Variety DC News

Monocacy Foundation Partners with Variety DC to offer COVID-19 Relief September 1, 2020 11:00 AM

Partnership Provides Relief to Ten Local Families

“The Monocacy Foundation firmly believes that people with developmental disabilities have the right to a life, enriched with social and recreational opportunities, preferences for where and with whom they live and dignity in dying.”

In response to COVID-19, Variety of the National Capital Region (Variety DC) launched our Emergency Grant Program to provide assistance to families with children who have a mobility disability and were experiencing financial hardship due to their primary caregiver been laid off or furloughed. All grants were to be used for basic needs such as food, medicine and housing.

As part of this initiative, we were proud to partner with the Monocacy Foundation, located in Frederick, Maryland.  Organized in 1995, the mission of the Monocacy Foundation is to provide money to persons with developmental disabilities to cover some expenses not otherwise funded.

Their involvement allowed Variety DC to award $400 emergency grants to 10 families in Frederick County who have children with disabilities and who lost their income due to COVID-19.  Julie DeRoner, family support coordinator with the Frederick County Infants and Toddlers Program, helped identify families of children with developmental delays, birth to 18 years, in need of financial assistance.

“This new collaboration with the Monocacy Foundation and our current partnership with Warehouse Cinemas will allow us to bring additional emergency grants, advance screening fundraisers and adaptive, sensory-friendly movies to these families in need,” said Leigh Burke, Variety DC executive director.

To learn more about how your business, organization or foundation can participate in the Emergency Grant Program, please contact [email protected] or donate here.