Together Rising

TOGETHER RISING EXISTS TO TURN OUR COLLECTIVE HEARTBREAK INTO EFFECTIVE ACTION.

DISASTER RELIEF GRANTS:TOGETHER RISING'S LARGEST PROGRAM OF THE YEAR WAS DISTRIBUTING CRITICAL ASSISTANCE TO FAMILIES IMPACTED BY NATURAL DISASTERS. THE BOARD VOTED TO APPROVE A TOTAL OF $1,951,996 IN GRANTS.IN FEBRUARY, IN RESPONSE TO THE UNPRECEDENTED WINTER STORM THAT HIT TEXAS, TOGETHER RISING DEPLOYED $370,360.31 IN GRANTS TO FIVE PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS MEETING FAMILIES' MOST URGENT NEEDS THROUGHOUT TEXAS, INCLUDING IN DALLAS, AUSTIN, SAN ANTONIO, SOUTHWEST TEXAS, HOUSTON, AND THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY. OUR GRANT TO AUSTIN STREET CENTER ENABLED THEIR TEAM TO DRIVE AROUND THE CITY TO LOCATE UNHOUSED PEOPLE AND PROVIDE THEM WITH MASKED TRANSPORT TO TEMPORARY (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O) SHELTERS, WHERE THEY RECEIVED WARM FOOD AND CLOTHES, MEDICAL CARE TO TEND TO FROSTBITE, AND SHELTER. GRANTS TO HOUSTON FOOD BANK, MOBILE LOAVES AND FISHES, SAN ANTONIO FOOD BANK, AND FOOD BANK RGV HELPED PROVIDE VITAL FOOD TO SHELTERS ACROSS COMMUNITIES, AS WELL AS ACTIVATE A MOBILE PROGRAM TO FEED UNHOUSED PEOPLE, GET THEM OUT OF THE FREEZING COLD, AND TRANSPORT THEM TO SHELTERS AND WARMING CENTERS.IN AUGUST, A 7.2 MAGNITUDE EARTHQUAKE DESTROYED HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF HOMES AND BUILDINGS IN HAITI, LEAVING COUNTLESS FAMILIES WITHOUT SHELTER. TO HELP MEET FAMILIES' MOST URGENT NEEDS IN THE AFTERMATH, TOGETHER RISING DISTRIBUTED $578,099.77 IN GRANTS TO FOUR PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS: COFHED, HEALING ART MISSIONS, DIRECT RELIEF, AND WHAT IF FOUNDATION.LESS THAN TWO WEEKS LATER, A CATEGORY FOUR HURRICANE, HURRICANE IDA, DEVASTATED FAMILIES THROUGHOUT LOUISIANA. THE STORM'S 150 MILE-PER-HOUR WINDS DECIMATED HOMES, LEAVING THOUSANDS UNSHELTERED OVERNIGHT. IN RESPONSE, TOGETHER RISING DEPLOYED $237,408.06 IN GRANTS TO THREE PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS: SECOND HARVEST FOOD BANK, REBUILDING TOGETHER NEW ORLEANS, AND IMAGINE WATER WORKS. IN ADDITION TO ORGANIZATION GRANTS, TOGETHER RISING ALSO DISTRIBUTED 19 GRANTS TOTALING $43,950 DIRECTLY TO FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS IN CRISIS AS A RESULT OF IDA'S DESTRUCTION.IN DECEMBER, IN RESPONSE TO THE CATASTROPHIC TORNADOES THAT STRUCK COMMUNITIES IN KENTUCKY, ILLINOIS, MISSOURI, TENNESSEE, MISSISSIPPI, AND ARKANSAS, TOGETHER RISING INVESTED A TOTAL OF $415,566.06 TO SUPPORT THE TORNADO RELIEF EFFORTS OF THREE ORGANIZATIONS: LEE INITIATIVE, FEEDING AMERICA KENTUCKY, AND DIRECT RELIEF.LATER THAT MONTH, SUPER TYPHOON RAI, KNOWN LOCALLY AS ODETTE, DEVASTATED THE PHILIPPINES. MORE THAN 660,000 PEOPLE-HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF FAMILIES-WERE DISPLACED FROM THEIR HOMES. TOGETHER RISING'S $202,641.81 GRANT TO SHELTERBOX HELPED PROVIDE LIFE-SUSTAINING SUPPLIES AND SHELTER FOR FAMILIES IN THE CEBU REGION AS THE AREA RECOVERED. ORGANIZATION GRANTS:IN THE SECOND LARGEST PROGRAM OF THE YEAR, TOGETHER RISING DISTRIBUTED $1,342,383 TO TRUSTED PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS THROUGHOUT THE U.S. AND ACROSS THE