The Kresge Foundation has announced that in the wake of Hurricane Ida, which made landfall in Louisiana on August 29, it would award emergency grants through its American Cities Program to the Greater New Orleans Foundation and the Foundation for Louisiana to help provide relief services. "In the long term, our investments in New Orleans will be predicated on the two existential challenges of our time: climate change and racial equity," wrote foundation president Rip Rapson in a statement. "We understand that, unabated, climate change guarantees that storms like Ida will repeat, again and again. We will accordingly incorporate into every investment our [f]oundation makes an assessment of how it addresses the practices and policies of climate change mitigation and adaptation."

Corporate pledges include a $5 million commitment from the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana Foundation in support of nonprofits working to help communities rebuild. To that end, grants of up to $250,000 will be awarded in support of organizations serving parishes with the highest level of disaster declarations outlined by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to meet immediate needs such as food, clothing, shelter, and health care, as well as long-term needs such as ongoing patient education and care navigation and economic recovery efforts. Community Crisis and Disaster Response Grants of up to $50,000 will be available to nonprofits providing relief in other areas included in the disaster declaration.

"The scope of relief required after Ida is immense," said BCBS Louisiana Foundation president Michael Tipton. "Nonprofits are often on the front lines of providing support, so we hope to give them the tools and flexibility they need to support their communities."

The Chevron Corporation has pledged $3 million in support of relief and recovery efforts, including donations of $500,000 each to the American Red Cross, Catholic Charities, and Team Rubicon for immediate relief efforts across the region, including Jefferson, Lafourche, Terrebonne, St. Charles, Orleans, Plaquemines and St. Tammany parishes. The remaining $1.5 million will be distributed across local organizations focused on disaster relief. In addition, the company will match employees' donations to hurricane relief efforts and provide financial contributions to organizations where employees volunteer.

Other corporate commitments include $2 million from the Dow Chemical Company and the Dow Company Foundation in support of immediate relief and long-term recovery efforts, and $1 million from the United Health Foundation, the philanthropic foundation of UnitedHealth Group, including $200,000 to the Bayou Community Foundation, $200,000 to Second Harvest Food Bank of Greater New Orleans and Acadiana, $300,000 to the Baton Rouge Area Foundation, and $300,000 to the Greater New Orleans Foundation. Through September 8, Walmart and Sam's Club will match customer donations to the American Red Cross up to $5 million.

(Photo credit: American Red Cross)