United Way of the Bluegrass (UWBG), the American Red Cross Bluegrass Area Chapter, and God’s Outreach-Madison County Food Bank are the recipients of a combined $50,000 from the Bechtel Group Foundation as part of the philanthropy’s campaign to help local charities respond to the coronavirus pandemic. UWBG and the American Red Cross Bluegrass Area Chapter will each receive $20,000 and God’s Outreach-Madison County Food Bank will receive $10,000.
“This generous gift from Bechtel Group Foundation will provide direct response and basic needs support for countless Central Kentucky families and individuals in need during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Timothy Johnson, president and CEO of UWBG. “We are so grateful for Bechtel Parsons Blue Grass’s leadership and partnership every day, but especially today when so many of our friends and neighbors need critical assistance.”
“Every day, people in the area and across the state turn to the Red Cross for help in the face of emergencies,” said Lynne Washbish, executive director, American Red Cross Bluegrass Area Chapter. “We are deeply grateful for the generous contribution by Bechtel Group Foundation, which powers us with the critical resources necessary to prepare for and respond to disasters immediately, when help and hope are needed most.”
“Bechtel is a great partner, and always looking for ways they can help us feed those in need in Madison County,” said Joyce Gullett, hunger awareness coordinator for God’s Outreach-Madison County Food Bank. “We are honored, thankful and blessed to have been selected as one of the recipients of the COVID-19 Relief Fund. The money received from Bechtel will be used to purchase food and help God’s Outreach to continue to serve those in need in Madison County. Thank you again for believing in God’s Outreach mission of making sure no one goes to bed hungry due to a lack of food.”
The gifts in Central Kentucky are among the first from the Bechtel COVID-19 Relief Fund, which is supporting local charities that address urgent human needs in areas where Bechtel Corporation has project and office sites. Bechtel Group Foundation will donate a total of $3 million, the majority of which will be disbursed in partnership with the crowdfunding nonprofit GlobalGiving to communities in Australia, Canada, Chile, Egypt, India, Peru, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
“Bechtel is proud to support these outstanding charities as they provide much needed human services in our local community during the coronavirus pandemic,” said Ron Hink, Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant (BGCAPP) project manager. “While our primary mission here is to destroy chemical weapons, we also recognize our responsibility to be engaged with our community especially during times of need.”