GLOBE TO HELP MEET THE MOST URGENT NEEDS OF FAMILIES AND CHILDREN.THROUGH A $250,000 GRANT TO BRAC USA, TOGETHER RISING SUPPORTED THEIR WORK DELIVERING FOOD, SHELTER, MEDICAL CARE, AND OTHER VITAL SERVICES TO THOUSANDS OF ROHINGYA REFUGEES LIVING IN COX'S BAZAR. IN RESPONSE TO THE HORRIFIC DISCOVERIES OF HUNDREDS OF GRAVES OF INDIGENOUS CHILDREN BURIED NEAR CANADIAN RESIDENTIAL SCHOOLS, TOGETHER RISING GRANTED $100,000 TO THE INDIAN RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL SURVIVORS SOCIETY. THE GRANT SUPPORTED IRSSS' CULTURALLY-RESPONSIVE AND TRAUMA-INFORMED RESPONSE TO THE CRISIS, WHICH INCLUDED SENDING ELDERS DIRECTLY TO THE SITES OF RESIDENTIAL SCHOOLS TO PROVIDE COMMUNITY-LED SUPPORT IN THE FORM OF PERFORMING CEDAR BRUSHINGS, SMUDGES, PRAYERS, AND OTHER CULTURAL PRACTICES.THROUGH A $100,000 GRANT, TOGETHER RISING SUPPORTED THE RUTH ELLIS CENTER'S WORK BY PROVIDING WHAT THEIR STAFF INDICATED THEY NEEDED MOST TO CONTINUE TO SERVE LGBTQ+ YOUTH THROUGHOUT THE DETROIT AREA: AN INVESTMENT IN TECHNOLOGY, TRAINING, MATERIAL RESOURCES, AND ADDITIONAL MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS.IN RESPONSE TO AN ESCALATION WITHIN THE ISRAEL-PALESTINE CONFLICT THAT KILLED 67 CHILDREN, TOGETHER RISING DIRECTED A GRANT TO THE PALESTINIAN CHILDREN'S RELIEF FUND TO PROVIDE URGENT MEDICAL ASSISTANCE TO INJURED CHILDREN -- REGARDLESS OF COUNTRY OF ORIGIN, RELIGION, POLITICS, OR ETHNICITY. HOLIDAY HANDS GRANTS:TOGETHER RISING'S THIRD LARGEST PROGRAM WAS HOLIDAY HANDS, AN ANNUAL PROGRAM TO SUPPORT FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS DURING THE END-OF-YEAR HOLIDAY SEASON. IN NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER, TOGETHER RISING DISTRIBUTED $1,166,860 TO SUPPORT THOSE WHO SERVE AT THE FRONTLINES OF THE PANDEMIC, INCLUDING HEALTHCARE WORKERS, TEACHERS, MIGRANT FARMER WORKERS, AND OTHER ESSENTIAL WORKERS. THROUGH A NEW INITIATIVE, TOGETHER RISING DISTRIBUTED MORE THAN 8,600 GIFT CARDS TO TEACHERS AND SCHOOL EMPLOYEES IN THE SIX STATES WITH THE LOWEST TEACHER PAY-ARIZONA, MISSISSIPPI, NORTH CAROLINA, OKLAHOMA, SOUTH DAKOTA, AND WEST VIRGINIA-TO SHOW OUR DEEP APPRECIATION OF THEIR CONTINUED HARD WORK AND DEDICATION THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC. AFGHANISTAN GRANTS:TOGETHER RISING'S FOURTH LARGEST PROGRAM FOCUSED ON HELPING FAMILIES AND CHILDREN IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE COLLAPSE OF AFGHANISTAN'S GOVERNMENT. TOGETHER RISING DISTRIBUTED $824,000 IN GRANTS TO EIGHT ORGANIZATIONS SUPPORTING FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS AS THEY ESCAPED, RESETTLED IN THE UNITED STATES, OR REMAINED IN AFGHANISTAN. A $250,000 GRANT TO WOMEN FOR AFGHAN WOMEN HELPED ENABLE THEIR TEAM IN KABUL TO WORK AROUND THE CLOCK TO HELP PROVIDE SAFETY AND SUPPORT TO FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS, ESPECIALLY WOMEN AND CHILDREN, IN THE IMMEDIATE AFTERMATH OF THE CRISIS. TOGETHER RISING ALSO PROVIDED GRANTS TO LUTHERAN IMMIGRATION AND REFUGEE SERVICE (LIRS) AND ETHIOPIAN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL (ECDC), BOTH OF WHICH HELPED PROVIDE A WARM WELCOME, ALONG WITH CRITICAL NECESSITIES, TO THOUSANDS OF REFUGEES AS THEY RESETTLED IN THE UNITED