul, Habitat for Humanity; Elisabeth Partyka, United Way of Walworth County; Ronald Nelson, Spirit of Hope Homeless Shelter; and Kurt Saterbak, Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Central Wisconsin. Top row: Eric Russow, Dementia Friendly Community Initiative; Gregg Rice, United Way of Walworth County; and John Hughes, Walworth County Food Pantry. Photo credit: Jenny Quill, Walworth County

ELKHORN — Walworth County, in partnership with the United Way of Walworth County, have awarded approximately $100,000 to 16 area nonprofits through an American Rescue Act grant-funding program.

Announced in December 2021, the grant-funding program is intended to offset the negative economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic incurred by local 501(c)(3) agencies.

“The services provided by these nonprofits are critical to the well-being of our communities,” said Tammy Dunn, Executive Director, United Way of Walworth County in a news release. “They have faced tremendous financial and operational challenges as a result of the pandemic, and we are ecstatic to partner with Walworth County to provide funds at a time when they are most needed.”

The grant recipients are:

  • Walworth County Literacy Council
  • New Beginnings APFV
  • Spirit of Hope Homeless Shelter
  • Open Arms Free Clinic
  • S.M.I.L.E.S.
  • Dementia Friendly Community Initiative
  • Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Central Wisconsin
  • Safe Families for Children Southeastern Wisconsin
  • Inspiration Ministries
  • Seeds of Hope
  • Circle of Friends
  • Boys & Girls Club of Walworth County
  • Geneva Lakes Conservancy
  • Habitat for Humanity in Walworth County
  • Walworth County Food Pantry
  • Join the Movement.

The agencies received between $1,000 and $9,000 and may utilize the grants for assistance implementing COVID-19 prevention or mitigation tactics; technical assistance, consulting, or other services for business planning; assistance with payroll support, costs to retain employees or other operating costs; or outreach efforts for qualifying populations impacted by COVID-19.

A board comprised of United Way of Walworth County committee members selected the grant recipients based on their application, submission of required documentation, and by using a scoring rubric. Only 501(c)(3) organizations were eligible to apply. United Way of Walworth County recently issued $120,550 to 43 nonprofit agencies in Walworth County, and the ARPA funds were awarded separately and in addition to those grants.

This project is being supported in whole or in part by federal award number FAIN #SLFRP 2146 awarded to Walworth County by the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

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By Staff Report

Walworth County Community News