Berkeley's CIL awards $5,000 grant to NorCal SCI to support COVID-19 programs
We were honored upon learning that Berkeley-based Center for Independent Living, long a solid friend and supporter of NorCal SCI, has awarded us a grant of $5,000, courtesy of the Craig H. Neilsen Foundation (CHN), to help support our COVID-19 support programs for the spinal cord injury community. CIL received this grant upon submission of a grant application and recommendation of how the grant money is to be used, said Stuart James, Executive Director of CIL.
With this infusion of the grant money, NorCal SCI has now received $10,000 following a separate $5,000 grant awarded earlier by the United Spinal Foundation to help support our COVID-19 response campaign which we unveiled two weeks ago. The program offers two levels of free resources to the SCI community in Northern California only:
Our first program is designed to award gift cards of $100 used for purchase of food to 50 individuals who are facing financial challenges in life due to a reduction of income they or their family depends on. This may include loss of income/job of the breadwinner of the household.
For the second program, we are acutely aware of everyone’s concerns about their personal health and safety during these unsettling times. With masks, antibacterial agents, gloves and many other supplies in short supply, we have developed a Personal Safety Kit containing 5 KN95 masks, 20 protective masks, an 8-oz. bottle of isopropyl alcohol 80% and a box of 100 gloves. We will be sending 100 of these packages to those who are at the risk of running low or having difficulty obtaining these critical supplies.
To apply for either of these programs, you must send an e-mail to info@norcalsci.org with the following information:
In the subject line of your e-mail, indicate either $100 Gift Card OR Personal Safety Kit (you may only request one program so that we can help as many people as possible)
First & last name of person with SCI
Mailing address
Phone #
Injury type and level
Date of injury
Date of birth
Size of gloves you’d like (state your preference between latex or nitrile gloves)
In one paragraph, please tell us why you need the assistance.
While we will not seek income verification, we will process your request on an honor system with the hope of serving only those with a real need. Thank you again to The CIL and United Spinal and the generosity demonstrated by the Neilsen Foundation.
Nick & Franklin, co-founders.