STATES. INDIVIDUAL GRANTS:THROUGHOUT 2021, TOGETHER RISING DISTRIBUTED $1,839,397 IN GRANTS DIRECTLY TO 8930 INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES. VIRTUALLY ALL OF THESE GRANTS WERE DIRECTED TO FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS WHO APPLIED FOR SUPPORT, NEEDING HELP WITH A RANGE OF BASIC NECESSITIES, INCLUDING HOUSING, FOOD, ELECTRICITY, UNEXPECTED MEDICAL BILLS, TRANSPORTATION, AND MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT SUCH AS THERAPY. FOR EXAMPLE, TOGETHER RISING PROVIDED A GRANT TO A NURSE ON THE FRONTLINES OF THE PANDEMIC TO PROVIDE HER WITH FOOD, TRANSPORTATION, MASKS, AND TO HELP COVER OUTSTANDING MEDICAL BILLS AFTER HER KIDNEY AND PANCREAS TRANSPLANT. ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL GRANT WAS DIRECTED TO A YOUNG MOM WHO WAS CARING FOR HER NEWBORN DAUGHTER WHILE ALSO IN TREATMENT FOR STAGE FOUR THROAT CANCER. TOGETHER RISING SENT HER A GRANT TO COVER UNPAID TREATMENT COSTS, TRAVEL, DIAPERS, FORMULA, FOOD, AND HOUSING. COVID-19 EMERGENCY RESPONSE GRANTS:IN RESPONSE TO DEVASTATING JOB LOSSES AND FURLOUGHS RESULTING FROM THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, TOGETHER RISING DISTRIBUTED $816,485 IN GRANTS TO ORGANIZATIONS, FAMILIES, AND INDIVIDUALS IN NEED OF URGENT SUPPORT THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC. FOR EXAMPLE, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH TOGETHER RISING'S LONG-TIME PARTNER, DIRECT RELIEF, A $314,854.10 GRANT HELPED DELIVER 449 DESPERATELY NEEDED OXYGEN CONCENTRATORS TO CRITICALLY ILL COVID-19 PATIENTS IN INDIA. ANOTHER $365,000 GRANT HELPED PROVIDE CRITICALLY NEEDED MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT TO NAVAJO NATION NURSES AND MEDICAL STAFF ON THE FRONTLINES OF THE PANDEMIC. IN ADDITION TO GRANTING TO ORGANIZATIONS HELPING MEET FAMILIES' MOST URGENT NEEDS THROUGHOUT THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, TOGETHER RISING ALSO PROVIDED GRANTS DIRECTLY TO INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES, ASSISTING THEM WITH CRITICAL NECESSITIES, SUCH AS KEEPING FOOD ON THE TABLE, AND KEEPING THE LIGHTS ON AFTER CHANGES IN FINANCIAL STABILITY CAUSED BY THE PANDEMIC. FAMILY REUNIFICATION GRANTS:TOGETHER RISING INVESTED A TOTAL OF $699,269 IN GRANTS TO CONTINUE TO REUNIFY FAMILIES WHO WERE SEPARATED AT THE US BORDER UNDER THE ZERO-TOLERANCE POLICY AND TO PROTECT DETAINED CHILDREN. THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, TOGETHER RISING DEPLOYED GRANTS TO AL OTRO LADO ($326,419.92), JUSTICE IN MOTION ($302,000), AND SAFE PASSAGE PROJECT ($56,000). THESE GRANTS SUPPORTED THE CRITICAL WORK OF LOCATING PARENTS WHO WERE DEPORTED WITHOUT THEIR CHILDREN, INCLUDING TO EFFECTUATE THE RETURN OF 38 PARENTS ELIGIBLE FOR REUNIFICATION WITH THEIR CHILDREN FROM WHOM THEY WERE SEPARATED. THE GRANTS PROVIDED FUNDING FOR TRAVEL FEES, FINDING SPONSORS, LIVING EXPENSES, AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES. THE GRANTS ALSO HELPED TO PROVIDE ADVOCATES FOR REFUGEE AND UNACCOMPANIED CHILDREN AND TO PROVIDE THE CHILDREN WITH CRITICAL SOCIAL WORK SERVICES IN CONNECTION WITH HEALTH, EDUCATIONAL, AND MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES.